What's happened
Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin remains limited with 31 vehicles and safety monitors, while Waymo has expanded its autonomous fleet and operates without safety drivers. Tesla aims for full autonomy soon, but progress is slow amid regulatory and technical challenges. Meanwhile, UK and European trials are set to begin with Chinese and US companies.
What's behind the headline?
The current landscape shows a clear divide between US and Chinese efforts in autonomous vehicle deployment. Tesla's cautious approach, with safety monitors still in place, contrasts with Waymo's aggressive expansion and full driverless operations. The UK and Europe are positioning themselves as new testing grounds, leveraging recent legislation to attract international companies. Tesla's slow progress highlights the technical and regulatory hurdles that still need to be overcome before fully driverless taxis become mainstream. The race is not just about technology but also about regulatory approval and public trust, which will determine the pace of adoption. Expect Tesla to accelerate testing in Austin, but widespread deployment remains at least a year away, while Waymo and Baidu are poised to lead in fully autonomous services in the near term.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports Tesla's limited deployment in Austin, with only 31 vehicles and safety monitors, highlighting the slow progress compared to Waymo's fully driverless fleet operating in multiple cities. Business Insider UK emphasizes the rapid expansion of robotaxi services across the US, with Waymo serving over 14 million trips in 2025 and expanding into new markets like Austin and Atlanta. The Guardian and AP News detail Europe's emerging role, with Baidu and Lyft preparing for trials in London, supported by recent legislation like the Automated Vehicles Act 2024. Sky News notes the cautious skepticism in the UK about trusting driverless taxis, contrasting with the US's more advanced deployment. Overall, the sources depict a competitive global landscape, with US and Chinese firms pushing ahead, while Europe prepares to join the race amidst regulatory and technical challenges.
How we got here
The development of autonomous taxis has been progressing over the past decade, with companies like Waymo, Tesla, Uber, and Baidu leading efforts. Regulatory frameworks such as the UK's Automated Vehicles Act 2024 have facilitated trials in Europe, while US companies have been expanding their operations across various cities. Tesla's progress has been slower due to regulatory hurdles and technical challenges, but it remains committed to achieving fully driverless vehicles.
Go deeper
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