Alphabet’s autonomous ride-hailing unit Waymo has begun testing its new Robotaxi equipped with sixth-generation self-driving hardware, featuring a wider range of sensors designed to improve safety and reliability.
The new hardware integrates more than 13 cameras, six radar systems, and four LiDAR sensors, according to a video posted on social media platform X by technology influencer Sawyer Merritt. “The new Waymo Robotaxi will also have ‘heaters, wipers and sprayers’ to keep the self-driving tech clean,” Merritt wrote in his post. A safety driver remains on board during testing, the footage showed.
The trial comes as self-driving vehicles gain traction among U.S. consumers. Ride-hailing users in Atlanta have reportedly opted for Waymo cars over human-driven rides offered by Uber Technologies Inc. Meanwhile, Tesla Inc. has laid out an aggressive plan for its autonomous taxi service. Chief Executive Elon Musk told investors on the company’s second-quarter earnings call that Tesla aims to serve “over half the population of the U.S. by the end of the year.”
Competition in the space has drawn sharp criticism. Former Waymo CEO John Krafcik said Tesla’s efforts do not qualify as true Robotaxis. “The vehicles weren’t real Robotaxis because Tesla has a safety driver onboard at all times,” he argued. Tesla has recently launched a ride-hailing service in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, but the program remains invite-only and operates at limited capacity.