Ross Gerber Flags 5 Tesla Robotaxi Crashes, Calls for LiDAR Upgrade
Ross Gerber highlighted 5 Robotaxi crashes in Austin last month and a near-lake FSD failure, arguing Tesla’s vision-based system may require LiDAR hardware adjustments. He contrasted Tesla’s FSD version 14.2.2.4 with Waymo’s LiDAR-equipped fleet to underline potential technology gaps.
1. Gerber Urges Hardware Adjustments
Investor Ross Gerber highlighted 5 additional Robotaxi crashes in Austin and a near-lake FSD failure, noting Tesla’s vision-based Full Self-Driving system using version 14.2.2.4 has not improved. He suggested Tesla adopt LiDAR sensors similar to those in Waymo’s autonomous fleet.
2. Reported FSD Failures Raise Safety Questions
A Tesla FSD system drove a vehicle onto a boat ramp leading to a lake before intervention, adding to concerns over performance in sunny weather. Gerber previously criticized the FSD’s inability to operate reliably without a driver in unsupervised scenarios.
3. Implications for Waymo and GOOGL
Waymo’s LiDAR-equipped approach is seen as a potential competitive advantage in autonomous driving, which could enhance Alphabet’s position in the AV market. Tesla’s possible shift to LiDAR may narrow differentiation but risks delaying deployment timelines.