Overview
- Tesla announced its Robotaxi service would begin operating in San Antonio starting at 5 a.m. local time on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, posting a launch map that it says covers roughly 274 square miles.
- Independent trackers note that Tesla’s advertised polygon likely overstates usable coverage because past checks found large portions of Tesla’s maps do not accept pickups or drop‑offs.
- Tesla did not say how many vehicles will operate in San Antonio or whether rides will use Cybercab two‑seat cars or modified Model Ys, and the company gave no clear answer on the presence of human safety monitors.
- Robotaxi Tracker data show Tesla’s fleet remains concentrated in Austin with 400+ driverless vehicles while Waymo runs thousands nationally and already operates a smaller San Antonio zone, highlighting sharp differences in car counts and density.
- The move intensifies direct competition with Waymo in Texas and raises practical questions for riders and regulators about actual service area, wait times, airport access, and how Tesla will scale safety and transparency as it expands.