Tesla is battling with Waymo and Uber to shape California's new robotaxi rules

Core Viewpoint - Tesla is competing with Waymo and Uber to influence California's robotaxi regulations while aiming to meet Elon Musk's ambitious target for the year-end rollout of its robotaxi service [1][12]. Group 1: Regulatory Context - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is drafting new rules for robotaxi services and has invited comments from companies including Tesla, Uber, and Waymo [2]. - Tesla launched its ride-hailing service in San Francisco in July and a driverless taxi service in Austin a month earlier, but lacks the necessary permits for fully driverless rides in California [3][12]. Group 2: Company Positions - Tesla has safety drivers monitoring its vehicles in California and Austin, while Waymo offers fully driverless services in San Francisco and Los Angeles [3][4]. - In its regulatory filing, Tesla opposed Waymo's proposal for additional reporting requirements for ride-hailing services using advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), arguing that such vehicles are distinct from fully autonomous vehicles [5][6]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics - Uber has also filed comments suggesting that ADAS-equipped vehicles should not be marketed as fully autonomous, emphasizing the need for clarity in definitions [7][8]. - Both Waymo and Uber have previously agreed that ride-hailing services should be allowed to use vehicles with driver-assist systems under the new regulations [12]. Group 4: Future Plans - Elon Musk has stated that Tesla aims to have its robotaxi service operational in eight to ten metropolitan areas by the end of the year, with recent approval to launch a ride-hailing service in Arizona [12][13].