Tesla(US:TSLA) Benzingaยท2025-05-27 13:17Core Insights - Elon Musk has repeatedly promised the launch of robotaxis since 2016, with the latest commitment being a fleet in Austin, Texas, by June [1] - While Tesla is making promises, Waymo and Baidu's Apollo Go are already operational and generating significant ride volumes [1] Waymo's Progress - Waymo has achieved a significant milestone of 10 million paid robotaxi rides, doubling its count in just five months [2] - The service operates 250,000 weekly trips across major cities including San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Los Angeles, indicating its integration into daily life [2] - Although not yet profitable, Waymo's operations are supported by Alphabet's financial resources, with growing investor confidence in its future profitability [3] Baidu's Expansion - Baidu's Apollo Go has provided 1.4 million rides in the first quarter and operates fully autonomously in 15 cities in China, with testing also underway in Dubai and Hong Kong [3] - Apollo Go has logged a total of 11 million rides and is looking to expand into Europe, with CEO Robin Li stating it is on a "clear path to profitability" due to decreasing hardware costs and strategic partnerships [4] Tesla's Robotaxi Plans - Tesla is preparing for a limited rollout of robotaxis in Austin, starting with just 10 Model Y vehicles using the upcoming "FSD Unsupervised" software [5] - There are expectations for rapid scaling if the initial rollout is successful, particularly in Los Angeles and San Francisco, but there are doubts about the current technology and the need for human supervision [5] - While there may be short-term stock market reactions, it is unlikely to significantly impact Tesla's revenue in the near future [5] Industry Comparison - Waymo and Apollo Go are advancing in the robotaxi sector, while Tesla appears to be lagging behind in actual deployment [6] - Investors are encouraged to focus on companies that are already operational rather than those making promises without substantial progress [6]