Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, announced exceeding five million autonomous rides in 2024. Popular destinations include airports and shopping centers. The company plans to expand to Austin, Atlanta, and Miami, while also starting tests in Tokyo in 2025. This shows rapid progress and public acceptance of autonomous vehicle technology.
The Trump transition team reportedly seeks to eliminate a car-crash reporting requirement that impacts Tesla significantly. This move could reduce scrutiny on Tesla’s Autopilot system, but critics argue the data is crucial for safety investigations. The debate highlights the tension between fostering innovation and ensuring accountability in the autonomous driving space.
BMW’s sudden removal of a tweet praising Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has sparked speculation about potential licensing deals and the future of autonomous vehicle technology. The deleted post, which called FSD ‘very impressive,’ fueled hopes among Tesla investors, but its disappearance leaves many questions unanswered.
Tesla’s stock price jumped over 5% on Robinhood following reports suggesting a potential easing of self-driving vehicle regulations under the incoming administration. This follows Elon Musk’s appointment to a government efficiency role and Tesla’s ambitious robotaxi plans.
Waymo, the self-driving car subsidiary of Alphabet Inc, has announced that its autonomous ride-hailing service is now open to everyone in Los Angeles. This marks a significant expansion for Waymo, which now offers its service in three major US cities: San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The company is also actively working to expand its service to other cities in the future.
Rivian, the California-based electric vehicle maker, has revealed its strategy for autonomous driving, which differs from Tesla’s full self-driving ambitions. Rivian’s Chief Software Officer, Wassym Bensaid, emphasizes the company’s focus on incremental improvements to safety and convenience, rather than pursuing robotaxis or complete autonomy. This approach contrasts with Tesla’s aggressive timeline for driverless vehicles, including its planned launch of a ride-hailing service in Texas and California next year. Rivian’s current focus is on delivering its R1S SUV and R1T truck, while also navigating production challenges and striving to achieve profitability.
Waymo, the Alphabet subsidiary, reported its robotaxi fleet has driven 25 million miles without a human driver. While Waymo claims their vehicles have a better safety record than human drivers, the NHTSA is investigating reports of unusual driving behaviors and collisions, raising concerns about the technology’s reliability.
Lucid Group CEO Peter Rawlinson, a former Tesla employee, has thrown cold water on Tesla’s ambitious robotaxi plans, predicting that fully autonomous vehicles won’t become mainstream until the 2030s. Rawlinson’s comments come after Tesla’s Robotaxi Day and highlight the challenges associated with achieving true self-driving capabilities. This latest exchange further intensifies the rivalry between Tesla and Lucid, with Rawlinson repeatedly emphasizing Lucid’s technological advancements.
Apple has been making headlines this past week with a flurry of news, from abandoning its self-driving car project to a secret partnership with BYD and record-breaking iPhone sales. This article dives into the details of these significant developments, exploring the implications for Apple’s future.
Tesla’s highly anticipated robotaxi, the Cybercab, was unveiled last week, but the event failed to impress. Despite a futuristic design, the Cybercab’s production timeline, pricing, and technical challenges raised concerns about Tesla’s ability to deliver on its promises. The event left many questioning whether Tesla is losing the race in the self-driving car market.
