Waymo Fires Back at Tesla’s Robotaxi Expansion in Austin with Massive Geofence Extension
Waymo has retaliated against Tesla’s recent Robotaxi geofence expansion in Austin with a bold move of its own. In response to Tesla doubling its serviceable area in Austin to 42 square miles, Waymo has extended its geofence to a whopping 90 square miles, overshadowing Tesla’s reach.
Tesla’s expansion earlier this week put the company ahead of Waymo in terms of service area within Austin. Despite only operating its driverless Robotaxi platform in the city for less than a month, Tesla managed to outpace Waymo, which has been in Austin since March.
However, Waymo’s response to Tesla’s move was swift and significant. The company’s geofence now covers new neighborhoods such as Crestview, Windsor Park, Sunset Valley, Franklin Park, as well as popular tourist destinations like The Domain and McKinney Falls State Park. This expansion allows Waymo to offer its fully autonomous vehicles to more riders through the Uber app.
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, commented on the expansion, stating that it marks a key milestone in Austin and enables more riders to experience Waymo’s autonomous driving technology. Shweta Shrivastava, Senior Director of Product Management at Waymo, expressed excitement about offering the service to more of the city and emphasized Waymo’s commitment to growing alongside Austin.
With this latest expansion, Waymo’s service area now exceeds 700 square miles across the U.S., including operations in California and Arizona. The competition between Waymo and Tesla in Austin benefits consumers by pushing the boundaries of autonomous driving technology and expanding access to these innovative services.
Tesla’s initial geofence expansion in Austin featured an interesting shape that some interpreted as a humorous jab at competitors. While Tesla could have extended its geofence further, the company opted for a playful approach. Now that Waymo has responded with a massive geofence extension of its own, it remains to be seen how Tesla will react.
Overall, the rivalry between Waymo and Tesla in the autonomous driving space showcases the rapid advancements in technology and the race to provide innovative transportation solutions to consumers. As both companies continue to compete for market share and service area in Austin, customers can expect to benefit from a wider range of autonomous driving options in the near future.