Support Us Button Widget
Business

All the autonomous vehicles operating in Austin

The robots are driving in ATX. Keep your eyes peeled for these companies, which are driving or getting ready to deploy driverless vehicles in town.

December 9, 2024 • 
Laura Figi
ATX_Waymo

Waymo, currently in the process of rolling out driverless cars in Austin, uses GPS maps and sensor data to operates its vehicles.

Photo via Waymo

Spend enough time in Downtown Austin and you’re bound to see an autonomous vehicle — aka a vehicle roving around without a human in the driver’s seat.

There are six companies mapping, testing, and driving their AVs on Austin roadways as of December 2024. They’re able to operate on streets statewide due to regulation from Senate Bill 2205, which took effect in 2017.

As one of the country’s biggest tech hubs, it makes sense for AVs to flock here. Here’s your guide to spotting them.

Hit the pavement

Only one AV company is in the deployment phase: Waymo. The driverless taxi service will roll out rides, in partnership with Uber, from electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles to the public in early 2025. At the moment, Waymo is the most common AV on local roadways.

Two cube-shaped little robots with cameras, sensors, and three wheels on each side are lined up on the Austin sidewalk, sandwiched by Lime scooters.

You could get your food delivered by an Avride robot in the near future.

Photo by ATXtoday

City Editors Figi + Morgan took a ride in one themselves — read our interview with Waymo Products Communications Manager Chris Bonelli.

The majority of Austin’s AVs are currently in the testing phase:

  • ADMT of Volkswagen: using 10 of Volkswagen’s electric ID. Buzz buses, ADMT began testing in Austin in July 2023. The company plans to offer ride services to customers on demand.
  • Avride: this company (which is based in Austin) is working to offer both driverless taxis and delivery robots, and announced a partnership with Uber for both services back in October. Avride’s delivery robots are already cruising around town, and robotaxi services could begin as soon as 2025.
  • Zoox of Amazon: Amazon’s AV branch announced its expansion to Austin in June 2024, but the company has been working out of San Francisco since 2018. You won’t see its purpose-built robotaxi on roads yet — just white SUVs with a blue and purple gradient design — but it may appear after testing wraps.
A futuristic, box-shaped autonomous vehicle with a sleek design is parked in a designated "Robotaxi Parking Only" spot. The car has a glossy exterior, large black wheels, and multiple sensors on its roof and sides. Surrounding the vehicle are a charging station, green landscaping, and a building in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Zoox’s purpose-built robo-taxi is compact on the outside and spacious on the inside because it is built without a steering wheel or driver’s cabin.

Photo via Zoox

Motional, which Hyundai runs, is in the mapping phase, but keep an eye out for its IONIQ 5 taxi in the future. Finally, General Motor’s Cruise fleet proactively suspended its operations in Austin while working to “rebuild public trust” after incidents in San Francisco.

You can learn more about Austin’s AVs on the city’s website, which includes an incident dashboard. Note: incidents submitted to the dashboard are not validated.

There could be more AVs on the way

A compact white autonomous delivery vehicle branded with "Nuro" is parked on a street. It features a glossy black front, a mounted sensor on the roof, and a QR code on its side. The background shows a campus-like setting with trees, buildings, and people walking.

Nuro’s spacious delivery vehicles currently drive in Houston.

Photo by ATXtoday

Those are just the companies currently working in Austin. The following companies currently or will soon operate somewhere in Texas:

  • Kodiak
  • Aurora
  • Waabi
  • Torc
  • Plus.AI
  • Gatik
  • Starship
  • Kiwibot
  • Refraction.AI
  • Nuro
  • Clevon

Know something we don’t? Send us an email.

More from ATXtoday
A tuna tower is plated on a white plate and garnished with cilantro. The colorful dish includes avocado, pineapple, edamame, and more ingredients.
Food
Food Network host to open new restaurant in Round Rock
Helmed by television host and restaurateur John Green, Odds Bar & Bistro will serve up elevated bar fare and craft cocktails.
December 10, 2024
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
A house and a red car are decorated with numerous strands of multicolored string lights, including blue, green, red, and yellow bulbs. The lights cover the exterior walls of the house, the car's roof, and the surrounding area, creating a bright display. A figure of Santa Claus sits in the backseat of the car. Additional lights hang from overhead wires, and the dark sky contrasts with the illuminated decorations. Bicycles and other objects are partially visible in the background.
Events
37th Street Lights returns this weekend
Don’t miss the annual DIY light display, which has brought joy to the weird in Austin since the 1980s.
December 10, 2024
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
Seven mannequins dressed up behind a table with flat laid accessories.
Culture
How to give a sustainable gift this holiday season
We’re dreaming of a green Christmas.
December 9, 2024
 · 
Laura Figi
A gif that reads "2024 Wrapped" in large letters with the ATXtoday logo on top. Orange symbols like stars, pins, and smiley faces move around on the graphic.
City
2024 ATXtoday Wrapped: Austin’s top news of the year
Hi, Austinite. It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
December 6, 2024
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
A lively indoor gathering at a warmly lit venue called Uptown Sports Club. The bar area is decorated with festive string lights and garlands, and the words "Cocktails" and "Sandwiches" are illuminated in neon signs on the walls. Guests are mingling, chatting, and enjoying the atmosphere. The space has a cozy yet vibrant ambiance, with rustic brick walls and a mix of modern and vintage decor.
Business
Where to host your last-minute holiday party
Whether you’re planning a family gathering, a corporate party, or a festive get-together with friends, here are a few restaurants offering spaces for your celebration.
December 6, 2024
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
A teddy bear made of colorful Christmas lights sits among lit-up trees on the path of the Trail of Lights.
Culture
You can ride the Zilker Eagle during the Trail of Lights this year
Plus, the music lineup for the annual tradition is here, featuring artists like Chief Cleopatra and Como Las Movies.
December 5, 2024
 · 
Laura Figi
A festive spread of various dishes arranged on a table with a striped blue and orange tablecloth. The centerpiece is a glazed roasted ham in a copper pot, surrounded by bowls of kale salad, green bean salad, and noodles. Other items include cinnamon rolls, appetizers topped with feta, and a glass teapot with tea.
Food
Hungry for the holidays: 12 restaurants to grab some grub for December 25
Whether you don’t want to bother with cooking or you want to treat the family to a delicious meal out, here are a few restaurants to try.
December 5, 2024
 · 
Laura Figi
A modern H-E-B grocery store entrance with a large red "H-E-B" logo prominently displayed at the top. The building features tall glass windows, a red awning with "WELCOME" written in bold letters, and multiple glass doors. The exterior includes a wide concrete staircase with railings and a decorated barricade showcasing festive designs at the bottom right corner. The sky above is partly cloudy, reflecting in the glass windows.
Business
Inside the new H-E-B on South Congress Avenue
The Texas grocer’s oldest location in Austin is now a shiny, new gem in the Violet Crown.
December 4, 2024
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
A festive outdoor scene, with colorful holiday lights wrapped around tree branches. Large vintage-style bulbs in vibrant red, gold, and green glow warmly, complemented by twinkling string lights. In the background, Austin’s distinctive skyline, including the Frost Bank Tower, is illuminated against the night sky.
Play
Winter events happening in and around Austin
Plan your winter with festivals and holiday-themed events happening in the Capital City.
December 4, 2024
 · 
STAFF
A vibrant display of the Trail of Lights entrance, adorned with multicolored string lights forming a tunnel effect and sparkling star decorations. The illuminated sign reads "Trail of Lights" in bold golden letters, surrounded by festive holiday cheer, with silhouetted visitors gathered below.
City
The history of Austin’s 60-year-old Trail of Lights
The beloved local tradition has taken multiple different forms over the years, and was once called “Yule Fest.”
December 3, 2024
 · 
London Gibson