Tesla's Robotaxi in Austin Turns Quick Trip Into a 70-Minute Detour

A Tesla Cybercab passenger in Austin got more than they bargained for when a straightforward 10-minute ride stretched into a 70-minute journey across the city. The self-driving taxi, which has no human backup driver, ended up taking a lengthy and winding route.

The culprit is a technical limit that Tesla has yet to overcome: its robotaxis cannot operate on highways. Because of that, what would normally be a fast freeway hop for a human driver becomes a slow crawl through surface streets, adding significant time to the trip.

This is not just an inconvenience for riders — it highlights a real gap in the capabilities of Tesla’s autonomous fleet. Until the system can handle highway driving, passengers in cities like Austin may continue to see short trips turn into much longer ordeals.