Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 0.39% ) may actually be on pace to hit one of Elon Musk’s boldest promises this year.
According to California Public Utilities Commission data cited by Business Insider, Tesla has registered 1,655 ride hailing vehicles in California, up from just 28 when the service launched in August. While registered vehicles are not the same as active Robotaxis, the surge suggests Tesla is rapidly building the infrastructure needed to scale.
The numbers are finally moving
Right now, Tesla operates roughly 130 Robotaxis in the Bay Area, each running Full Self Driving with a safety driver behind the wheel. The registration jump puts Musk’s target of 1,000 vehicles in the region by year end back in play, at least on paper. The filings point to preparation for expansion rather than a finished rollout, but the pace has clearly accelerated.
Still playing catch up
Tesla is not alone on the roads. Alphabet’s $GOOGL ( ▲ 0.77% ) Waymo remains far ahead, with nearly 2,000 driverless vehicles registered across California, including more than 1,000 operating in the Bay Area and around 700 in Los Angeles. Waymo’s fleet runs fully autonomous, giving it a major lead in real world deployment.
Austin is the bigger question mark
Hitting Musk’s other Robotaxi goals looks tougher. In Austin, Tesla has registered just 32 vehicles so far, with only two currently testing without drivers. That makes the target of 500 Robotaxis in the city by year end and the removal of safety monitors far less certain. The Bay Area may be lining up, but nationwide scale still has a long road ahead.