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The problem is neither Waymo or Uber make their own cars, and the cars they use weren't purpose built for self driving. Both of those points give Tesla a huge

The problem is neither Waymo or Uber make their own cars, and the cars they use weren't purpose built for self driving. Both of those points give Tesla a huge economic and competitive advantage in the long run. Uber/Waymo are the middlemen, once OEMs start building their own purpose built self driving vehicles there's a good chance Waymo/Uber get factored out of the equation.

ra7 2y ago
Not if OEMs don't have the technology. Making cars is the easiest part of self driving. Once you have the tech, you can farm the manufacturing out to many OEMs (like Waymo is doing with Hyundai and Geely) and then OEMs become the middlemen.
- NullHypothesist 2y ago
  If Waymo continues to grow their OEM partner pool, then presumably they'd have a better ability to put cars on the road than Tesla. I'd say right now it's "advantage Tesla" but could easily see this flipped on its head if Waymo announces more partnerships soon. Could very easily see them partnering with major US automakers like Ford or Stellantis (lol maybe even GM, but that seems extreme)
  - xnx 2y ago
    > I'd say right now it's "advantage Tesla" Tesla self-driving doesn't exist and will only work on Tesla vehicles if they ever develop the capability. Waymo self-driving works now and has been demonstrated on multiple vehicles. Waymo could utilize the manufacturing capacity of the entire auto-industry.
    - NullHypothesist 2y ago
      Oh yeah, I totally agree. Should have specified. That advantage only applies to making vehicles. In terms of driving, operation, and pretty much everything else, clearly 'advantage Waymo'
tene80i 2y ago
What’s the advantage of owning the full stack? Some margin on the base machine? Is that that huge a factor?
- erikerikson 2y ago
  Ask Apple?
  - ra7 2y ago
    Apple doesn’t own any factories to make their hardware. Their vertical integration goes as far as hardware design and software. Pretty much exactly what companies like Waymo are trying to do.
    - erikerikson 2y ago
      It's fair to say that Tesla's vertical integration is even deeper. Might Microsoft Windows or Google Android be a better example than Apple? Does Waymo actually specify the entire vehicle (i.e. have it's own engine design) or just the systems added to the vehicle?
      - ra7 2y ago
        Indeed, Windows or Android are a better example than Apple. Waymo only designs the systems added to the vehicle, but they do have input over some parts of the vehicle design. Geely (Zeekr) is building a purpose-built robotaxi for them that's based on their SEA-M platform, but with Waymo customizations. I'm not sure Tesla level vertical integration is really necessary.
  - tene80i 2y ago
    But the point there is that by controlling the stack Apple can improve the overall UX, from encryption to battery life or what have you. What’s the equivalent in self-driving cars? Better handling?
    - 2y ago
xnx 2y ago
Cars are commodity. The brains/driver is the value.
scarface_74 2y ago
Well seeing that Tesla self driving cars are all smoke and mirrors and has been for years and Waymo os operating now…

ra7 2y ago

Not if OEMs don't have the technology. Making cars is the easiest part of self driving. Once you have the tech, you can farm the manufacturing out to many OEMs (like Waymo is doing with Hyundai and Geely) and then OEMs become the middlemen.

NullHypothesist 2y ago
If Waymo continues to grow their OEM partner pool, then presumably they'd have a better ability to put cars on the road than Tesla. I'd say right now it's "advantage Tesla" but could easily see this flipped on its head if Waymo announces more partnerships soon. Could very easily see them partnering with major US automakers like Ford or Stellantis (lol maybe even GM, but that seems extreme)
- xnx 2y ago
  > I'd say right now it's "advantage Tesla" Tesla self-driving doesn't exist and will only work on Tesla vehicles if they ever develop the capability. Waymo self-driving works now and has been demonstrated on multiple vehicles. Waymo could utilize the manufacturing capacity of the entire auto-industry.
  - NullHypothesist 2y ago
    Oh yeah, I totally agree. Should have specified. That advantage only applies to making vehicles. In terms of driving, operation, and pretty much everything else, clearly 'advantage Waymo'

tene80i 2y ago

What’s the advantage of owning the full stack? Some margin on the base machine? Is that that huge a factor?

erikerikson 2y ago
Ask Apple?
- ra7 2y ago
  Apple doesn’t own any factories to make their hardware. Their vertical integration goes as far as hardware design and software. Pretty much exactly what companies like Waymo are trying to do.
  - erikerikson 2y ago
    It's fair to say that Tesla's vertical integration is even deeper. Might Microsoft Windows or Google Android be a better example than Apple? Does Waymo actually specify the entire vehicle (i.e. have it's own engine design) or just the systems added to the vehicle?
    - ra7 2y ago
      Indeed, Windows or Android are a better example than Apple. Waymo only designs the systems added to the vehicle, but they do have input over some parts of the vehicle design. Geely (Zeekr) is building a purpose-built robotaxi for them that's based on their SEA-M platform, but with Waymo customizations. I'm not sure Tesla level vertical integration is really necessary.
- tene80i 2y ago
  But the point there is that by controlling the stack Apple can improve the overall UX, from encryption to battery life or what have you. What’s the equivalent in self-driving cars? Better handling?
  - 2y ago

xnx 2y ago

Cars are commodity. The brains/driver is the value.

scarface_74 2y ago

Well seeing that Tesla self driving cars are all smoke and mirrors and has been for years and Waymo os operating now…