Latest news with #Waymo
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Waymo Won't Like Tesla's Latest Robotaxi Announcement
Waymo Won't Like Tesla's Latest Robotaxi Announcement originally appeared on Autoblog. Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla will expand its autonomous robotaxi rideshare service to San Francisco's Bay Area within the next couple of months, pending regulatory approvals. Tesla launched its robotaxis on June 22 in Austin, Texas, with around 12 Model Y SUVs, each containing a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat. Musk also said that Tesla's Austin robotaxis will expand their geofencing, or area of operation, this weekend. Tesla executives noted during the company's Q1 call that its main advantage over the undisputed leader in autonomous ridesharing, Waymo, was its ability to scale its robotaxis faster and for less money, and expanding to another city two to three months after launching would demonstrate this principle. Waymo kicked off its autonomous rideshare service in 2018 with safety drivers, transitioned away from using safety drivers in 2020, and didn't expand to another city in San Francisco until 2021. While Waymo spread to another city years before Tesla robotaxis touched ground in Austin, Tesla also has the advantage of developing its self-driving software as the U.S. government begins streamlining regulations surrounding the technology. In April, the Trump administration accelerated the U.S.'s rollout of autonomous vehicles by expanding a program that exempts some self-driving cars from specific safety requirements outside of commercial use, while streamlining the existing criteria for crash reporting of advanced driver assistance and self-driving systems. Transportation Department officials will no longer require manufacturers using Level 2 self-driving systems, like Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD), to report certain kinds of non-fatal crashes. Additionally, last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it's speeding up the review process for manufacturers deploying autonomous vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels or pedals while providing more clarity on an application's requirements. Tesla's upcoming Cybercab, a purpose-built vehicle for its robotaxi service, won't contain a steering wheel or pedals. Still, Tesla's robotaxis aren't facing an easy road to expansion in San Francisco. Texas poses far fewer self-driving regulations for firms than California, which requires testing data for permits, something Tesla has been hesitant to release. In June, Reuters reported that Tesla was attempting to block Austin, Texas, from releasing public records to the news agency on its robotaxi trial. According to Reuters, a Tesla attorney wrote to Texas's Attorney General's office, citing the public records as containing 'confidential, proprietary, competitively sensitive commercial, and/or trade secret information' that would harm the automaker if released. Tesla announced that it will hold its Q2 earnings call this year on Wednesday, July 23. While providing concrete data for its robotaxis' expansion to another city would help boost investor morale after another rough quarter, the automaker likely won't have this news in time for the call, with permits pending. Musk has mostly shrugged off Tesla's recent and significant year-over-year sales declines, solidifying his focus on autonomous driving technology and robotics as the company's future. However, Tesla will likely share news about the production of a more affordable model, which was supposed to occur by the end of June, during the call. Waymo Won't Like Tesla's Latest Robotaxi Announcement first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla pulls off astounding company milestone earlier than expected — here's how it happened
Tesla claims it delivered an electric vehicle without anyone behind the wheel or remotely supervising it. A Model Y left Tesla's Austin Gigafactory and reached a customer's home autonomously, finishing a route that included highways and residential streets, The Verge reported. CEO Elon Musk initially said the drive was scheduled for June 28, but on June 27, he shared on X that it had already happened. Tesla also posted a video showing the car completing the full route with no driver or remote supervision. Musk called it "FULLY autonomous" in his X post. While other companies, such as Waymo, have tested driverless cars on highways, this marks Tesla's first fully unsupervised vehicle delivery in real-world conditions. It follows a rocky rollout of Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology, which has faced scrutiny over safety concerns and the need for human intervention. Still, the milestone shows progress toward Tesla's long-standing goal of complete autonomy. Tesla has also teased upcoming innovations, such as the Robovan. Meanwhile, other companies, including freight tech firms, are already testing electric fleets overseas. If adopted widely, driverless deliveries could streamline logistics and reduce the harmful pollution tied to car transport. EVs like the Model Y also help reduce pollution and fuel costs by eliminating tailpipe pollution — which is a major public health benefit of electric vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency has reported. These advantages are contributing to the wider adoption of EVs, even as Tesla faces slow sales in 2025 across various markets. Charging an EV can be even more affordable with home solar, which costs less than grid power or public charging stations. EnergySage provides a free service that helps homeowners compare quotes from vetted installers and save up to $10,000. Would you buy an EV if it only took 5 minutes to charge? Sign me up No way Depends on the cost Depends how much range it has Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Tesla confirmed the milestone on X by sharing the footage with a short caption: "World's first autonomous delivery of a car!" The customer, Jose (@Jagarzaf), posted his own reaction: "That was me! So excited to have been a part of this thank you!" Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Seeks Phoenix Green Light for Robotaxis
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) just asked Arizona's transport agency if it can trial and run its Robotaxi fleet in Phoenix and has its sights set on the San Francisco Bay Area next. The Arizona Department of Transportation confirms Tesla has applied to test its self driving cabs both with a safety driver and fully driver free, with a decision expected by late July. Regulators will weigh traffic safety, liability and public feedback before signing off. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with SSNLF. Down in Austin, Tesla kicked off a tiny pilot last month, though a handful of cars drew flak for ignoring traffic rules. Investors and rivals alike are keen to see if Phoenix gives Tesla the green light or throws up red tape. Waymo is already ferrying passengers in Phoenix, Los Angeles and beyond, and Uber (NYSE:UBER) partners in Atlanta and Austin. If Tesla wins early approvals, it can close the gap and start raking in ride hailing revenue. Elon Musk says Bay Area Robotaxis could roll out in a matter of weeks once California's DMV clears the paperwork. The next few regulatory decisions will set the pace for Tesla's autonomous ambitions. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's next bet could flip the robotaxi race
Tesla's next bet could flip the robotaxi race originally appeared on TheStreet. Safe to say it has been quite the wild ride this year if you're a Tesla () stockholder. One minute it's the shiny Robotaxi launch, the next it's headlines about Elon Musk's ongoing spat with President Trump. 💵💰💰💵 Also, who can forget Musk's shocking political-party curveball, which even led Wedbush's Dan Ives to urge Tesla's board to impose 'ground rules' on such endeavors. In all that mess, though, Musk still has his eyes glued to the Robotaxi finish line. With Waymo and Uber breathing down his neck, this next bold move might just be what flips Tesla's story around. Tesla's push to dominate the robotaxi game has been far from smooth sailing. Over the past few months, its hyped rollout has witnessed a lot more potholes than the bulls likely the clocks back to late June, Musk unveiled the much-anticipated robotaxi in a geofenced area of Austin, complete with safety monitors onboard. Early reactions were mixed, with many pointing out that the safety monitors were not exactly the driverless ride Tesla promised. Still, many found the robotaxi ride smooth, comparing it to a regular Uber trip, while Ives summed it up as pretty normal and safe. However, just days after the robotaxi debut, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a probe, seeking answers from the EV giant after videos showed cars veering into oncoming lanes and speeding. Meanwhile, Waymo's proving it can effectively scale where Tesla still stalls. The Google-owned company announced a major expansion in June, which takes its driverless service across a massive swath of Los Angeles and the wider Bay Area. Consequently, Neighborhoods like Mountain View and Palo Alto (prime Tesla territory) now see Waymo's white vans cruising around under real-world conditions. Additionally, Uber just locked in a big deal with The plan is to lock Pony's robotaxis into Uber's app in California and Arizona by late 2026. This partnership gives Uber more range, tapping into both Waymo and Pony, two of the biggest names in the robotaxi space. All this is happening as Tesla's stock takes fresh hits from Musk's political brawls. More Tech Stock News: Veteran analyst drops new clue on Nvidia's next big move Cathie Wood shells out $13.9 million for one high-stakes biotech stock TikTok's next move has Google and Meta sweating bullets His back-and-forth with Donald Trump has completely shifted the focus away from its actual tech milestones, adding fresh headaches for its patient investors. Tesla's next robotaxi chapter is at the heart of the tech unveiled plans for the company to kick off its autonomous ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area in the next couple of months, barring any regulatory hiccups. The Bay Area isn't exactly an easy launch pad. Local lawmakers have vehemently pushed back on robotaxis for years, citing traffic chaos and safety concerns. Waymo, Tesla's biggest self-driving rival, has faced a ton of city pushback after high-profile fender-benders and sudden stops that clogged intersections. However, Musk seems confident in Tesla's ability to fare better, betting the company's local fan base will help. San Francisco has long been a playground for tech pilots, and Tesla's decision could prove a headline-grabbing debut. If it works, the payoff could be huge, as investors crave fresh catalysts to propel Tesla's stock higher this year. Though the company's robotaxi debut in Austin was relatively small, the splash in California could prove massive. For now, though, the major roadblock is regulators, who are likely to play spoilsport. With city leaders on edge over robotaxis, Tesla's rollout timeline could shift fast. However, if Musk gets the green light, we could see those signature Teslas driving themselves around the Bay sooner than you next bet could flip the robotaxi race first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Auto Blog
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Waymo Won't Like Tesla's Latest Robotaxi Announcement
Tesla is putting the pedal to the floor with its robotaxis Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla will expand its autonomous robotaxi rideshare service to San Francisco's Bay Area within the next couple of months, pending regulatory approvals. Tesla launched its robotaxis on June 22 in Austin, Texas, with around 12 Model Y SUVs, each containing a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat. Musk also said that Tesla's Austin robotaxis will expand their geofencing, or area of operation, this weekend. Tesla executives noted during the company's Q1 call that its main advantage over the undisputed leader in autonomous ridesharing, Waymo, was its ability to scale its robotaxis faster and for less money, and expanding to another city two to three months after launching would demonstrate this principle. Waymo kicked off its autonomous rideshare service in 2018 with safety drivers, transitioned away from using safety drivers in 2020, and didn't expand to another city in San Francisco until 2021. While Waymo spread to another city years before Tesla robotaxis touched ground in Austin, Tesla also has the advantage of developing its self-driving software as the U.S. government begins streamlining regulations surrounding the technology. Tesla robotaxi navigating Austin, Texas — Source: Getty Factors working for and against Tesla robotaxis In April, the Trump administration accelerated the U.S.'s rollout of autonomous vehicles by expanding a program that exempts some self-driving cars from specific safety requirements outside of commercial use, while streamlining the existing criteria for crash reporting of advanced driver assistance and self-driving systems. Transportation Department officials will no longer require manufacturers using Level 2 self-driving systems, like Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD), to report certain kinds of non-fatal crashes. Additionally, last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it's speeding up the review process for manufacturers deploying autonomous vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels or pedals while providing more clarity on an application's requirements. Tesla's upcoming Cybercab, a purpose-built vehicle for its robotaxi service, won't contain a steering wheel or pedals. Still, Tesla's robotaxis aren't facing an easy road to expansion in San Francisco. Texas poses far fewer self-driving regulations for firms than California, which requires testing data for permits, something Tesla has been hesitant to release. In June, Reuters reported that Tesla was attempting to block Austin, Texas, from releasing public records to the news agency on its robotaxi trial. According to Reuters, a Tesla attorney wrote to Texas's Attorney General's office, citing the public records as containing 'confidential, proprietary, competitively sensitive commercial, and/or trade secret information' that would harm the automaker if released. Tesla Model Y functioning as a robotaxi — Source: Getty Final thoughts Tesla announced that it will hold its Q2 earnings call this year on Wednesday, July 23. While providing concrete data for its robotaxis' expansion to another city would help boost investor morale after another rough quarter, the automaker likely won't have this news in time for the call, with permits pending. Musk has mostly shrugged off Tesla's recent and significant year-over-year sales declines, solidifying his focus on autonomous driving technology and robotics as the company's future. However, Tesla will likely share news about the production of a more affordable model, which was supposed to occur by the end of June, during the call. About the Author Cody Carlson View Profile
