Alphabet's Waymo is considering offering personal ownership options for its self-driving taxis, according to CEO Sundar Pichai. This comes as Tesla is preparing to launch its robotaxi service in the United States. Pichai mentioned the "future optionality for personal ownership" during an earnings call on April 24, 2025, but didn't provide specific details or timelines.
Waymo currently operates a fleet of over 700 vehicles, with 300 in San Francisco. They are the only U.S. firm running uncrewed robotaxis for fares. Waymo is also expanding its services through partnerships with Uber in Austin and Atlanta, offering autonomous rides via the Uber app starting in early 2025. Furthermore, Waymo is testing and launching services in multiple cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington D.C., with plans to expand to Atlanta, Tokyo and other areas.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has commented on Waymo's higher costs due to its use of cameras and sensors like lidar, while Tesla relies solely on cameras and AI. Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in June 2025, utilizing its existing Model Y vehicles with self-driving software. Tesla has also launched an employee-only version of its Robotaxi service in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area to test its FSD networks. Waymo currently provides over 200,000 paid rides weekly, totaling over 1 million miles weekly.