Summary
- Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, is leading in the robotaxi sector compared to Tesla’s Cybercab and FSD system
- Tesla has not yet delivered a fully autonomous revenue-generating ride, while Waymo is already providing over 200,000 rides a week
- The Cybercab design by Tesla was criticized by the former Waymo CEO for not being safe and accessible for a robotaxi vehicle
- Waymo is utilizing multiple sensors on its vehicles for safety and accessibility
- Waymo is expected to maintain a three to five-year lead in the robotaxi business due to its successful deployment and integration of AI technology.
Article
John Krafcik, the former CEO of Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, recently discussed Waymo’s position in the robotaxi sector compared to Tesla’s Cybercab and FSD system in an interview with Business Insider. Krafcik stated that Waymo is still unchallenged in this sector, highlighting the company’s success and vast lead over Tesla. Krafcik emphasized that Tesla, despite being an electric vehicle maker with a driver assistance system, has not yet delivered a fully autonomous revenue-generating ride, which Waymo is already accomplishing at a large scale.
Tesla has been working towards launching a robotaxi service using its Unsupervised FSD system by around June 2025. However, Waymo continues to provide over 200,000 rides a week across multiple U.S. cities, showcasing its dominance in the autonomous driving space. Krafcik’s remarks suggest that Waymo is far ahead of Tesla in terms of actual deployment and revenue-generating autonomous rides, supporting his assertion that Tesla is not currently a competitor to Waymo.
Krafcik expressed criticism towards Tesla’s Cybercab design, which was unveiled in 2024 as a sleek, two-seat robotaxi. Despite its futuristic appearance, Krafcik contended that a serious effort to build a safe and accessible robotaxi would not result in a design like the Cybercab. He defended Waymo’s use of multiple sensors, including lidar, on its vehicles, stating that the cost of such sensors is minimal on a per-mile basis and that the safety benefits are significant and verifiable.
In terms of competition in the robotaxi business, Krafcik suggested that Waymo should maintain its edge for at least three to five years. He praised Waymo as the only company successfully deploying an embodied AI replacement for a licensed human driver at scale, with third-party data confirming performance and safety advantages over human drivers. This gives Waymo a significant lead in the industry and a competitive advantage over other companies, including Tesla, in the development and deployment of autonomous driving technology.
Krafcik’s comments highlight the ongoing competition between Waymo and Tesla in the autonomous driving sector, with Waymo currently maintaining a strong position and lead in the robotaxi business. Despite Tesla’s ambitions and efforts to launch its own robotaxi service, Waymo’s established track record and success in deploying autonomous vehicles for passenger transportation set it apart as a leader in the industry. The future of autonomous driving and the robotaxi market will likely continue to be shaped by the advancements and strategies of companies like Waymo and Tesla in the coming years.
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