Zheng Gao leaves Tesla to shake up Amazon's robotaxi division

In recent statements, Jesse Levinson, co-founder and CTO of Zoox, expressed skepticism about Tesla's ability to launch a functional robotaxi ride-hailing service in California or elsewhere, attributing this to what he describes as a lack of operational technology. Levinson's comments were made during a TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 event, where he indicated that Tesla's Present Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which still requires human oversight, does not meet the criteria for a fully autonomous service. He emphasized the difference between a driver assistance system and a reliable, fully autonomous system, suggesting that Tesla has not achieved the latter. Meanwhile, Zoox, an Amazon subsidiary, has strengthened its team by hiring Zheng Gao, a former Tesla executive with significant experience in autopilot hardware engineering. Gao's addition to Zoox marks a shift as he transitions from Tesla, where he led efforts in Autopilot hardware design for eight years, signaling increasing competition in the autonomous vehicle realm. The hiring of seasoned professionals like Gao and others from traditional companies highlights Zoox's aim to advance its development of fully autonomous vehicle technology. While Tesla has ambitions to start its own robotaxi service, Elon Musk indicated intentions to launch in Texas and California, subject to regulatory approval, and expressed optimism about operating driverless rides in the near future. However, this development comes in light of BMW's recent retraction of praise for Tesla's FSD system, which had raised hopes of a potential licensing deal between the two companies. The deleted appreciation from BMW reflects ongoing uncertainty and skepticism regarding the maturation and reliability of Tesla's self-driving technology. Overall, the competition between Tesla and Zoox signals a pivotal moment in the push for autonomous vehicles, with experts voicing concerns over the readiness of current technologies and regulatory hurdles that need to be navigated. Levinson's assertions and the recent departures from Tesla exemplify the challenges the company faces as it attempts to cement its position in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle sector.