Robotaxi War: Waymo vs China, Tesla’s Pivot & the Supply Chain Crisis | ATW #10

In this episode of At The Wheel, Tu and Joe break down one of the most important weeks in global mobility. From Waymo’s aggressive expansion into four-season cities like Detroit and New York, to China’s robotaxi surge led by Baidu Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony.ai, we dig into why autonomous driving is suddenly heating up again.We also unpack:* The real state of AV deployments in the U.S. vs China* Waymo’s strategy with Zeekr-built robotaxis* Baidu’s sub-$50K L4 robotaxi and Why Chinese AV economics matter* How Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Chinese AV startups are aligning* The next wave of trade tensions: tariffs, supply chains, and the Supreme Court* GM’s push to “de-China” suppliers & what it means for OEM profitability* The future of North American manufacturing & UAW influence* Tesla and Rivian mega-pay packages (Musk + Scaringe) — what they really signal* Whether Tesla is shifting focus from EVs to AI & robotics* Rivian’s cost crisis and whether R2 can save the company* Updated EV demand numbers across China, the EU, and the U.S.* Why BYD, Geely, and Wuling are Tesla’s real global threatThis is an episode rich with insider detail on autonomous vehicles, EV demand, supply chains, and the real economic pressures shaping automakers in 2025 and beyond.If you want the smartest take on where autonomy, EVs, and global manufacturing are headed, this one’s for you.👍 Like, subscribe, and drop your questions or topics you want us to cover next time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.atthewheel.co