Business Wars Waymo and the Rise of the Robotaxis | Driving Too Fast | 2
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Jan 21, 2026 A thrilling race for autonomous cars unfolds as Google invests heavily in Waymo, aiming to revolutionize transportation. Meanwhile, Uber's reckless strategy in its quest for autonomy leads to major setbacks and a tragic accident in Tempe. Legal clashes culminate in a 2018 settlement, while Waymo partners with Lyft to launch a ride-hailing service. Despite impressive safety records and cautious advancements, public skepticism remains high. The battle for the robotaxi market intensifies with new competitors emerging and lingering questions about trust and profitability.
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Engineer-Catalyzed Legal Showdown
- Anthony Lewandowski allegedly downloaded ~14,000 Waymo files before leaving for Uber, triggering a major lawsuit.
- Waymo claimed the theft accelerated rivals' LiDAR work and nearly cost it the lead in self-driving cars.
Speed Versus Caution
- Uber repeatedly prioritized speed over compliance, testing without permits and treating rules as optional.
- Waymo favored slow, methodical development, aiming to reduce errors and regulatory backlash.
Emergency Vehicle Test Day
- Waymo ran emergency vehicle tests in Chandler to ensure minivans reacted safely amid sirens and chaos.
- The fleet successfully yielded and navigated, validating Waymo's cautious approach to edge-case scenarios.
