Benzingaยท2025-11-16 06:12Core Insights - Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to Waymo's expansion of autonomous vehicle operations in the San Francisco Bay Area, highlighting competitive dynamics in the self-driving market [1][3]. Group 1: Waymo's Expansion - Waymo is expanding its autonomous vehicle operations to include highways in Phoenix, Arizona, and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Los Angeles, enhancing the reach and efficiency of its self-driving cabs [2]. - The expansion will cover the entire peninsula area from San Francisco to San Jose, including curbside service at San Jose Mineta International Airport [3]. Group 2: Fleet Size and Competition - Waymo's fleet consists of 2,500 Robotaxis operating across multiple cities, with a significant presence in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles [3]. - Musk referred to Waymo's fleet size as "rookie numbers," indicating a competitive stance against Waymo's current operations [3]. Group 3: Tesla's Developments - Tesla plans to launch driverless Robotaxis powered by a camera-based system in Austin, Texas, by the end of the year, currently offering Robotaxis with an onboard safety operator [4].