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Vishu Bheda
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Medial • 4m
Waymo's market share is now equal to Lyft in SF. In just 15 months, they've captured 22% of the rideshare market. And they did it without a single human driver. Here's how a Google side project became the future of transportation: In 2009, Google started working on self-driving cars. Most people thought it would fail. For years, autonomous cars had always been “five years away.” But Google knew the real problem wasn’t just technology—it was trust. People needed to believe that a computer could drive better than humans. So, instead of rushing to market, they took their time gathering data: 20+ billion miles in virtual tests 20+ million miles on real roads 40,000 different test scenarios They focused on making driving safer, not just matching humans. The results? 84% fewer crashes causing injuries 57% fewer police-reported accidents 76% fewer property damage claims How did they do it? They built smart cars with incredible sensors: LiDAR that sees 300 meters in the dark Cameras that spot objects from 500 meters away Radar that works in rain, fog, and snow The real magic is their AI. It doesn’t just see—it predicts. It watches other cars, bikes, and pedestrians, making quick decisions to avoid danger. In 2016, Google spun off Waymo, focusing on ridesharing instead of selling cars. Why? Each car costs $100,000—too expensive for most people. But in ridesharing, cars can work 24/7 and earn money without needing a driver. By 2023, Waymo was giving 10,000 driverless rides a day in San Francisco, taking 22% of the market. Even Uber partnered with Waymo because competing was too hard. Next, Waymo is expanding to Japan. Self-driving cars are no longer the future—they’re here. And they’re safer, smarter, and changing how we travel.
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