A new transparency initiative from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has shed light on the competitive landscape of autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment across the state. Under recent legislation that took effect in late May, companies operating self-driving technology are now required to register their fleets, providing the public with the first comprehensive look at the scale of these operations. The data reveals a significant lead for Alphabet-owned Waymo, which currently maintains 577 registered autonomous vehicles in Texas.

This figure places Waymo well ahead of other industry players, including Avride, which reported 317 vehicles, and Nuro, which has 47. Notably, Tesla, which has been aggressively expanding its robotaxi services into major Texas hubs like Austin, Dallas, and Houston, currently has 42 registered autonomous vehicles. Other entities, such as Volkswagen subsidiary MOIA, are also represented, though with much smaller fleets of specialized autonomous microbuses.

While the registration numbers offer a clear snapshot of fleet size, industry experts note that these figures do not necessarily equate to commercial activity or active road usage. Some companies listed in the database are still in the testing phase, while others, like Waymo, have occasionally paused operations in specific regions due to environmental challenges such as flooding. Despite these operational nuances, the data confirms Waymo’s current dominance in the state’s rapidly evolving autonomous transit sector.

The DMV’s new tracking tool also provides insight into the autonomous trucking industry, which is gaining momentum in Texas. Aurora, a leader in the driverless freight space, reported 91 self-driving trucks, while competitors like Gatik AI, Kodiak AI, and Waabi maintain smaller, specialized fleets. As the state continues to integrate these technologies, the public portal is expected to serve as a key indicator of growth and adoption for the autonomous vehicle market.