Tesla's rocket-shaped Robotaxi map in Houston is partly 'fake'

Tesla's Houston Robotaxi service area is drawn as a rocket, but parts of downtown inside the polygon can't be selected for pickup. Robotaxi Tracker creator Ethan McKanna, a former Tesla employee, called Houston the most egregious 'fake' AV service area he has seen, citing a 40-minute trip for two blocks.

• The app returns 'Location not available' inside downtown Houston's zone
• A two-block trip took about 40 minutes due to a detour
• McKanna tied the shape to Tesla wanting a Starship silhouette
• For comparison, Waymo's Orlando zone shrank by 10 sq miles (8.4%)