"What we've learned is that this is not a race so much as a long, curved, and fragmented road - one that looks more like the fan of an alluvial plain than a racetrack - to develop and prove the technology works a nd make it a profitable business. It's not a race against others as much as an internal contest with existential stakes."
"This week, Waymo was granted a permit to start testing its autonomous vehicles at San Francisco International Airport, ahead of the launch of a commercial service. This comes just two weeks after Waymo was cleared to start testing at nearby San Jose Mineta International Airport - and as Tesla is also trying to elbow its way into offering ride-hail service to these airports."
Early characterizations framed autonomous vehicle commercialization as a race, but development has proceeded as a long, curved, fragmented path requiring technical validation and viable business models. Competition centers less on outpacing rivals than on internal survival and proving profitability. Airports and public transit have become concrete battlegrounds because airport access drives ride-hailing demand and transit integration can expand reach. Waymo secured permits to test at San Francisco International and San Jose Mineta airports while competitors seek access. Partnerships between autonomous operators and transit software providers aim to integrate services and broaden coverage.
Read at TechCrunch
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