Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
The news media has expended considerable effort researching and publishing information about the robotaxi business. This channel highlights some of the important articles.
LA Times reports on how awful Waymo is towards neighbors. Their charging lots create loud sounds 24-hours a day. Neighbors have taken to blocking the vehicles with cones or even their bodies.
NY Times reports that driverless trucks are starting in Texas, but with very little oversight. And it must be noted that Aurora has reverted to having human drivers as backups, which ensures that there will be no cost saving for now.
Fortune reports on how Tesla is supposed to launch their robotaxi system in Austin in June, yet they lack the fundamental technology to operate autonomous vehicles. Surely they will simply be using human drivers in what is basically an absurdly expensive ride hailing scheme.
electrek reports on how a 2025 Tesla in (Non) Full Self-Driving mode suddenly veered off the road for no reason. And Tesla is supposed to start a robotaxi service in June???
Dallas Morning News reports that Aurora has had to add backup drivers for their autonomous trucks due to safety concerns. Appears that autonomous trucks are not going to live up to their cost saving hype given that they need both a driver and really expensive technology.
electrek also reports how Tesla robotaxis will actually be teleoperated. And it must be noted that teleoperation of cars simply is not safe.
Forbes reports on how Tesla is in no way ready for their June "Cybercab" rollout in Austin. They simply do not have the technology
CNBC reports of another recall of Waymo robotaxis. This time the problem was that they drove into chains, gates, and other roadway barriers, situations that would have been easily avoided by human drivers.
SF Chronicle reports on how there was a collision between an e-bike and a Zoox robotaxi. This resulted in the Zoox robotaxis being recalled.
electrek reports the list of questions the NHTSA is asking about Tesla's alleged robotaxi system. The issue is that it is based on FSD, but FSD is know to be inadequate and dangerous.
Reuters reports on how NHTSA is very leery of Tesla using FSD for their robotaxis given that FSD simply is inadequate and dangerous.
Eyewitness News 7 reports that a Tesla in autopilot mode crashed into a vehicle parked off the street and in a driveway right in front of a house. The driver was blamed. But who is going to be blamed when Tesla robotaxis screw up and crash???
SF Standard reports that to the surprise of no one, Uber is now planning on also operating vehicles on the Transit Only portion of Market Street.
TechCrunch reports on a Zoox robotaxi that crashed into another car in Las Vegas. It was fully the fault of the Zoox automated driving system. As a result all their robotaxis had to be recalled.
Forbes reports on how Waymo is creating more and more robotaxis. The odd thing is that Google has committed to Jaguar I-PACE vehicles and have 2,000 in storage, even though the car has been obsoleted. And their Chinese option is of course subject to 175% tariffs, making it very uneconomical.
