Tesla(US:TSLA) Benzinga·2025-12-23 08:20Core Viewpoint - Tesla's pilot Robotaxi operations in Austin may be significantly smaller in scale than previously claimed by CEO Elon Musk, with only 32 vehicles currently reported in operation compared to Musk's assertion of 1,000 [1][2]. Group 1: Tesla's Robotaxi Operations - An engineering student has reverse-engineered the Tesla Robotaxi app, revealing that only 32 Tesla Model Ys are part of the Robotaxi network in Austin, contradicting earlier claims of a larger fleet [2]. - The tracker indicates that only 1-5 Robotaxis are operational at any given time, with the service being unavailable approximately 60% of the time and an average wait time of 14 minutes [3]. - Tesla is testing driverless operations in Austin, which could enhance its goal of achieving fully autonomous operations by the end of the year [5]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - In comparison, Waymo has a significantly larger fleet with over 2,500 vehicles and has achieved 450,000 weekly rides, highlighting its dominance in the Robotaxi sector [6]. - Waymo's performance is described as overwhelmingly superior, with a metaphor indicating a score of 50-2 in a hypothetical basketball game against Tesla [6]. - Additionally, Uber and Lyft are collaborating with Baidu's Apollo Go to launch Robotaxi services in London, with Apollo Go reporting 250,000 paid rides per week and over 140 million driverless miles logged [7]. Group 3: Market Performance - Tesla's stock has shown positive momentum, with a 1.56% increase to $488.73 at market close and a further rise to $489.99 in after-hours trading [8].