Alphabet's Waymo prepares for fleet expansion while Tesla encounters regulatory hurdles with the NHTSA over its Cybercab safety certifications.
Tesla faces an NHTSA special order over Cybercab self-certification and criticism about not applying for a brake-pedal exception, creating regulatory overhang.
Gerber's discovery of hundreds of Waymo robotaxis suggests Alphabet's autonomous driving unit is scaling up, a positive signal for Alphabet.
Uber is preparing an autonomous-vehicle pilot in Tokyo in late 2026, a modest expansion with no immediate financial impact.
Investor Ross Gerber has identified a large cache of Waymo autonomous vehicles in California, signaling a significant expansion for the Alphabet-backed unit. Meanwhile, Tesla faces mounting regulatory pressure as the NHTSA demands answers regarding the self-certification of its Cybercab, highlighting a widening gap in autonomous deployment readiness between the two competitors.
The NHTSA issued a special order requiring Tesla to answer questions under oath regarding the self-certification of its Cybercab following its deployment in Austin.
Waymo is actively scaling its operations, recently launching in Las Vegas and planning a 2027 service rollout in Tokyo.