Published on Mar. 2, 2026
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Investor Gary Black has shared his views on Waymo’s new Robotaxi models, the Ojai and Ioniq 5, which he believes can compete with Tesla’s Robotaxi despite higher costs. Black noted that the Ojai will feature Waymo’s 6th-generation autonomous driving suite with fewer sensors, translating to lower costs. He also shared that the Ioniq 5-based Robotaxi will cost over $50,000 per unit. While Tesla bulls argue that the presence of safety monitors in Robotaxis is a disadvantage, Black believes a supervised Robotaxi is better perceived by consumers. Black also stated that Waymo can compete with Tesla through better marketing and execution, even with a higher-priced vehicle.
Why it matters
The competition between Waymo and Tesla in the Robotaxi market is heating up, with both companies vying for a share of this emerging and potentially lucrative industry. Waymo’s focus on lowering sensor costs and improving marketing could help it gain ground against Tesla’s lower-priced Robotaxi, which has faced some safety concerns.
The details
Waymo’s new Ojai Robotaxi, built in partnership with Zeekr, will feature the company’s 6th-generation autonomous driving suite, which includes over 13 cameras, 4 LiDAR units, and 6 radar sensors. This represents a 42% reduction in sensor count compared to Waymo’s previous 5th-generation Jaguar I-Pace Robotaxi, which is estimated to have cost between $150,000 and $200,000 per unit. Waymo is also transitioning to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV for its Robotaxi fleet, which will cost over $50,000 per unit. While Tesla bulls argue that the presence of safety monitors in Robotaxis is a disadvantage, Black believes a supervised Robotaxi is better perceived by consumers.
Waymo unveiled its new Ojai Robotaxi and Ioniq 5-based Robotaxi in March 2026.
The players
Gary Black
An investor who shared his views on Waymo’s new Robotaxi models and their potential to compete with Tesla.
Waymo
An American autonomous driving company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company.
Tesla
An American electric vehicle and clean energy company that is also developing its own Robotaxi service.
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What they’re saying
“Better marketing and better execution”
— Gary Black, Investor (X)
The takeaway
The competition between Waymo and Tesla in the Robotaxi market is intensifying, with both companies employing different strategies to gain an edge. Waymo’s focus on lowering sensor costs and improving marketing could help it overcome the higher price tag of its Robotaxi models, while Tesla’s lower-priced Robotaxi faces some safety concerns. The outcome of this rivalry will have significant implications for the future of autonomous transportation.
