Overview

• New CPUC data list 1,429 Waymo vehicles operating in California, including 875 associated with San Francisco terminals.
• Waymo’s August update reports more than 2,000 commercial self‑driving vehicles deployed nationwide, up from 1,500 in May.
• Waymo recently expanded its Austin geofence to about 90 square miles, while Tesla broadened its Austin robotaxi coverage to roughly 170 square miles in a pilot that still uses in‑car safety monitors.
• The companies pursue contrasting designs, with Waymo leaning on lidar, radar and high‑definition maps and Tesla emphasizing a camera‑only, AI‑driven system that Elon Musk says could scale widely this year.
• Austin authorities documented operational issues and issued citations to Waymo vehicles, and Tesla’s broader rollout remains subject to state approvals and ongoing regulatory review.