SF Chronicle – Waymos are getting more assertive. Why the driverless taxis are learning to drive like humans
SF Chronicle reports on how autonomous Waymos are starting to pick up all the bad habits of human drivers.
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
News
The news media has expended considerable effort researching and publishing information about the robotaxi business. This channel highlights some of the important articles.
Read MoreSF Chronicle – Waymos are getting more assertive. Why the driverless taxis are learning to drive like humans
Jalopnik – Tesla Running So-Called ‘Full Self-Driving’ Software Splatters ‘Child’ In School Bus Test
Jalopnik reports that the safety of Tesla FSD was once again tested. This time the Tesla on FSD drove right past a stopped school bus with its Stop sign extended and red lights flashing, and then proceeded to identify a dummy as a pedestrian yet hit it at full speed anyways. FSD is simply not a viable autonomous driving system. And Tesla is completely unprepared to run a robotaxi syndrome system.
LA Times – Santa Monica residents go to war against Waymo, including obstructing driverless taxis
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 – Driverless Semi Trucks Are Here, With Little Regulation and Big Promises
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 – Questions swirl as Tesla nears Austin launch day for high stakes driverless robotaxi launch
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 – Tesla Full Self-Driving veers off road, flips car in scary crash driver couldn’t prevent
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 – Aurora adds human driver back to Texas truck route
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 – Tesla’s robotaxi fleet will be powered by ‘plenty of teleoperation’
electrek also reports how Tesla robotaxis will actually be teleoperated. And it must be noted that teleoperation of cars simply is not safe.
Forbes – Elon Musk’s Tesla Robotaxi Rollout Looks Like A Disaster Waiting To Happen
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 – Waymo recalls 1,200 self-driving vehicles after minor collisions
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 – A Zoox and an e-bike collided in S.F. Here’s what it says about robotaxi safety
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 – NHTSA asks Tesla how it plans to release its robotaxi service based on FSD
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 – US agency asks Tesla to answer questions on Texas robotaxi plan
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 – Tesla in autopilot crashes into van parked in driveway, driver ticketed for careless driving
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 – Uber taxis will roll onto Market Street against Lurie’s wishes
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.
