Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

Ex-Waymo CEO shares why he still thinks Tesla can't compete with Waymo's robotaxis

Mar 22, 2025 - businessinsider.com
Ex-Waymo CEO John Krafcik maintains that Waymo has no real competitors in the autonomous vehicle space, dismissing Tesla's camera-only approach as insufficient for fully autonomous driving. Krafcik argues that Tesla remains a car company with a driver-assist system and has yet to deliver a fully autonomous, revenue-generating ride, unlike Waymo, which provides over a million rides monthly. He criticizes Tesla's robotaxi prototype, Cybercab, and emphasizes the importance of lidar sensors for safety and reliability. Krafcik believes Waymo's scale, safety, and performance keep it ahead of competitors in the US and China, with plans to expand further.

Krafcik envisions Waymo offering a subscription service for autonomous driving and deploying its technology in trucks and personal vehicles. He suggests that Waymo could eventually spin out from Alphabet, potentially being valued at $350 billion to $850 billion by 2030. Despite this, he stresses that there is no rush for an IPO, as Waymo has patient investors unlike other companies seeking quick cash. Krafcik remains skeptical of Chinese competitors' performance and notes that companies like Zoox are still at a smaller scale compared to Waymo.

Key takeaways:

  • Ex-Waymo CEO John Krafcik believes Waymo has no competitors in the autonomous vehicle space and criticizes Tesla's camera-only approach.
  • Krafcik highlights Waymo's success in deploying autonomous rides at scale, with over 200,000 rides a week in multiple cities.
  • Waymo's future plans include offering a subscription service for autonomous driving and expanding into large trucks and personal vehicles.
  • Analysts predict a potential Waymo IPO and spin-off from Alphabet, with a valuation between $350 billion to $850 billion by 2030.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!