Overview

• The California Public Utilities Commission has approved Waymo's permit amendment to operate its autonomous taxi fleet across nearly all of San Jose under strict safety and accessibility requirements.
• Waymo emphasized a cautious and phased approach to its expansion, with no immediate timeline for launching operations in the newly approved area.
• Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed plans for a geofenced robotaxi trial in Austin, Texas, starting with 10 vehicles by the end of June, with potential scaling to 1,000 vehicles within months if successful.
• Tesla's trial will use Model Y vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving software, operating without safety drivers but monitored remotely to ensure operational safety.
• Waymo continues to lead the U.S. robotaxi market, conducting over 250,000 paid trips weekly, while Tesla's entry into the space highlights growing competition in autonomous ride-hailing.