Waymo Surges Past 200,000 Weekly Rides—Can Tesla Catch Up?

The race for autonomous vehicles is heating up, and Waymo is leading the pack. The self-driving taxi service, backed by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, now completes over 200,000 paid rides per week—double what it reported just six months ago.

With autonomous electric Jaguars already operating in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, Waymo has rapidly scaled its ride-hailing service while other companies struggle to get past the starting line. Meanwhile, Tesla’s long-promised robotaxi network is still in development.

200,000+ weekly Waymo rides and counting! 🚀 Huge thanks to all our riders for making this possible. We're building the future of transportation together! ✨ https://t.co/L31Sjh2Ttc

— Waymo (@Waymo) February 27, 2025

Tesla’s Delayed Entry into Robotaxis

Elon Musk has been teasing fully autonomous Teslas for nearly a decade, but despite its advanced driver-assist features, Tesla has yet to launch a fully self-driving car. That could change soon—Musk recently announced plans to start testing driverless Tesla taxis in Austin, Texas, this summer. If all goes well, the company hopes to expand to more cities quickly.

Tesla’s Cybercab, a custom-built robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, is expected to go into production in 2026. But for now, Tesla remains in the early stages of competing with established services like Waymo.

Waymo’s Growing Advantage

While Tesla works on its self-driving technology, Waymo has already cemented itself as the go-to autonomous taxi service in the U.S. Unlike Tesla, which relies on cameras for navigation, Waymo vehicles use a combination of cameras, LiDAR, radar, and high-definition mapping, making them more precise in city environments.

Alphabet’s deep pockets have fueled this expansion—Waymo secured $5.6 billion in funding last year alone. The company is also planning further growth, with deployments in Atlanta, Austin (via Uber), and Miami on the horizon.

Tesla’s Cost-Saving Bet

One of Tesla’s biggest potential advantages is cost. If the company can deliver a truly self-driving car using only cameras—without the expensive sensors Waymo relies on—it could significantly undercut the competition on price and scale. A Tesla robotaxi at $40,000-$50,000 per vehicle would be a game-changer. But as of today, Waymo remains the only company successfully operating a driverless taxi service at scale.

What This Means for EV Owners

With self-driving technology evolving fast, EV enthusiasts might wonder how this shift could impact the industry. Waymo’s success could encourage more automakers to invest in autonomous fleets, while Tesla’s approach—if successful—could make self-driving technology more accessible for everyday EV owners.

This also raises questions about customization and aftermarket upgrades. If fully autonomous cars become more common, will interior accessories like steering wheel covers and driver-focused upgrades become less relevant? Or will new opportunities emerge for smart accessories that integrate with self-driving software?

Final Thoughts

Waymo has a massive lead in the robotaxi market, while Tesla is still working to prove that its autonomous system is ready for real-world use. If Tesla can successfully roll out its robotaxi service in Austin, it could shake up the industry—but until then, Waymo remains the dominant player.

Would you trust a fully driverless Tesla, or do you think Waymo’s approach is the safer bet? Let us know your thoughts—because the future of self-driving EVs is closer than ever.

Source: Tim Levin, InsideEVs