According to Sawyer Merritt, legacy automakers such as Ford and GM excel in mass manufacturing vehicles but lag in developing advanced self-driving AI, while tech giants like Google’s Waymo lead in autonomous technology but lack large-scale production capabilities. Tesla stands out as the only Western company with both expertise, thanks to its vertical integration. This gives Tesla a significant business edge in designing scalable, cost-effective robotaxi platforms, controlling both hardware and AI software development. In contrast, Waymo relies on third-party manufacturers like Zeekr for its sixth-generation vehicles, and traditional automakers are likely to license autonomous driving technology from external providers. This strategic positioning enables Tesla to optimize robotaxi design, reduce costs, and accelerate market adoption, creating substantial business opportunities in the autonomous mobility sector. (Source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter)