A robotaxi is an autonomous vehicle that transports passengers without a continuously controlling human driver. It combines autonomous driving with a ride-hailing model: passengers request a trip, leave the vehicle at their destination, and the vehicle serves another rider. section 4.1.2
A mature robotaxi ecosystem could involve several business roles:
- Ride-hailing services could reduce costs by replacing human drivers with autonomous systems. section 4.1.2
- Vehicle manufacturers with level-5 systems could gain sales if customers trust their automation more than competitors’ systems. section 4.1.2
- Hardware and appliance providers could supply autonomous-driving systems or components to manufacturers. section 4.1.2
- Demographic data can reveal likely demand among teenagers, older adults, and people with disabilities who face barriers to driving. section 11.1.1
Waymo’s position
Waymo offers robotaxi rides to consumers rather than manufacturing cars. Its possible expansion into autonomous-driving appliances would place it against comprehensive platforms, while its in-house LiDAR hardware could pressure specialized suppliers. section 4.3.2
