Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently shared his thoughts on Tesla's vision for robotaxis in a podcast interview. Let's delve into the details of their conversation.
Uber CEO Talks Autonomous Vehicles on Hard Fork Podcast
In a recent episode of the Hard Fork podcast, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi discussed the future of autonomous vehicles. During the interview, Khosrowshahi expressed his interest in Elon Musk's concept of Tesla robotaxis, calling it 'pretty compelling'.
Uber's Partnership with Waymo and Expansion Plans
Uber made headlines in 2023 by teaming up with Waymo to introduce autonomous ride-hailing services to customers in Phoenix. This partnership has since expanded to include operations in Atlanta and Austin by 2025. Despite a previous legal battle over self-driving technology, Waymo and Uber settled their differences with a $245 million agreement in 2018.
Tesla vs. Waymo in the Autonomous Vehicle Industry
As Waymo and Tesla vie for dominance in the autonomous vehicle market, Khosrowshahi weighed in on Tesla's recent 'We, Robot' event. Musk unveiled the Cybercab, Tesla's robotaxi, at the event, prompting varied reactions from industry experts and analysts.
Potential Collaboration Between Uber and Tesla
When asked about Tesla's competition with Uber, Khosrowshahi hinted at the possibility of collaboration. He mentioned that if Tesla chooses to work with Uber, they could be partners in the autonomous vehicle space. Khosrowshahi praised Musk's vision for robotaxis, suggesting a future where Tesla fleet owners could maximize their earnings through Uber's platform.
Waymo vs. Tesla: Uber's Perspective
Despite acknowledging Tesla's potential, Khosrowshahi expressed his confidence in Waymo's capabilities. He stated that while Elon Musk may reach scalability in the future, Uber is currently placing its bets on Waymo for the next five years.
Insights on Waymo's Hardware and Tesla's Software
Contrasting views emerged regarding Waymo and Tesla's technological advantages. While a former Tesla executive highlighted Tesla's software strength, Khosrowshahi emphasized Waymo's ability to address hardware challenges over time.
Uber's Autonomous Vehicle Journey
Uber initially pursued autonomous driving independently but later faced setbacks, leading to the sale of its self-driving car unit to Aurora in 2020. Despite challenges, Uber remains open to potential collaborations in the evolving landscape of autonomous vehicles.
Representatives for Uber declined to comment on the matter when approached by Business Insider.
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By: ledmonds@businessinsider.com (Lauren Edmonds,Lloyd Lee)
Title: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Discusses Tesla Robotaxis on Tech Podcast
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/uber-ceo-calls-elon-musk-robotaxi-vision-compelling-2024-10
Published Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2024 22:06:51 +0000
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