Sure, let's pretend you're driving a car without a driver, just like in the movies! This is what Waymo does. Right now, they give many rides each week (like 150,000) to people using their cars with special computers that drive them around.
But Gene Munster, who knows a lot about these things, thinks Waymo could be even bigger if more people use it instead of regular cars with drivers. He made two guesses:
1. **If a lot of people use Waymo**: It might make $28 billion in a few years and Waymo would be worth a LOT of money, like $850 billion.
2. **If only some people use Waymo**: It might still make $11 billion, but it would be worth less, around $337 billion.
Gene also thinks Alphabet (the company that owns Google) might sell Waymo in the next few years. If they do, and Waymo is worth a lot of money by 2030, it could make Google's stock price go up by as much as 28%! Isn't that cool?
So, in simple terms, Waymo is a robot car company that might become really big if lots of people start using robot cars for rides instead of regular taxis or driving their own cars. That's why some smart people like Gene Munster are excited about it!
Read from source...
Based on the provided text, here are some potential issues and critiques related to Gene Munster's analysis of Waymo and Alphabet:
1. **Overly Optimistic Market Share Assumptions:**
- Munster's valuation model relies heavily on Waymo capturing a significant market share (70% in the optimistic scenario) by 2030. However, this assumption may be overly optimistic given the competitive landscape and technological challenges.
- Other players like Tesla, Apple, Amazon, and traditional automakers are also investing heavily in autonomous driving technology.
2. **Ignoring Regulatory Challenges:**
- The text doesn't consider potential regulatory hurdles that could hinder Waymo's or any other company's path to widespread autonomy.
- Different regions have varying regulations regarding AV testing and deployment.
3. **Not Accounting for Technological Uncertainty:**
- Munster brushes over the technological challenges still ahead in achieving wide-scale Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy.
- Breakthroughs are needed in areas like sensing, perception, prediction, planning, and decision-making under uncertainty.
4. **Relying Solely on Capital Savings from Removing Human Drivers:**
- The analysis doesn't consider other potential savings or revenue streams that could make autonomous ride-sharing more economically viable.
- For instance, reducing maintenance costs, increasing vehicle utilization rates, or monetizing data collection could also play a role.
5. **Ignoring Liability Concerns:**
- In case of accidents involving autonomous vehicles, questions around liability could lead to higher insurance premiums or other unexpected costs.
6. **Assuming Alphabet Will Spin Off Waymo at Current Valuation:**
- The text assumes that Alphabet will spin off Waymo in the next 2-4 years and that its future valuation will be between $350B-$850B by 2030.
- However, actual outcomes may vary significantly based on Waymo's progress and market conditions.
The sentiment of the article is **positive**, with both Gene Munster and Waymo expressing optimism about their prospects.