TechCrunch Mobility: Robotaxi reality check | TechCrunch

TechCrunch Mobility analyses the current paradox of robotaxis: widespread perception of arrival clashes with ongoing hurdles to scale. Waymo paused operations in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio due to heavy rain and flooded roads, and later extended that pause to Austin and Nashville. The company also halted robotaxi freeway work in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Miami to focus on construction-zone performance, underscoring that real-world deployment remains conditional. The piece ties this to Elon Musk’s broader ecosystem, noting SpaceX’s IPO filings and cross-ownership with xAI. SpaceX bought $506 million of Tesla Megapack storage in 2025 and $131 million of Cybertrucks the same period, while The Boring Company and X engagements reflect a tightly interwoven tech venture landscape.