Robotaxis Expand Across the U.S. Amid Industry Growth

Newly published robotaxi occupancy data from Waymo is sparking fresh discussions about the design of future autonomous fleets and provides notable validation for Tesla's upcoming two-seat Cybercab. This data, highlighted by Toyota Europe product designer Karim Dia Toubajie in a LinkedIn post, comes from Waymo's Q3 2025 filings with the California Public Utilities Commission.

According to Toubajie, 91% of robotaxi trips feature two or fewer passengers, with a significant 71% involving just a single occupant. Waymo's official disclosures indicate that only 15% of rides carried two passengers, and merely 9% had three or more occupants.

An additional 5% of rides involved no passengers at all, likely due to deliveries made by the autonomous fleet or vehicles repositioning themselves. Toubajie argues this data highlights a structural inefficiency in the current robotaxi model, which still predominantly relies on large, 2.5-ton multi-passenger vehicles for trips that are mainly solo or duo rides.

This inefficiency leads to unnecessary energy consumption, carbon output, and material use. He suggests that designing smaller and lighter vehicles could yield significant savings. Even Tesla's compact two-seat Cybercab, featuring a roughly 50 kWh battery pack, may still be larger than needed for the majority of rides.

The findings have gained traction on social media, especially on X, where supporters have pointed out that the data reinforces Tesla's decision to create a purpose-built two-seater. One popular post from the account @TheEVuniverse stated that Waymo's filings confirm Tesla's choice regarding the Cybercab's two-seat design was correct.

The Cybercab, known for its minimalist design and scissor doors, is tailored specifically for Tesla's Robotaxi network and has drawn global attention. It was showcased at an expo in China earlier this month, and CEO Elon Musk confirmed at Tesla's 2025 shareholder meeting that production is on track for April 2026.

The Cybercab was also seen testing on public roads in California in October as pre-production efforts ramp up. Once deployed, Cybercabs are expected to form the backbone of Tesla's autonomous ride-hailing network, allowing vehicle owners to contribute their vehicles to expand the service.

With the latest data from Waymo indicating that small-format robotaxis align with the real-world demand, Tesla's emphasis on simplicity in the Cybercab's design appears well-timed as the industry progresses.