Tesla takes a swipe at Waymo after it denies its robotaxis are driven by remote workers in the Philippines
Business Insider
February 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Tesla has taken aim at Waymo during a heated debate over California’s new robotaxi regulations. In regulatory comments, Tesla criticized Waymo for relying on remote workers in the Philippines to assist its autonomous vehicles, particularly after a December 2025 power outage in San Francisco left some Waymo vehicles stranded. The incident led to an overwhelming surge in requests to Waymo’s Remote Assistance (RA) team, raising questions about the reliability of robotaxi fleets operated by foreign-based teams.
Tesla emphasized that it exclusively uses U.S.-based operators for its robotaxis, arguing they are more familiar with local road rules, offer superior network connectivity, and pose fewer cybersecurity risks. The company also noted that its ride-hailing service in California was unaffected by the outage, positioning itself as a safer and more reliable alternative.
Waymo, however, defended its remote assistance program, stating that its RA agents do not directly drive the vehicles but provide advice when self-driving systems encounter complex situations. The company revealed it has 70 RA agents on duty at any given time, with half based in the U.S. and half in the Philippines. Waymo also highlighted that its Filipino agents are required to hold local driver’s licenses and undergo training in U.S. road laws, while more complex scenarios are handled by a specialized U.S.-based team.
The battle between Tesla and Waymo over robotaxi regulations has intensified as both companies race to expand their operations across the U.S. While Tesla focuses on domestic support, Waymo continues to face scrutiny from lawmakers over its foreign-based remote assistance teams. This debate underscores the challenges of balancing safety, reliability, and innovation in the autonomous vehicle industry.
This rivalry matters because it highlights key issues in the development and deployment of autonomous technology. The use of remote operators raises questions about safety, cybersecurity, and regulatory oversight, particularly as robotaxis aim to operate at scale. Both companies are vying to establish trust with regulators and consumers, making this competition a critical factor in shaping the future of self-driving transportation.
Verticals
businessfinance
Originally published on Business Insider on 2/19/2026