@SawyerMerritt
William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer on riding in @Tesla's Robotaxi service in Austin last week: "We experienced a glimpse of the future, and it is exciting. The comparisons are immediate and stark—when we drove past Waymo and Zoox vehicles outfitted with their complex sensor suite, they stuck out like a sore thumb. In contrast, the robotaxis blended in with other Teslas on the road; we felt inconspicuous flowing with the traffic. Confirming our thesis, robotaxi was half the price of Uber, showing its ability to win market share by weaponizing price. In Austin we took multiple robotaxi and Waymo rides; the contrast was clear. Aside from the visual difference between each pulling up to the curb, the robotaxi was comfortable and familiar, and it felt as though a friendly ghost chauffeur was driving our personal car. Driving was smooth and human-like, recognizing and patiently waiting for pedestrians, switching into less crowded lanes, patiently waiting to execute a safe unprotected turn, and yet, discerning and confident enough to drive through a light that just turned yellow, so as not to slam on the brakes. Waymo also provided a top-notch service and we did not encounter any safety concerns, but if we were to be overly critical, if felt more ... robotic. In the cabin you have to listen to an airline-esque preamble on Waymo and safety protocols, and during the ride you can hear all the various spinning lidar sensors spooling up and down with electronic whizzing sounds. In short, robotaxi felt like a more luxurious service for half the cost and the driving felt more human-like."
