(Reuters) -Electric car maker Tesla started a trial of its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, the first step toward what could be a showdown with Alphabet's Waymo, the only player currently offering fully autonomous paid rides in the United States.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has started off with about 10 Model Ys and promised to focus on safety. He says Tesla could scale quickly, and he plans a separate robotaxi vehicle.
Social media influencers were seen booking and taking rides in the robotaxis in several Austin locations on Sunday, according to videos reposted by Musk.
Here is how Tesla's cybercab efforts compare with those of Waymo and Amazon.com-owned Zoox, which is preparing its own commercial launch:
LOCATIONS
VEHICLE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Feature Waymo Tesla Zoox
Vehicle Type Jaguar I-Pace Model Y Custom built
bidirectional
pod
Steering Yes Yes in No
wheel current test
Autonomous LiDAR, cameras, Cameras LiDAR,
technology radars cameras,
radars
Autonomy Level 4 - Testing Level Testing Level
level autonomous 4 4
within limits
Launch of 2018 2025 Expected
paid service later in 2025
Teleoperatio Yes Yes Yes
n - human
guidance or
control
Rides/vehicl More than About 10 More than 20
es 250,000 rides a vehicles vehicles in
week testing
phase
(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)
