Tesla's Robotaxi Project Gains Attention Amid Waymo's Challenges

Tesla's Full Self-Driving system demonstrated its reliability during a recent power outage in San Francisco, as highlighted by dashcam footage of a Model Y navigating the darkened streets without incident.

While Tesla's vehicles operated seamlessly, Waymo's robotaxis faced significant challenges, causing traffic jams and requiring manual retrieval during the blackout. A Waymo spokesperson explained that its vehicles treat non-functional traffic signals as four-way stops, but the widespread power failure led to prolonged idling at intersections, contributing to congestion.

Waymo temporarily paused services due to the chaos but resumed operations the following day. Tesla CEO Elon Musk emphasized the effectiveness of Tesla's system, asserting that it performed much like an experienced human driver in the absence of power.

This incident underlines the competitive edge Tesla claims over Waymo in the autonomous vehicle space, particularly in challenging conditions. Despite Tesla's advancements, it is important to note that its robotaxi service still requires human drivers, while Waymo operates fully driverless services in San Francisco, albeit with recent disruptions.

The contrasting performances during the blackout could influence public perception and trust in these autonomous technologies going forward.