Tesla and Waymo are taking completely different paths in the autonomous taxi race. Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims that after launching a trial service in Austin in June, they could offer robotaxi services to half of the US population by the end of the year. Waymo, on the other hand, has been conducting trials in Phoenix for eight years and still only serves 3% of the US population.
Tesla’s rapid growth plan relies solely on using a system based on camera and artificial intelligence. Waymo, on the other hand, is progressing with sensors, high-resolution maps, and phased testing. Musk finds Waymo’s approach “fragile” and argues that Tesla could quickly expand nationwide after achieving success in a few cities. While Waymo’s methodical strategy is considered safer, Tesla’s approach is seen as cheaper and faster to scale. According to analysts, Waymo may take the lead in the short term, but Tesla has the potential to capture market share in the long term. However, both companies face security concerns and regulatory hurdles. Some Waymo vehicles ignoring traffic police instructions and driving on flooded roads in Austin have raised public questions. Tesla was also observed exceeding the speed limit in school zones. Experts predict that autonomous taxis could become a trillion-dollar market in the next 15 years. However, it is still unclear which approach will be the winner.
