Link: Tesla’s robotaxis are cheaper than Waymo, but the wait times are longer

Tesla’s robotaxis, although not fully driverless, are significantly cheaper than competitors like Waymo, Uber, and Lyft. A new report by Obi shows that Tesla’s prices are so low they remind of Uber’s early strategies funded by venture capital.

Despite their cost-effectiveness, Tesla’s robotaxis have the longest waiting times in the industry. On average, customers in San Francisco wait over 15 minutes for a ride.

Waymo, on the other hand, is narrowing its price gap with Uber and Lyft, becoming only marginally more expensive. They now offer more competitive rates, especially for longer trips.

Besides the cost and wait times, Tesla faces regulatory and operational hurdles in expanding its fully driverless services. They are still in the early stages of testing fully autonomous vehicles without safety monitors.

Customer confidence in autonomous vehicle safety is increasing, with a significant portion of survey respondents believing robotaxis will be safer than human-driven rides within five years. However, concerns about high costs and long wait times persist.

Obi plans to expand its analysis to include new entrants like Zoox, which has started offering free robotaxi services in San Francisco. This could further shake up the competitive landscape and consumer perceptions.

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