The Race to Autonomy: Are Robotaxis Ready for the Roads?

As the automotive industry accelerates towards a driverless future, two tech giants, Waymo and Tesla, are at the forefront, each navigating unique challenges and milestones. Recent developments have cast a spotlight on the readiness of autonomous vehicles (AVs) for widespread adoption.

~ Farra Nasir, Technology Analyst at CIH

Waymo's Safety Under Scrutiny

Waymo, Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving unit, has been a pioneer in autonomous ride-hailing services. Operating in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin, Waymo's fleet has completed over 250,000 paid rides weekly (San Francisco Chronicle, 2024).

However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation in May 2024 after 22 reported incidents involving Waymo's fifth-generation automated driving system. These incidents included collisions with stationary objects and potential traffic law violations (The Verge, 2024; Ars Technica, 2024; GovTech, 2024).

In response, Waymo issued a software recall for 1,212 vehicles in late 2024 to address issues related to low-speed collisions with stationary barriers (Business Insider, 2024). Despite these setbacks, Waymo maintains that its vehicles are significantly safer than human drivers, reporting 81% fewer injury-causing crashes based on over 50 million rider-only miles (Reuters, 2024; San Francisco Chronicle, 2024).

Tesla's Optimus: Hype vs. Reality

Tesla’s approach to autonomy extends beyond vehicles to humanoid robots. At the "We, Robot" event in October 2024, Tesla showcased its Optimus robots performing tasks such as serving drinks and dancing. However, it was later revealed that these robots were remotely operated by humans during the event, raising questions about their actual capabilities (TechSpot, 2024; Business Standard, 2024; LiveMint, 2024).

Further developments saw the resignation of Milan Kovac, head of Tesla’s Optimus program, in June 2025. Kovac cited personal reasons for his departure, and his responsibilities were assumed by Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s Autopilot lead (Reuters, 2025; Wall Street Journal, 2025).

Public Perception and Regulatory Challenges

The journey towards fully autonomous vehicles is not just a technological challenge but also a regulatory and societal one. Public trust is paramount, and incidents involving AVs can significantly impact perception.

Waymo’s reported incidents have prompted discussions about the safety and readiness of AVs, while Tesla’s staged demonstrations have faced skepticism regarding the authenticity of their autonomous capabilities.

Conclusion

The race to autonomy is a complex interplay of innovation, safety, and public trust. While companies like Waymo and Tesla continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with automation, real-world challenges and increasing regulatory scrutiny highlight the importance of transparency, ethical design, and rigorous testing. As the industry progresses, the focus must remain on ensuring that autonomous systems are not only advanced but also demonstrably safe and reliable for public use.