01/16/2026
Auto industry veteran John Krafcik says robotaxis will not replace personal vehicles this decade, but the technology behind them is already making cars safer.
After leading Waymo’s autonomous vehicle program, Krafcik sees the industry’s next phase shaped more by advanced driver-assistance systems than by a rapid shift to fully autonomous vehicles.
“The idea that we’ll have personal robotaxis in our driveway in two years is silly,” Krafcik said at a CES event Jan. 6 where he received the Automotive Hall of Fame’s 2026 Mobility Innovator Award. “However, ADAS, assisted driving systems are getting much better and I really like that.”
In an interview with Automotive News, Krafcik called out Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for promising fully autonomous vehicles for years without delivering them to customers.
“It’s been 10 years, that’s a decade of broken promises. There should be some accountability for that, I believe,” he said.
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John Krafcik received the Automotive Hall of Fame’s 2026 Mobility Innovator Award at CES, honoring his leadership in autonomous and sustainable mobility.