Are robotaxis the future? Or now in the past?
Are robotaxis the future? Or now in the past?
Robotaxis are not just limited by weak technology. They unfortunately also don’t make any business sense…
TechCrunch reports that the Cruise employees didn't realize that there was no way that GM was going to continue to burn more money on the doomed project. The key thing is that Waymo employees currently believe that they will always be supported by the parent company. Well, it just doesn't work that way.
TheVerge provides the most in depth coverage of the fall of Cruise. A robotaxi business is currently too expensive and complicated to succeed with financially. The article also appropriately points out that urban transportation advocates see the only true safety solution is fewer cars, not automated ones.
Fortune reports on how GM pulling the plug on Cruise shows just how hard it is for automakers to succeed with robotaxis. Tesla stockholders should take note.
Business Insider reports on how GM is shutting down the Cruise division. But their main point is that the robotaxi business is simply a bad business financially.
elektrek announces that Tesla is losing yet another critical long-term employee. This time it is the head of Autopilot and FSD HW engineering. Why would the head of AV hardware leave Tesla when they are supposedly lsoon to make billions of dollars off of their robotaxi business???
Wall Street Journal reports that, as predicted, Cruise has crashed. It is being shut down. And GM will focus more on development of advanced driver assistance systems, putting autonomy on the back burner.
Reuters reports that Tesla has come to the realization that FSD won't actually be adequate for robotaxis and that teleoperation will be needed. Tesla also explains that originally the robotaxis would be owned by Tesla, not by individuals as described earlier.
Barrons falsely reports that Tesla robotaxis will be much cheaper because they will have half the parts. But the stock market loves the story!
TechCrunch reports that Waymo is starting to outsource operations of their robotaxis to an African fintech company in order to save on costs.
OregonLive reports on how lawsuits on Tesla's "Self-driving" system are reaching a crescendo. Still, Tesla is usually coming out unscathed due to them successfully blaming the driver for foolishly believing that FSD is actually Self Driving.
The Verge reports on a level 4 robotaxi that costs just $30k by having swappable batteries. Tesla and Waymo won't be able to compete with that low of a vehicle cost.
Jalopnik reports in how a Wall Street analyst wrongly thinks that robotaxis will be less expensive than regular cars due to steering wheel and pedals not needed
Not Just Bikes posts an epic video on not just the problems of self driving cars, but how they would turn our cities into driving hell - unless we do something about it.
Forbes reports on how using a Waymo is significantly slower and more expensive than using an Uber or Lyft. The only reason to take one is for the novelty of a Disneyland like ride.
Barron's reports that Waymo reached their goal in raising $5.6 billion. This is it folks, the hype peak of robotaxis!
