[Workaccount2]

The cost for Waymo is the whole car, so Waymo is in it at ~$100k per operational taxi. They are beholden to hardware manufacturers for their product.

Tesla is trying to get in at ~$20k per operational taxi, with everything made in house.

Assuming Tesla can figure out it's FSD (and convince people it's safe), they could dramatically undercut Waymo on price, while still being profitable. If a Waymo to the airport is $20, and Robotaxi is $5, Tesla will win, regardless of anything else (assuming equal safety).

[xethos]

This is just Google doing what they've done for years now: start with the software, partner with hardware OEMs, then build their own hardware. Android to Nexus to Pixel line is one example, Google Now on Tap to their own smart speakers is another (though they may not have hit the third step there yet), and Waymo / Google Maps to self driving is following the same path.

[beAbU]

The amount of "if"s in your comment is astounding.