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Waymo has announced it is currently providing 500,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly. While this figure is modest compared to its human-driven ride-hailing equivalents, such as Lyft and Uber, what I found particularly compelling was the growth trajectory of rides, expansion into new markets, and how these factors relate to its fleet size. We created a chart (which you can check out below) to illustrate this rapid scaling. 

However, this scaling brings new challenges, such as the unavoidable situations where robotaxis can become immobilized, similar to those that occurred during the California blackout in December. This leads to inquiries about what occurs when a robotaxi gets stuck — and who is responsible for getting it moving again? 

Senior reporter Sean O’Kane explored Waymo’s system (which includes its dedicated roadside assistance team), along with six incidents where first responders had to intervene and manually operate the stranded Waymo. In several instances, robotaxis became immobilized amid emergencies: A police officer responding to a mass shooting in Austin earlier this month had to first relocate a Waymo robotaxi out of the way. 

At the core of his findings, Sean noted that when Waymo’s vehicles are stuck, the company depends on public services funded by taxpayers to extricate its vehicles.

Depending on who is consulted, opinions on this matter vary from being unacceptable, not a significant issue, or somewhere in between. In a recent session, San Francisco District 4 supervisor Alan Wong mentioned that many of his peers concur that “our first responders shouldn’t serve as AAA.” 

For those who may brush this off, I recommend they consider what lies ahead.

This issue extends beyond Waymo. Several companies are aiming to launch paid robotaxis in the U.S. this year, such as Motional and Zoox. Tesla, which operates in Austin, harbors significant ambitions as well. Each company may operate with varying systems and levels of dependence on first responders.

A little bird

Someone close to Uber recently relayed a piece of information regarding Waymo, with whom the ride-hailing company has formed alliances in several cities. This source indicated that it takes up to 30% longer for a Waymo robotaxi to reach a destination compared to a human driver due to the careful nature of the robot car and its tendency to evade possible challenges such as unprotected left turns. (Important note: I’ve experienced multiple Waymos, and these vehicles can indeed manage left-hand turns, yet they can pose difficulties, explaining why robotaxis might choose to avoid them.)

Have a tip for us? Reach out to Kirsten Korosec at [email protected] or my Signal at kkorosec.07, or contact Sean O’Kane at [email protected]. 

Deals!

Zipline, a U.S. autonomous drone delivery and logistics startup, has been operational for several years. Recently, its success in home delivery and ongoing global expansion has allowed it to attract further investment. 

The company announced it has secured an additional $200 million, augmenting its previous funding round first disclosed in January. This extra capital, which includes contributions from crypto investment firm Paradigm, has raised Zipline’s recent Series H round total to $800 million. Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Valor Equity Partners, and Tiger Global participated in the initial phase that appraised the drone delivery startup at $7.6 billion.

My article focuses on why the startup has attracted such a wealth of interested investors. TL;DR: Its at-home delivery volume exceeded projections in January and February, with CEO Keller Clifton predicting similar performance over the next three months, compared to 2025.

Other intriguing deals …

NoTraffic, an Israeli traffic management software startup, secured $90 million in a Series C funding round led by PSG Equity, as reported by Axios.

Rivian received another $1 billion from Volkswagen Group after achieving one of its goals under a tech partnership between the two manufacturers. Approximately $750 million will come as an equity investment, while an additional $250 million will be either equity or convertible debt, contingent on which prototypes Volkswagen Group supplied for Rivian’s testing. (The specifics were not immediately clarified by the companies.)

Shield AI, a manufacturer of autonomous military aircraft, raised $1.5 billion in Series G funding at a $12.7 billion post-money valuation. The investment was led by private equity firm Advent along with a JPMorganChase financing group.

Swish, a food delivery startup based in Bengaluru, secured $38 million in a Series B round led by Hara Global and Bain Capital Ventures. Other investors included Accel, Stride Ventures, and Alteria Capital.

Uber intends to invest in Verne, the robotaxi venture under Rimac Group. The unnamed investment, which sources indicate should be finalized in the next few months, forms part of a wider agreement that involves Pony.ai to introduce robotaxis to Europe, beginning in Zagreb, Croatia.

Notable reads and other tidbits

DoorDash has rolled out relief payments for drivers as the Iran-U.S. conflict drives fuel prices higher.

Harbinger, the EV trucking startup, is expanding its product lineup. This time, Harbinger’s chassis will be utilized in emergency vehicles for the 70-year-old company Frazer.

Faraday Future has been cleared by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC has ended its inquiry into the electric vehicle startup, despite recommendations for enforcement action last year from staff on the case.

Here’s a timely development. Flighty, the well-liked flight-tracking application, has introduced a new “Airport Intelligence” feature that provides users with real-time alerts and insights about airport disruptions, available across 14,000 airports worldwide. 

Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture between the two Japanese conglomerates, is abandoning the two Afeela-branded EVs it has been developing over the last few years. I received numerous press releases and invitations to view the Afeela through the years, and with each passing quarter, it became less probable that it would become a reality. 

Utah’s governor has signed a bill establishing a liability framework for autonomous vehicles. 

Zoox’s</strong purpose-built robotaxis are now navigating public roadways in Austin and Miami after nearly two years of testing its vehicles in those cities. The company plans to begin offering rides in both areas later this year as part of its early-rider initiative. Note: until it secures an exemption from federal authorities, Zoox cannot charge for rides.

One more thing …

Here are the outcomes from my inquiry regarding Rivian and its R2 robotaxi partnership with Uber. As a reminder, this was the scenario. Rivian aims to manufacture thousands of R2 robotaxis, incorporating the self-driving technology. Is this a distraction and a major risk OR is it vital for the company’s long-term trajectory?

Approximately 55% of respondents feel it’s a distraction, whereas 45% believe the pursuit of robotaxis is crucial to its long-term prospects. 

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