Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-12-22 08:57Core Viewpoint - Multiple companies have publicly questioned Waymo's technological approach to Robotaxi following a significant incident in San Francisco where a power outage caused traffic disruptions and highlighted the limitations of Waymo's system [1][3][4]. Group 1: Incident Overview - On December 20, a fire at a PG&E substation led to a power outage affecting over 30% of San Francisco, impacting more than 130,000 residents [1]. - The outage caused traffic lights to go dark, resulting in Waymo's Robotaxis becoming immobilized in the streets, contributing to traffic chaos [1][3]. Group 2: Industry Reactions - Executives from companies like Tesla, Horizon, and Xpeng have raised concerns about Waymo's reliance on high-definition maps and pre-programmed rules, suggesting that this approach is inadequate for handling unexpected situations [3][6][8]. - Elon Musk stated that Tesla's Robotaxi was unaffected during the power outage, contrasting it with Waymo's performance [4][6]. Group 3: Technological Critique - Waymo's L4 Robotaxi technology is criticized for its rigid response to unforeseen events, as evidenced by a previous incident where it failed to stop for a school bus [6]. - In contrast, Tesla and other companies advocate for AI-driven models that learn from vast amounts of data, aiming for a more adaptable and robust autonomous driving solution [6][8]. Group 4: Future Directions - Horizon's CEO emphasized the need for AI advancements to achieve true safety in autonomous driving, arguing that relying on rules and infrastructure is insufficient [8][10]. - Xpeng's senior director highlighted the importance of developing vehicles that can understand and react to real-world scenarios like a human driver, indicating a shared vision with Tesla regarding the future of Robotaxi technology [10][13].