Sawyer Merritt, a prominent commentator on electric vehicles, has posed a question on X about the projected number of fully autonomous robotaxis operated by Waymo and Tesla by the end of 2026. The poll specifies vehicles without human safety monitors on public roads. For context, Merritt notes Waymo's current operations with around 2,500 vehicles providing 450,000 rides weekly.
On December 28, 2025, at 16:28 UTC, Sawyer Merritt shared a post on X seeking opinions on the scale of fully autonomous robotaxi deployments by two leading companies in the sector. The query targets the end of 2026, focusing on vehicles operating without any human safety monitors on public roads for both Waymo and Tesla.
Merritt's post reads: "In your opinion, at the end of 2026, how many fully autonomous robotaxis (no human safety monitor) will @Waymo and @Tesla each have operating on public roads?"
To provide background, he references Waymo's existing fleet size of approximately 2,500 vehicles. These are currently delivering 450,000 rides per week, underscoring the company's established presence in autonomous ride-hailing services.
This poll highlights ongoing interest in the rapid evolution of self-driving technology, particularly in commercial applications. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has been expanding its operations in cities like San Francisco and Phoenix, while Tesla continues to develop its Full Self-Driving capabilities aimed at robotaxi services. Merritt's question invites public speculation on whether Tesla can catch up or surpass Waymo's current lead by the specified timeline.
No specific projections are offered in the post itself, leaving room for community input on potential fleet growth amid regulatory, technical, and market challenges in autonomous mobility.