(Reuters) -Electric car maker Tesla started a trial of its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, the first step toward what could be a showdown with Alphabet's Waymo, the only player currently offering fully autonomous paid rides in the United States.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has started off with about 10 Model Ys and promised to focus on safety. He says Tesla could scale quickly, and he plans a separate robotaxi vehicle.

Social media influencers were seen booking and taking rides in the robotaxis in several Austin locations on Sunday, according to videos reposted by Musk.

Here is how Tesla's cybercab efforts compare with those of Waymo and Amazon.com-owned Zoox, which is preparing its own commercial launch:

LOCATIONS

VEHICLE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Feature Waymo Tesla Zoox

Vehicle Type Jaguar I-Pace Model Y Custom built

bidirectional

pod

Steering Yes Yes in No

wheel current test

Autonomous LiDAR, cameras, Cameras LiDAR,

technology radars cameras,

radars

Autonomy Level 4 - Testing Level Testing Level

level autonomous 4 4

within limits

Launch of 2018 2025 Expected

paid service later in 2025

Teleoperatio Yes Yes Yes

n - human

guidance or

control

Rides/vehicl More than About 10 More than 20

es 250,000 rides a vehicles vehicles in

week testing

phase

​

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)