Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has revealed that Waymo, the company's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, may sell self-driving cars for personal ownership in the future. During an earnings call, Pichai mentioned that "personal ownership" of Waymo's lidar-equipped cars is an option the company is considering long-term. This news has significant implications for the transportation industry, which is increasingly shifting towards autonomous vehicles.

This is not the first time Waymo has explored the idea of selling self-driving cars for personal ownership. In 2018, the company partnered with Chrysler to build self-driving Pacifica minivans, with discussions about eventually selling them as privately owned vehicles. However, this is the first time the company has explicitly mentioned personal ownership as a potential business model.

Waymo is not the only company considering selling autonomous vehicles for personal ownership. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also announced plans to sell a Cybercab for $30,000 by 2026. Musk has been critical of Waymo's approach, claiming that their robotaxis are more expensive than Tesla's Cybercab. However, Waymo has a significant lead in terms of operational robotaxis on the road, with testing expanded to Japan and partnerships with companies like Uber and Moove.

The potential sale of self-driving cars for personal ownership raises several questions about the future of transportation. Will autonomous vehicles become a common sight on roads, or will they remain a niche product for early adopters? How will governments regulate the sale and use of self-driving cars, and what safety standards will need to be met? The answers to these questions will depend on how companies like Waymo and Tesla choose to approach the market.

One thing is clear: the autonomous vehicle industry is rapidly evolving, and companies are exploring new business models to stay ahead of the competition. With Waymo's lidar-equipped cars and Tesla's camera-based approach, the market is likely to be shaped by a combination of technological innovation and consumer demand. As the industry continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the future of transportation will be shaped by autonomous vehicles.

In the short term, Waymo's focus on partnerships with companies like Uber and Moove will continue to drive growth and expansion. However, the potential sale of self-driving cars for personal ownership could be a game-changer for the company, allowing it to tap into a new revenue stream and expand its reach beyond ride-hailing services. As the company continues to explore this option, it will be worth watching how the market responds and what implications this has for the broader transportation industry.