Where's my driver? Waymo hits 100,000+ weekly robotaxi rides

🚖 Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle arm, just hit a major milestone: 100,000 paid robotaxi rides per week across Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix – a 100% increase from earlier this year, with more expansion in the works. As for the competition, Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous vehicle division, is shifting into high gear with a multi-year partnership with Uber. Starting in 2025, Uber users will be able to book a Cruise robotaxi. While Waymo and Cruise race ahead, Tesla appears to be falling behind, repeatedly postponing its robotaxi rollout.

Safety last? 🤔 As the US accelerates toward a driverless future, safety concerns continue to slam the brakes. Sometimes literally. Cruise's deal with Uber marked a significant comeback after a major accident in SF last year temporarily halted operations, but GM just recalled nearly 1,200 Cruise vehicles due to unexpected braking. No wonder claims by China’s Pony.AI that its robotaxis are 10 times safer than human drivers are boosting adoption rates. (The latest Waymo robotaxis hitting SF streets are made by Zeekr, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer.)

✨ Whether or not the nuts, bolts and software of autonomous vehicles are all in place, robotization is here. And it's not just cars. Consumers are increasingly craving automation-fueled experiences that offer convenience with a touch of magic.