An initial encounter with Waymo's self-driving taxis indicates that it might provide a superior user experience compared to Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology.
On Monday, CleanTechnica presented the tale of a Tesla FSD V13 operator who journeyed to Phoenix, Arizona, to test Waymo's autonomous ride-sharing service.
The driver stated that although Waymo’s driving performance matches that of Tesla Full Self-Driving, Waymo excels when it comes to the overall passenger experience. According to the report, Waymo is just as user-friendly as popular ride-sharing apps such as Lyft and Uber and also offers better value for money.
When scrutinized more closely, Waymo’s driving behavior appeared similar to that of Tesla Full Self-Driving Version 13. The car navigated roads with assurance but exhibited significant care when near pedestrians and bikers. Nevertheless, the operator noted several drawbacks, including having to go to designated pick-up spots in particular zones.
The driver highlighted that the standout feature of the Waymo ride was its much-improved passenger comfort when contrasted with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability. In comparison to Tesla's technology, which necessitates continuous supervision from the driver and may lead to mental tiredness particularly in urban areas, Waymo provides genuine hands-off autonomy, enabling riders to sit back leisurely at the rear. Nevertheless, the driver mentioned that this single advantage doesn’t conclusively indicate that Waymo outperforms Tesla across every dimension.
In the meantime, Tesla plans to unveil FSD Version 14 and introduce its robotaxi service in Austin starting in June. Regarding this development, CleanTechnica pointed out that it’s unclear whether Tesla will genuinely attain full self-driving capabilities with this update or if it might just turn into another instance of overly optimistic forecasting.