Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Article from Washington Post on how the first apparent Testa Full Self-Driving fatality was a Tesla employee who was a huge fan of the companies technology. Tragedy ensues.
Article from the Verge by Andrew J. Hawkins on why we don't have the autonomous vehicles we were promised. The excellent article presents not only the history of the development of autonomous vehicles, but also why it has taken so long, why the predictions have been so far off (especially with Tesla), and why so much money has been thrown at the technology.
False excitement on autonomous vehicles by showing that testing by Apple had tripled. The article is misleading since the reason the increase in testing miles was a factor of three was because Apple had previously done so little testing.
Aptiv is scaling back involvement in its self-driving joint venture Motional, halting further funding and reducing its stake after heavy losses. The move mirrors industry peers like GM and Ford, who face challenges in developing autonomous driving.
General Motors is slashing Cruise's 2024 budget by $1 billion despite a commitment to its robotaxi venture. Following an accident resulting in investigations, GM seeks to refocus Cruise, now enduring a $2.7 billion loss and restructuring. CEO Barra emphasizes safety and talent retention, as expansion plans are paused.
An investigation by Quinn Emanuel law firm into an October crash involving a Cruise driverless car revealed a lack of clear communication with regulators and prioritization of reputation over safety. Following the incident, the Justice Department and other agencies are investigating, Cruise has halted operations, laid off staff, and replaced its CEO. The self-driving subsidiary of General Motors is now seeking to rebuild trust and resume business..
