What is a robotaxi?
A robotaxi is a driverless vehicle offering paid rides with no human driver on board, booked through an app, as Waymo and Tesla do in U.S. cities.
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Definition
A robotaxi is a fully autonomous ride-hailing vehicle. Service quality depends on the driving system, fleet operations, remote support and regulation.
Key metrics
Paid rides per week, number of driverless vehicles, cities served, and safety per mile. See our Tesla vs. Waymo deep dive.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I ride a robotaxi?
As of October 2026, Waymo operates in 15 U.S. markets and Tesla runs its Cybercab service in Austin.
Lidar vs cameras: what's the difference?
Waymo uses lidar plus cameras and other sensors; Tesla relies on cameras and sensors without lidar. Each has trade-offs in cost and low-light performance.
Are robotaxis allowed on freeways?
Yes in some cities. Waymo offers freeway rides in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and, since September 2026, Austin via Uber.
Coverage
Tesla's Cybercab month one vs. Waymo: fleet size isn't the whole race
Tesla's Austin Cybercab fleet grew quickly after its Sept. 3 launch, but Waymo runs 4,000+ driverless cars in 15 U.S. markets and 500,000+ paid rides a week. Here's what separates them.
Waymo starts driverless freeway rides for Uber riders in Austin
Waymo is gradually routing some Austin Uber trips onto freeways after testing fully driverless freeway operation there since February 2026. It already offers freeway rides in four other cities.
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