CNBC – Photos show Waymo vehicles on fire during LA protests as company cuts downtown service
CNBC reports on photos of the rather spectacular Waymo fires in Los Angeles during the ICD protests
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 MoreCNBC – Photos show Waymo vehicles on fire during LA protests as company cuts downtown service
Wall Street Journal – Waymo Driverless Taxis Become Protesters’ New Favorite Target
WSJ reports on how Waymos have become a target of protests. Current count is 5 Waymos destroyed.
electrek – Tesla admits it would ‘suffer financial harm’ if its self-driving crash data becomes public
electrek reports on how Tesla continues to try to hide their crash data.
Reddit – Wheel came off my Waymo while driving full speed through an intersection
A Waymo user reports on Reddit on how they were going feel speed through an intersection in Austin when a front wheel, yup, just plain fell off.
Bloomberg – A Fatal Tesla Crash Shows the Limits of Full Self-Driving
Bloomberg reports on how a fatal crash of a Tesla on FSD shows that the autonomous system is simply not safe because their sensors are completely inadequate.
The Hill Opinion – Autonomous vehicles should have to pass a driver’s test, just like anyone else
The Hill Opinion piece on how autonomous vehicle systems should have to pass a drivers test. The current lack of regulations is simply not appropriate.
Forbes – Waymo To Separate From Google?
Forbes reports that Waymo is losing money hand over fist, and if they are separated from Alphabet/Google due to the anti-trust ruling, then their viability is very questionable. And the Forbes article makes a compelling argument of why this could happen.
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.
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.
