Ross Gerber, co-founder of investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, has weighed in on the progress made by Elon Musk‘s Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) , as well as Robotaxi rival Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) Waymo in the Robotaxi and self-driving sectors.Tesla FSD v14.2 Impressed Ross GerberTaking to the social media platform X on Thursday, Gerber shared his experiences with the FSD system, saying that the technology "drives much better than before." However, the investor did concede that there were still ...

Core Insights - The U.S. is increasing its focus on autonomous driving, with companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox leading the charge, while ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft stand to benefit significantly from this trend [1] Cost Savings - Autonomous taxis can reduce costs by eliminating the need for human drivers, allowing companies to offer more competitive prices, which could enhance adoption and profit margins [2] - A comparison showed that a Tesla Robotaxi ride was over $13 cheaper than a regular Uber ride for a trip to a coffee shop in Downtown San Jose [3] Growing Customer Adoption - There is a growing preference for Robotaxis over traditional cabs, as evidenced by Uber users in Atlanta opting for Waymo Robotaxis [4] - Tesla's Robotaxi app became one of the most downloaded free travel applications on the Apple App Store, surpassing Uber's own 30-day rollout record [4] Improved Safety Outcomes - Research indicates that autonomous vehicles may be safer than human drivers, with Waymo reporting a 91% higher likelihood of avoiding serious injuries compared to human drivers [5] - Waymo also noted a 79% reduction in airbag deployments and an 88% reduction in property damage claims compared to human drivers [6] Partnerships Could Be The Way Forward - Uber and Lyft are forming partnerships with companies like Waymo to integrate Robotaxis into their platforms, which could enhance their market reach [7] - Uber's CEO highlighted a $1 trillion total addressable market (TAM) opportunity for the autonomous driving industry, suggesting various revenue models for Robotaxis [8] Market Reactions - Waymo's partnership with Lyft in Nashville resulted in a 10% increase in Lyft's stock price, indicating positive market sentiment towards such collaborations [9] Operational Efficiency - Partnerships with autonomous vehicle companies could alleviate the costs associated with maintaining a fleet, allowing ride-hailing companies to focus on providing platforms for these vehicles [10] Challenges Ahead - Regulatory challenges persist, with varying state regulations in the U.S. and calls for stricter oversight from government officials [11][12] - Concerns from traditional cab drivers and lawmakers about the impact of autonomous vehicles on employment and livelihoods are emerging [13] Conclusion - Ride-hailing companies are investing in autonomous vehicles, with Uber planning to deploy over 20,000 Robotaxis through partnerships over the next six years, indicating a strong commitment to this evolving market [14]

Core Insights - Waymo has achieved a significant milestone by completing 96 million driverless miles, enhancing its self-driving credentials [1][2] - The company reported a substantial reduction in serious injuries and airbag deployments compared to human drivers [3] Waymo's Safety Report - Waymo's report indicates that it has driven 96 million miles without a driver as of June this year, with specific mileages in key cities: 16.4 million in Los Angeles, 29.8 million in San Francisco, 4.62 million in Austin, and 46.39 million in Phoenix [2] - The self-driving cabs have recorded 91% fewer serious injuries and 79% fewer airbag deployments compared to human-operated vehicles [3] San Francisco Airport Expansion - Waymo has begun testing operations at San Francisco International Airport after receiving a pilot permit for commercial operations [4] - Initially, the service will be available only to employees, with plans to expand to regular riders in the San Francisco Bay Area [5] New York City Testing - Waymo has started testing its autonomous cabs in New York City, facing opposition from local cab drivers who are concerned about the impact on their livelihoods [6] - Tesla is also entering the NYC market, seeking drivers for its Robotaxi testing operations [7] Tesla's Robotaxi Operations - Tesla has expanded its Robotaxi operations in Austin to include highway driving, moving the onboard safety operator to the driver's seat to navigate new regulations [8] - The effectiveness of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has been under scrutiny, with recent revisions to its definition [9] Regulatory Environment and Market Opportunity - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to ease self-driving regulations by revising the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards [10] - Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities maintains a bullish outlook on Tesla's FSD technology, highlighting a potential $1 trillion market opportunity for autonomous driving [10]

Core Points - Waymo suspended its robotaxi service in downtown Los Angeles following the vandalism of five vehicles during protests against immigration raids [1][2] - The company operates over 300 vehicles in LA and continues its services in other parts of the city despite the incident [4] Group 1: Incident Details - Five Waymo vehicles were set on fire during protests, which were largely peaceful but included some violence [3][5] - The protests were triggered by an immigration raid in the city, leading to heightened tensions and political conflict between President Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom [5][6] - Waymo is collaborating with the Los Angeles Police Department regarding the incident [2] Group 2: Historical Context - This is not the first instance of Waymo vehicles being targeted; a similar incident occurred last year in San Francisco during Lunar New Year celebrations [4]