$$$

A truly fascinating and in depth timeline of the ill fated Apple Autonomous/Electric Vehicle program. Amazing that at one point it had 5,000 employees!

After spending billions of dollars, Apple realized that it is best to completely abandon their autonomous electric vehicle program. This article is very relevant because it shows that the current autonomous vehicle business is in collapse. It is an especially important message for Cruise.

Didi has withdrawn and other Chinese companies have scaled back from the California’s autonomous vehicle testing program. Didi’s exit from California comes amid growing geopolitical tensions between the US and China, with concerns about data collection practices. Plus could be due to public reaction due to Cruise issues.

False excitement on autonomous vehicles by showing that testing by Apple had tripled. The article is misleading since the reason the increase in testing miles was a factor of three was because Apple had previously done so little testing.

Aptiv is scaling back involvement in its self-driving joint venture Motional, halting further funding and reducing its stake after heavy losses. The move mirrors industry peers like GM and Ford, who face challenges in developing autonomous driving.

Robotaxi companies face multiple challenges in 2023, including rebuilding public trust after accidents and proving their profitability against conventional ride services. In San Francisco, Cruise's accident and workforce cuts highlighted industry risks, while Waymo expands cautiously. Despite high costs and regulatory hurdles, robotaxis operate in select US and Chinese cities. Europe lags, focusing on mass transit. The industry wrestles with safety transparency and pressure to reduce costs, striving to remain viable amidst rapid technological and competitive landscapes.