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0 pointsjfoster2y ago0 comments

Someone has to spend it, though. Uber seem in even less of a position to be footing that bill.

0 comments

but if uber spend a couple billion on cars, and lyft spend a couple billion, and didi spends a couple billion, etc, that's a lot more spend than if only waymo spends it.

jfosterOP2y ago

From Waymo's perspective it is certainly desirable to have someone else paying for the cars.

The problem is that when others spend on it, Waymo has more leverage over them if the cars are only going to work with the Waymo driver. Perfect vendor lock-in on assets worth $150k each.

What's in it for Uber? Perhaps just a more favorable & longer term deal, but if so, they're essentially handing over the future of their business to Waymo.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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notatoad2y ago

but if uber spend a couple billion on cars, and lyft spend a couple billion, and didi spends a couple billion, etc, that's a lot more spend than if only waymo spends it.

jfosterOP2y ago

From Waymo's perspective it is certainly desirable to have someone else paying for the cars.

The problem is that when others spend on it, Waymo has more leverage over them if the cars are only going to work with the Waymo driver. Perfect vendor lock-in on assets worth $150k each.

What's in it for Uber? Perhaps just a more favorable & longer term deal, but if so, they're essentially handing over the future of their business to Waymo.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse