Waymo Explores Selling Self-Driving Cars | | Generative ai tools for images | Ai image generator | Turtles AI

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said Waymo could offer self-driving vehicles for personal use in the future. The move marks an evolution in the company’s strategy from its current focus on robotaxi services. Competitors such as Tesla are developing similar solutions, increasing competition in the space.

Key Points:

• Sundar Pichai hinted at the possibility of selling self-driving vehicles for personal use.
• Waymo currently operates more than 700 autonomous vehicles, with plans to expand into new cities.
• Tesla is developing the “Cybercab,” a robotaxi designed for personal use.
• Competition in the self-driving space is intensifying, with several companies pursuing similar goals.

During a recent earnings conference call, Sundar Pichai discussed the future direction of Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving division. While no specifics or timeline were provided, Pichai did mention the possibility of “future options around personal ownership” of autonomous vehicles. Waymo currently operates more than 700 autonomous vehicles, including the Chrysler Pacifica and Jaguar I-Pace, in cities such as San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin. The company recently raised $5.6 billion in a funding round to support the expansion of its Waymo One service to new cities such as Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C.

Competition in the self-driving space is intensifying. Tesla, for example, has announced the development of the “Cybercab,” a robotaxi designed for personal use, with a price tag of $30,000 by 2026. Elon Musk has emphasized that Tesla’s model is cheaper than Waymo’s, which uses vehicles equipped with lidar and other complex sensors. Tesla currently has no operational robotaxis, but Musk has promised that “millions” of Tesla self-driving cars will be in operation by the end of next year.

In Italy, Waymo recently began its first Level 4 autonomous driving tests in Balocco, in the province of Turin, on a closed road. These tests are being conducted in collaboration with FCA, which is providing the vehicles for the tests. At this time, Waymo has not announced specific plans to expand its services in Europe, but has indicated the possibility of future collaborations and expansion into new markets.

Waymo’s strategy appears to be evolving towards greater flexibility in its business model, exploring both robotaxi services and the possibility of offering self-driving vehicles for personal use. However, competition in the sector is growing, with several companies developing similar solutions, increasing competition and pressure on the market.

Autonomous driving is rapidly evolving from an emerging technology to a central component of future mobility.