Robotaxi Safety Concerns: Waymo Co-CEO Calls for More Proof

Waymo Calls for Greater Transparency in Autonomous Vehicle Safety

Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, has asserted that companies developing autonomous vehicles must demonstrate a greater commitment to proving the safety of their technologies.

Discussion at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Mawakana made these remarks during an interview at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, responding to a question about which companies she believed were actively contributing to road safety.

She stated that a definitive list is difficult to establish due to a lack of publicly available data from other developers. “They’re not telling us what’s happening with their fleets,” she explained.

Waymo’s Safety Data

A central theme of the interview was the importance of prioritizing safety during the scaling of autonomous vehicle operations.

Mawakana highlighted recent data released by Waymo, indicating that their vehicles are five times safer than those driven by humans. Furthermore, the data suggests a twelve-fold improvement in pedestrian safety.

Indirect Reference to Tesla

While Mawakana refrained from directly naming specific companies, her comments were widely interpreted as a critique of Tesla’s approach to data transparency.

Currently, a limited number of U.S. companies are actively pursuing robotaxi technology.

Tesla’s Reporting Practices

Tesla does publish quarterly “vehicle safety reports,” but these reports primarily focus on the performance of their Autopilot driver-assistance system.

It’s important to note that Autopilot is largely designed for highway use, where crash rates are generally lower than on city streets. Recent reports have even indicated an increase in crashes involving Autopilot.

Notably, Tesla has not yet released any public safety data concerning its robotaxi pilot program currently underway in Austin, Texas.

Other Players in the AV Space

Several other companies are in the early stages of deployment or ongoing testing. Zoox has recently initiated ride services using its custom-built autonomous vehicle in Las Vegas, Nevada.

May Mobility and Pony AI are also beginning to establish commercial operations. Aurora, specializing in self-driving trucks, has published a comprehensive safety framework.

The Call for Transparency

Mawakana emphasized the responsibility that comes with deploying driverless vehicles. “If you’re going to put vehicles on the road, and you’re going to remove the driver from behind the wheel… it is incumbent upon you to be transparent about what’s happening,” she stated.

She further asserted that a lack of transparency suggests a failure to adequately prioritize road safety and earn public trust.

Correction

It has been noted that May Mobility has begun offering commercial rides within the U.S., and this article has been updated to reflect this information.