## Waymo Hints at Selling Self-Driving Cars to Individuals, Joining Tesla in the Race for Personal Robotaxis
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has sparked renewed interest in the future of autonomous vehicles, suggesting that Waymo might eventually sell self-driving cars for personal ownership. This revelation came during a recent earnings call, where Pichai addressed the long-term business model for Waymo. He emphasized the importance of expanding partnerships, such as those with Moove in Miami and Uber in Austin and Atlanta, but also alluded to “future optionality around personal ownership.”
This isn’t the first time Waymo has entertained the idea of selling autonomous vehicles directly to consumers. Back in 2018, they partnered with Chrysler to develop self-driving Pacifica minivans and explored the possibility of offering them for private ownership.
Waymo isn’t alone in envisioning a future where individuals own their own robotaxis. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also publicly stated his ambition to launch a Cybercab, a robotaxi priced around $30,000, as early as 2026. At Tesla’s recent earnings call, Musk playfully pointed out the cost difference between his Cybercab and Waymo’s offerings. Tesla’s Cybercab is designed to seat two and lacks a steering wheel, relying primarily on camera vision. In contrast, Waymo’s current robotaxis, typically Jaguar I-Pace EVs, seat five and utilize a more comprehensive suite of sensors, including lidar.
Currently, Waymo holds a significant lead in operational robotaxis, having expanded its testing to Japan. Tesla plans to introduce its robotaxis in Austin this summer, with Musk optimistically forecasting “millions” of autonomous Tesla cars on the roads by the end of next year.
While both companies are pursuing personal self-driving vehicle options, they are taking different approaches. Waymo is leaning into the technology while Tesla is focusing on affordability. The road to autonomous personal vehicles is still long but the future is beginning to take shape.
Bir yanıt yazın