Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has signaled a potential shift in its autonomous vehicle strategy, hinting at the possibility of selling self-driving cars directly to consumers.
During a recent earnings call, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai discussed Waymo’s long-term business model, stating that the company is expanding partnerships and the potential for personal ownership.
This isn’t Waymo’s first foray into the idea of personal autonomous vehicles. Back in 2018, the company collaborated with Chrysler to produce self-driving Pacifica minivans, even considering the option of selling them for personal use.
Currently, Waymo boasts a larger fleet of robotaxis than Tesla and has recently expanded its testing operations to Japan. Meanwhile, Tesla is gearing up to launch its robotaxi service in Austin this summer.
