Core Viewpoint - Tesla's vision for a robotaxi service, led by CEO Elon Musk, remains ambitious despite the absence of operational robotaxis, while competitors like Waymo are already providing paid rides [1][2][3] Group 1: Tesla's Robotaxi Vision - Tesla has not yet deployed any robotaxis, despite multiple promises from Musk about their imminent arrival [2] - The company aims to offer a robotaxi service that is cheaper than competitors like Waymo, utilizing a camera-only approach for its Full-Self Driving system [4][5] - Tesla claims it can rapidly produce a purpose-built robotaxi called the Cybercab and allow existing Tesla owners to convert their vehicles into autonomous taxis [5][6] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Waymo has successfully completed over 10 million paid rides and is seen as a leader in the robotaxi space, having established a significant operational arm [3][8] - Analysts are pricing the potential of Tesla's robotaxi service into its stock, with some believing it could surpass competitors [3][4] - The robotaxi market is characterized by high costs, with companies like Cruise having burned through $10 billion before shutting down [14] Group 3: Challenges and Assumptions - Tesla's success hinges on several assumptions, including the establishment of a robust operations arm for vehicle maintenance and management [7][8] - Concerns exist regarding the limitations of Tesla's camera-only system, particularly in adverse weather conditions compared to Waymo's lidar and radar systems [9][11] - The user experience and operational solutions for managing a fleet of privately-owned Teslas are critical for the success of Tesla's robotaxi service [11][12] Group 4: Safety and Consumer Adoption - Safety remains a significant barrier for Tesla's robotaxi service, with the company being "super paranoid about safety" as it prepares for a limited launch [19][20] - A study indicated that Tesla's Full Self-Driving software has a lower average miles driven between disengagements compared to Waymo, which could impact consumer confidence [19][20] - Analysts believe that consumer adoption will increase once Tesla's robotaxi service demonstrates safety levels surpassing those of human drivers [20]