Nvidia’s Bold $3B Robotaxi Initiative: A Direct Challenge to Tesla and Waymo
Chip giant Nvidia is reportedly launching an ambitious $3 billion robotaxi initiative that could put it in direct competition with Tesla and Waymo, according to recent reports from Chinese publication 36Kr. The project, announced at a recent internal company meeting, will be led by senior director Ruchi Bhargava and represents one of Nvidia’s boldest moves yet beyond its core chip business.
The company’s approach centers on a “single-stage end-to-end” technology route using the DRIVE AGX Thor system, where one neural network is trained through simulated world models. This method resembles Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, which relies on massive data feedback loops. With a planned investment of $3 billion and operations launching in US cities, the project serves as both a commercial venture and an engineering testing ground to strengthen Nvidia’s capabilities in autonomous vehicle deployment.
As the world’s most valuable company with a net profit of $26.4 billion in Q2 2025, Nvidia has the financial resources to compete in the robotaxi sector. The company already has partnerships with General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota for autonomous driving technology, positioning it well for this new venture.