Tesla Robotaxi Android App Launches in Three U.S. Cities with Limited Scale

Tesla launched its Robotaxi app on the Google Play Store on April 24, 2026, making the ride-hailing service available to Android users for the first time. The iOS version had already been released in September 2025, meaning the Android launch came nearly a year later. The app allows users to hail Tesla’s custom-configured Model Y fleet. Once a ride is confirmed, the vehicle’s license plate number is displayed. After boarding, passengers can use the app to adjust climate settings, seat positions, play music, track trip progress, change drop-off locations, or request temporary roadside stops. The Android version integrates Google Pay for direct fare payment. The app is free to download, supports over 25 languages, and is currently available only in the United States. Robotaxi service currently operates in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Service areas in Dallas and Houston are relatively limited: Houston covers approximately 12–15 square miles in the Jersey Village and Willowbrook neighborhoods, while Dallas spans about 30–35 square miles. Crowdsourced data indicates that each of the two newer cities initially deployed just one vehicle, later increasing to two each. In Austin, which launched the service in June 2025, around 40 vehicles are operating—only about ten of them fully driverless, with the rest accompanied by human safety operators. Tesla originally planned to expand the service to eight U.S. cities but has since delayed launches in five of them, now labeling those markets as “coming soon” without specifying launch dates. In contrast, Waymo already operates in ten U.S. cities, deploying approximately 3,000 fully autonomous vehicles that complete over 500,000 rides weekly, offering 24/7 service without safety drivers. Waymo entered Dallas and Houston first in February 2026. Although Tesla nominally launched Robotaxi in the San Francisco Bay Area, it has not applied for local autonomous vehicle operation permits. As a result, vehicles there operate with human drivers supervising Full Self-Driving (FSD) functionality, meaning the service does not qualify as true autonomous ride-hailing. Current pricing starts at $3 base fare plus $1.40 per mile in Dallas, and $3.25 base fare plus $1 per mile in Austin. Service operates daily starting at 6 a.m.