I have been following and learning about Tesla's RoboTaxi. It started on 6-22-25 in six square miles of Austin Texas.
Please see some of the videos below.
How long will it be before RoboTaxi is expanded to other cities?
Elon Musk says in a year there will be many fully Autonomous Vehicles (AV) and in five years or less almost all new cars will be fully Autonomous.
What will this mean for Uber and Lyft? From what I see RoboTaxi has a nice App, and does not need Uber or Lyft. Why would Tesla pay any money to Uber or Lyft if they do not need them?
In San Fransico the Waymo AV already has more market share then Lyft does. The problem for Waymo is that their AV cost over $250,000 per car.
More about Uber working with Waymo
Yes, Waymo is working with Uber. Specifically, they have partnered to offer Waymo's autonomous rides on the Uber app in Austin and Atlanta. In these cities, when a user requests an Uber ride (X, Green, Comfort, or Comfort Electric), they may be matched with a Waymo vehicle. The Waymo vehicles are fully autonomous, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Waymo and Uber have a multi-year strategic partnership to bring Waymo's autonomous driving technology to the Uber platform.
- The partnership is focused on Austin and Atlanta, with plans to expand further.
- Riders in Austin and Atlanta can request a Waymo ride through the Uber app, just like they would any other Uber ride.
- Waymo vehicles will be integrated into the Uber app, allowing users to manage the ride from the familiar Uber interface.
- Both companies emphasize safety, with 24/7 support available through the Uber app and within the vehicle.
- Uber will manage tasks like cleaning and repairs for the Waymo vehicles, while Waymo will continue to oversee testing, operation, and rider support.