Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Robotaxis are not just limited by weak technology. They unfortunately also don’t make any business sense…
electrek reports on how Tesla has an incredibly weak rollout of their "robotaxi" system, with a backup person onboard plus a human teleoperator. Yet their stock rises due to delusional fanboys like Dan Ives.
electrek reports that Zoox has created a dedicated factory in Hayward California for manufacturing their custom vehicles. Not only are they trying to develop self driving, but they are doing their own manufacturing, which will be incredibly cost inefficient.
electrek reports on a truly shoddy and misleading reports on Tesla vs Waymo and self driving robotaxis
Business Insider reports that Waymo robotaxis are actually more expensive to use than Uber or Lyft. This does not bode well for the future of robotaxis as a profitable business venture, once the novelty wears off.
TheStreet published an article on June 11th on how the Tesla robotaxi system was going to start on the 12th, and that this is a make or break moment. But of course, Tesla wasn't able to start their system on the 12th since they don't have a viable system in the first place.
A lawsuit has been filed by a cyclist in San Francisco who was seriously injured by two (yes, two!) Waymo robotaxis. This demonstrates why Waymo should not be allowed on the transit only portions of Market Street. They simply are not safe with respect to bicyclists.
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.
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.
Forbes reports on how Tesla is in no way ready for their June "Cybercab" rollout in Austin. They simply do not have the technology
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.
The Verge reports that even though Tesla announced just awful financials their stock rose 20% on the mistaken believe that reducing regulations will help Tesla's robotaxi venture. The real problem is their lack of a working technology, not regulations.
SF Standard reports that Mayor Lurie has opened up a can of worms with his proposal to allow Waymos on the transit only portion of Market Street.
electrek reports that contrary to Elon Musk's claims, the Tesla hardware is simply not capable of handling true autonomous driving.
TechCrunch reports that another autonomous trucking company, Kodiak Robotics, is taking the financially dubious track of obtaining funding via a SPAC. This means that the company will completely fall apart within 2 years.
SF Chronicle reports that King Lurie has decreed that public transit on Market Street shall be replaced by Waymo robotaxis.
