Waymo robotaxis will definitely not solve transportation problems
This is likely the biggest autonomous traffic jam ever! Thanks for nothing, Waymo.
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Waymo
Waymo is fortunate to have a better reputation than the rest, but their incident rate is still not acceptable…
Read MoreWaymo robotaxis will definitely not solve transportation problems
Waymo steps up the propaganda campaign
Waymo is once again being misleading. This time, not only are their vehicles zero emission, but they are also claiming that they encourage public transit use.
SF Examiner – SF nonprofit grateful for Waymo partnership — but there’s a catch
SF Examiner reports on how Waymo is using a charity as a cynical marketing ploy. They are using Waymo vehicles to deliver food for a charity. Of course to deliver food you need a human driver. If Waymo really wants to make a charitable contribution, they should simply donate money directly to the organization.
SF Chronicle – S.F. woman’s viral video shows her trapped in a Waymo by men asking for her number
SF Chronicle reports on how a problem with autonomous vehicles is that passengers are trapped when they get harassed. Certainly expect more of this to happen.
Financial Times – Rolling out driverless cars is ‘extraordinary grind’, says Waymo boss
An old article from the Financial Times on the difficulties encountered when rolling out autonomous vehicles. Since this article is quite relevant to the upcoming October 10th Tesla robotaxi fiasco, it is worth reading again today.
Just Some More Waymo Shenanigans. They Sure Don’t Drive Good!
A bunch of examples of Waymos doing dumb things, over just a short couple of weeks.
Reuters – Waymo in talks with Hyundai Motor to produce self-driving taxis, media report says
Reuters reports that Waymo is looking at yet another vehicle to use, given that its current Jaguar vehicles are being discontinued. But the possible use of the Hyundai Ionic 5 vehicle appears to be very uncertain.
SF Examiner – Waymo says it used input from SF leaders to create new safety dashboard
SF Examiner reports on the new Waymo "safety" dashboard, which is basically just company propaganda. If Waymo was actually interested safety then they would pivot to providing cost effective driver assist technology. And they would instead alternative forms of transit, and of course, better road design.
A robot stole my luggage!
Now we know Waymo's full business plan: stealing luggage when dropping people off at the airport. No wonder they aren't allowed at SFO.
NY Times – How Self-Driving Cars Get Help From Humans Hundreds of Miles Away
NY Times reports on the myth of "driverless" robotaxis. It turns out that all of the robotaxi companies have large and expensive remote operation centers, where actual humans help drive the vehicles for the inevitable situations where automation simply does not work.
NY Times – Waymo’s Robot Taxis Are Almost Mainstream. Can They Now Turn a Profit?
NY Times asks the truly pertinent question: is Waymo a viable business that will continue? While most articles dwell on safety issues, the NY Times digs into how Waymo might not continue once it realizes it is in a hopeless taxi business where they have to front all the costs.
SF Examiner – Cruise, Waymo driving in opposite directions a year after watershed vote
SF Examiner reports on how Cruise has vanished from SF by their ineptitude, but that Waymo has continued to grow.
Mission Local – Driverless cars won’t be ticketed in last-minute about-face for CA state bill
Mission Local reports on how robotaxis will not be ticketed for breaking the law after all, perpetuating a two tiered system for safety.
UC Davis – Half of Uber, Lyft Trips Replace More Sustainable Options
UC Davis study shows that contrary to claims by Uber and Lyft, their trips replace more sustainable options like transit and walking, half the time. And of course, robotaxis are exactly the same.
SF Chronicle – Waymo eyes S.F. robotaxi expansion, personal vehicles after first-year ‘success’
SF Chronicle reports that Waymo is starting to understand that they need to have a profitable business in order to continue.
