"If Waymo and other robotaxis can make money running a luxury service, they’ll feel less compelled to dilute their own service offering by expanding fleets to the point where they could take market share from human ridehail."
This is an interesting point, but I'm not sure how convinced I am. It seems like it would hinge on whether it's more profitable to expand services in existing markets (and take advantage of licenses and support infrastructure already in place) or open new markets. Some of it might depend on how soon they solve the winter weather problem!
I didn't write that they _wouldn't_. They certainly will; that's capitalism, baby! And thank God for it.
I wrote that they'll _feel less compelled_. If they're making money from luxury service, SOME bright spark will argue against cannibalizing their own service by making it cheaper. I can see that slowing things down for a few years.
But yes, the winter weather problem is a real barrier!
fair enough... Most of all we should probably be rooting for other robotaxi providers to succeed and provide greater market penetration and competition!
"If Waymo and other robotaxis can make money running a luxury service, they’ll feel less compelled to dilute their own service offering by expanding fleets to the point where they could take market share from human ridehail."
This is an interesting point, but I'm not sure how convinced I am. It seems like it would hinge on whether it's more profitable to expand services in existing markets (and take advantage of licenses and support infrastructure already in place) or open new markets. Some of it might depend on how soon they solve the winter weather problem!
I didn't write that they _wouldn't_. They certainly will; that's capitalism, baby! And thank God for it.
I wrote that they'll _feel less compelled_. If they're making money from luxury service, SOME bright spark will argue against cannibalizing their own service by making it cheaper. I can see that slowing things down for a few years.
But yes, the winter weather problem is a real barrier!
fair enough... Most of all we should probably be rooting for other robotaxi providers to succeed and provide greater market penetration and competition!