Robotaxi race opens up as top contender Waymo in low gear in Arizona

Front quarter panel sensors are seen on Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles at Waymo's operations center in the Bayview district of San Francisco, California, U.S. October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Peter DaSilva

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Waymo risks losing its lead in the U.S. race to prove robotaxis are a viable business as it sticks to a limited service and rivals backed by automakers near their own launches.

Companies including Ford Motor Co's Argo AI and General Motors Co's Cruise are competing for the billions of dollars in financing needed to automate driving through artificial intelligence software and expensive sensors.