Nuro, fresh off its delivery-to-robotaxi pivot in 2024, boldly claims that being a “second mover” in the robotaxi race—after industry titan Waymo—is actually an advantage. With a deal struck with Uber and Lucid to deploy tens of thousands of Nuro robotaxis nationwide, the company believes this strategic positioning will earn it hundreds of millions of dollars and secure its spot among the top players. But does being the “second” really beat the first?

Waymo’s dominance is undeniable: over 3,000 driverless cars cruising at least 10 U.S. cities, making the Alphabet-owned firm a clear leader in robotaxi tech. Yet, Nuro argues that by waiting—observing Waymo’s moves and learning from its successes and failures—it can refine its approach more efficiently than a first-mover rushed to market.

The article suggests Nuro’s “second mover” status allows it to capitalize on advancements pioneered by Waymo while avoiding the pitfalls of early adopter hype. For instance, Waymo might have overinvested in certain sensors or routes that Nuro can selectively replicate and improve upon, giving it a competitive edge in specific markets.

Moreover, Nuro’s delivery roots mean it already understands urban logistics—chores like loading/unloading goods and navigating tight spaces—which could translate well to taxi services. By the time Nuro rolls out its robotaxis, Waymo might be tweaking its models or expanding into new territories, leaving room for Nuro to swoop in with fresh, refined offerings.

However, being second also means missing out on early customer adoption and brand recognition. Nuro might face the challenge of convincing consumers that a slightly newer entrant can match Waymo’s reliability, especially if customers have already grown accustomed to Waymo’s driverless rides. Yet, with its deal funding and proven delivery capabilities, Nuro could leverage partnerships with Uber and Lucid to accelerate deployment and showcase its robotaxis in action across diverse U.S. cities.

In essence, Nuro believes that by being the “second mover,” it can blend learning from Waymo’s playbook while optimizing for cost, efficiency, and urban adaptability—potentially positioning itself as a strong contender alongside or even above Waymo in the robotaxi hierarchy.

So, is Nuro right? Being second might indeed have its perks, but only time—and a few thousand miles of ride-sharing—will tell if it can truly outshine Waymo’s first-mover glory.