Elon Musk Slams LiDAR Again—Says Waymo Cars 'Stop Working' In Snow, Rain, Or Dust Due It: 'Well Aware Of Its Strengths And Weaknesses'

Tesla CEO Elon Musk defended the company’s decision to pursue a camera-only approach to self-driving technology, according to a post on X. The billionaire dismissed LiDAR’s effectiveness in extreme weather such as snow, dust, and rain, which causes difficulties for Waymo’s self-driving cabs. He acknowledged LiDAR has specific uses, citing its role in SpaceX docking operations. His comments followed Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s skepticism that Tesla’s approach could achieve autonomous cabs, to which Musk countered that “sensor ambiguity” raises safety risks. The remarks came as Tesla expanded its Robotaxi service in Austin, increasing its fleet by 50% and widening its service area.