Waymo, Uber Expand Robotaxis Nationally as Tesla Struggles in Austin

Tesla has launched its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, but on a limited scale with fewer than 24 vehicles, attracting scrutiny over its safety and regulatory compliance. Despite Tesla's market valuation heavily factoring in the potential of Robotaxi, experts highlight a stark contrast with Alphabet's Waymo, which operates over 1,500 fully autonomous vehicles across multiple cities and recently expanded to Atlanta, serving more than 250,000 rides weekly. Waymo's technology, which does not require in-car safety drivers, and its strategic partnerships, including with Uber, underscore its market leadership and justify a higher valuation compared to Tesla's current $1.1 trillion. Investors like Gary Black advise focusing less on direct efficacy comparisons between Tesla and Waymo, emphasizing Tesla's scalability and profitability potential instead, while analysts note Tesla's Robotaxi is still facing operational challenges and regulatory reviews. Elon Musk claims Tesla will dominate the autonomous vehicle market by 2026, but industry insiders and former Waymo executives express skepticism given Tesla’s historical delays and current performance. Meanwhile, Uber and Waymo's collaboration in Atlanta and other cities continues to grow, reinforcing their competitive advantage in the autonomous ride-hailing market.