Tesla Robotaxi riders report detours after Houston expansion
Tesla expanded its Houston Robotaxi service area from northwest Harris County through downtown Houston to Bellaire, adding an estimated 229 square miles according to RobotaxiTracker. Riders nevertheless reported rejected pickup locations, long waits and major detours, including a two-block trip quoted at about 40 minutes and a 13-mile commute that took about 80 minutes. Tesla did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
The specific operational failures reported after a major service expansion raise questions about whether Tesla’s routing and pickup systems are working reliably across the newly covered Houston area.
Riders of Tesla’s Robotaxi service in Houston are reporting long detours and pickup points the app will not accept, Business Insider reported on Wednesday. The problems come days after Tesla greatly expanded the area the service covers.
Tesla announced the larger service area on Monday with a post reading “Houston, we have liftoff.” The new zone, drawn in the shape of a rocket, stretches from northwest Harris County to downtown Houston and Bellaire.
The expansion added an estimated 229 square miles, according to RobotaxiTracker, a site that monitors the service. Waymo’s robotaxi zone in Houston covers about 50 square miles, Business Insider reported.