Tesla Robotaxis crash at higher rate than Waymo in Austin
Tesla's Robotaxi service in Austin reported four crashes between July and September 2025, resulting in a crash rate of once every 62,500 miles despite having onboard safety monitors. This crash rate is higher than Waymo's rate of once every 98,600 miles, achieved without any onboard safety monitor.
What happened
Tesla's Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas reported four crashes between July and September 2025 under NHTSA's Standing General Order for autonomous driving systems. One crash occurred in a parking lot in September 2025 involving a Tesla Model Y that struck a fixed object, causing property damage.
Reported impact
Tesla's Robotaxi fleet has traveled 250,000 miles since launch in late June 2025, resulting in a crash rate of approximately once every 62,500 miles. In comparison, Waymo's robotaxis have completed over 125 million fully driverless miles with a crash rate of approximately once every 98,600 miles, despite having no onboard safety monitor.
Index analysis
Tesla's crash rate is higher than Waymo's even with a safety monitor in the passenger seat ready to intervene. The actual rate of crashes prevented by Tesla's safety monitors is unknown.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.