Business Wars – Waymo and the Rise of the Robotaxis | Driving Too Fast | Episode 2

Release Date: January 21, 2026
Host: David Brown
Podcast Network: Wondery

Overview

This episode chronicles the fierce competition and ethical dilemmas shaping the race to launch commercial robotaxi services, focusing on Waymo (Google/Alphabet) and its rivals—most notably Uber, Zoox (Amazon), Cruise (GM), and Tesla. The story unfolds from Waymo's earliest days through scandals, tragic accidents, regulatory hurdles, and the slow development of public trust. The episode vividly captures how self-driving technology is reshaping urban mobility, while exposing the growing pains, risks, and high-stakes corporate maneuvers defining this modern-day “business war.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Waymo-Uber Lawsuit: Industrial Espionage & Silicon Valley Drama

• [00:09] The episode opens in a federal courthouse, 2018, as Waymo sues Uber for allegedly stealing trade secrets.
  • Anthony Levandowski, a star Google engineer, is accused of downloading 14,000 proprietary files before defecting to Uber.
  • Discovery of the theft was accidental—a misdirected email with a circuit board image led Waymo to uncover data evidence.
  • “Waymo is convinced that Uber used the stolen files to speed up its own lidar development—a charge Uber denies.” (David Brown, 01:57)
• Uber’s defense claims its tech is independently developed; the optics are bad, and the battle becomes emblematic of Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” ethos.

2. Uber’s Reckless Push vs. Waymo’s Cautious Progress

• [03:10] Uber, under Travis Kalanick, rushes self-driving cars onto roads without permits, viewing regulation as a “speed bump, not a guardrail."
  • Uber’s San Francisco test cars run red lights, highlighting the dangers of regulatory evasion.
  • “Many young companies think cutting corners buys time, but more often, it just buys trouble.” (David Brown, 05:01)
• Uber moves its testing to Arizona after being banned in California, leveraging local enthusiasm for innovation.

3. Waymo’s Focus on Safety and Methodical Testing

• [07:10] Waymo conducts rigorous emergency vehicle tests in Arizona, proving its cars can act like “careful human drivers” in chaotic situations.
• John Krafczyk (ex-Hyundai, Ford) pivots Waymo from research project to commercial ride-hailing service.
  • Waymo’s partnership with Lyft allows it to challenge Uber for passengers and brand mindshare.
  • “Waymo isn’t waiting around anymore. It wants the same passengers Uber once assumed were its own.” (David Brown, 10:50)

4. The Lawsuit’s Resolution and Personal Cost

• [12:48] The high-profile trial ends anticlimactically with Uber agreeing to a $245 million equity stake for Waymo and vowing not to use stolen tech.
• Anthony Levandowski is fired and later pleads guilty to trade secret theft, receiving a pardon but suffering financial and reputational ruin.
  • “He moved fast and mostly broke himself in the process.” (David Brown, 15:05)

5. The First Fatalities: Autonomous Cars & Real-World Tragedy

• [16:31] March 2018: In Tempe, Arizona, an Uber self-driving car kills pedestrian Elaine Herzberg.
  • Software confusion, disabled emergency braking, and a distracted safety driver led to disaster.
  • “It’s the first known case of a pedestrian killed by a self-driving vehicle and the fallout… will be massive.” (David Brown, 16:58)
  • Uber is cleared criminally, but the safety driver is placed on probation.
• Days later, a Tesla on Autopilot kills its driver in California, deepening skepticism about autonomy.

6. Waymo’s Launch, Costs, and Expansion Amid Setbacks

• [19:16] December 2018: Waymo One begins limited paid service in suburban Phoenix, with very cautious, geofenced operations.
  • The cost: Each Waymo minivan is “a rolling supercomputer,” costing $100,000+, straining even Alphabet’s finances.
  • By 2020, Waymo secures $2B in outside funding to scale, signaling immense capital needs and uncertainty of profitability.
• Uber Exits: Uber sells its self-driving division to Aurora in 2020 after five years of struggles and one fatal crash.

7. New Competitors: Amazon’s Zoox, GM’s Cruise, and Global Pressures

• [22:30] Amazon acquires Zoox, introducing its radical, bidirectional “pod” vehicle in Las Vegas.
• [23:30] Cruise, backed by GM, launches robotaxis in San Francisco; both Cruise and Waymo face public mishaps.
  • Notable incident: Cruise robotaxi drags an injured pedestrian 20 feet following a multi-vehicle collision ([27:33]).
  • Regulatory crackdown follows; Cruise’s license is suspended.

8. Public Backlash, Safety Data, and the Trust Gap

• [29:53] Protest and vandalism: A Waymo is set on fire during San Francisco’s Lunar New Year celebration, symbolizing mounting frustration.
  • Despite data showing robotaxis are much safer (Waymo: 85% less likely to cause injury crashes), distrust dominates public opinion.
  • “The problem is that safer than a human isn’t the same as safe.” (David Brown, 32:38)
  • Polling: In 2024, 66% of Americans are afraid of fully self-driving cars (AAA survey).

9. Tighter Scrutiny: Federal Investigations and Industry Shakeout

• [33:55] May 2024: NHTSA launches a probe into Waymo after 22 reports of unexpected driving behaviors and two high-profile Zoox incidents.
  • “Waymo's brand… rests on one promise: that its cars are safer than we are. If that promise fails, [Waymo] might find itself driven off the road.” (David Brown, 35:15)
• Vindication: July 2025, the investigation is closed after recalls and software fixes; Waymo continues expanding.

10. The Road Ahead: Adaptability and the “Transit” State of Robotaxis

• [36:08] Experts like Dr. Srinivas Pita liken current skepticism to early airplane adoption.
  • “As people get more and more used to it… people will start becoming more comfortable.” (Dr. Srinivas Pita, 36:15)
• Zoox wins NHTSA approval for its steering-wheel-less vehicle; Tesla, VW, and China’s Baidu race to scale their own fleets.
• McKinsey estimates the market could hit $1.6 trillion by 2030, yet profitability and public trust are still “in transit.”
• Episode closes on the note that adaptability, not rigid planning, will define winners, and underscores how public perception remains the biggest hurdle.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Many young companies think cutting corners buys time, but more often, it just buys trouble.”
  (David Brown, 05:01)
• “He moved fast and mostly broke himself in the process.”
  (David Brown on Anthony Levandowski, 15:05)
• “The problem is that safer than a human isn’t the same as safe. The cars continue to make mistakes… moments where a traffic cone or a plastic bag confuses a multimillion-dollar computer.”
  (David Brown, 32:38)
• “Adaptability… there’s a whole lot in flux at the moment. Sure, the robo taxis may be here, but profits, reliability and public trust remain in transit.”
  (David Brown, 39:21)
• “As people get more and more used to it and see that these systems are doing the driving in a way that you know you would expect to be safe, then I think over time, people will start becoming more comfortable.”
  (Dr. Srinivas Pita, 36:15)

Timestamps of Major Segments

• [00:09] – Opening: Waymo vs. Uber trial & Anthony Levandowski saga
• [03:10] – Uber's regulatory short-cuts and crash video controversy
• [07:10] – Waymo's emergency response test and steady philosophy
• [10:50] – Waymo partners with Lyft; shifts toward ride-hailing
• [12:48] – Lawsuit resolves out of court, Levandowski's downfall
• [16:31] – Uber fatal accident in Arizona; Tesla fatality days later
• [19:16] – Launch and constraints of Waymo One
• [22:30] – Amazon/Zoox and Cruise enter the fray, public mishaps
• [27:33] – Cruise robo taxi drags pedestrian; public outrage grows
• [29:53] – San Francisco protests, vandalism, and safety statistics
• [33:55] – 2024 NHTSA investigations into Waymo & Zoox
• [35:58] – Dr. Srinivas Pita on public acceptance parallels to aviation history
• [36:29] – Expansion, regulatory wins, global competitors, and the uncertain road ahead

Conclusion

This richly detailed episode reveals the dramatic, high-stakes evolution of self-driving cars from secretive “moonshots” to public controversies and business showdowns. Waymo’s journey—from near-victory laps to investigations and public backlash—serves as a microcosm for broader questions about technology, trust, and the messy realities of innovation. While the industry’s technical achievements are awe-inspiring, the race for public acceptance and profitability is just beginning.

For further research: The episode draws upon “Autonomy” by Lawrence Burns and “Driven” by Alex Davies, and closely follows recent regulatory and commercial updates as of mid-2025.