Episode 329 | Autonomy Markets: Who is Winning the Robotaxi Heavyweight Fight? Waymo or Tesla?

Sep 6, 2025

In this discussion, telecom analyst Walter Piecyk shares his insights on the intense rivalry between Waymo and Tesla in the robotaxi market. Waymo's bold expansion into Denver and Seattle is spotlighted, along with regulatory hurdles it faces in politically challenging cities. Tesla's new Robotaxi waitlist captures attention, skyrocketing in app charts. The conversation also touches on NHTSA's regulatory changes to expedite autonomous vehicle commercialization and highlights Torc's financial challenges as Daimler Truck seeks funding.

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INSIGHT

Waymo vs Tesla: The New Heavyweight Rivalry

Waymo and Tesla are now framed as a heavyweight rivalry driving public attention and faster product moves.
Industry progress from other players remains important despite the Waymo–Tesla spotlight.

ADVICE

Prepare Infrastructure Before Fleet Scale

Prepare charging, maintenance, and depot infrastructure before fleet volumes surge.
Expect OEMs or third-party depot operators to play a critical role for scaling robotaxi operations.

INSIGHT

Mixed Fleets Signal Waymo Scaling Strategy

Waymo plans mixed fleets in Denver using Jaguar I-PACEs and Zeekrs, signaling multi-model scaling.
Introducing different vehicle types hints at tailoring service by trip type and rider needs.

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This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss the new expansion announcements from both Waymo and Tesla, framing it as a “heavyweight fight”.

Waymo announced plans to expand to Denver and Seattle, with Denver set to become the first city where its fleet will include both Jaguar I-PACEs and Zeekrs. The company also gained regulatory approval to operate at the San Jose (SJC) airport, a move Grayson Brulte predicted five months ago on a previous episode.

Meanwhile, Tesla opened the public waitlist for its Robotaxi app, which quickly surged up the Apple App Store charts, reaching #1 in the travel category and #8 overall among free apps.

The discussion then broadens beyond the Waymo–Tesla rivalry, touching on the political headwinds Waymo faces in Seattle, NHTSA’s recent regulatory changes designed to accelerate autonomous vehicle commercialization, and Torc’s $660 million annual burn rate as Daimler Truck explores external funding options.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Waymo-Tesla Competition

5:48 Waymo’s Denver Expansion

8:01 No Uber Partnership for Denver or Seattle?

10:36 Waymo’s Affection for Unwelcoming Cities, Including Seattle

15:24 Benefits of Autonomy

16:37 Updated NHTSA Rules

19:23 Waymo Expands to San Jose Airport, Is SFO Next?

24:22 Tesla Opens Robotaxi Waitlist

27:43 Highway Unlocks

30:44 Avride Launching on Uber in Dallas

33:16 Tensor Auto

35:49 Daimler Truck is Seeking Outside Capital for Torc

40:18 Next Week

Recorded on Friday, September 5, 2025

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