robotaxis

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a proposal from Alphabet’s Waymo to expand its fared, completely driverless robotaxi services to Los Angeles and some cities near San Francisco, effective on Friday.Waymo, which already operates in San Francisco and Phoenix, applied on January 19 to expand its driverless services, saying it would work with policymakers, first responders, and community organizations. Last month, the CPUC suspended the application “for further staff review.”“Waymo may begin fared,…

Sometimes, timing ruins things. Take this week, instead of detailing the disgust I feel towards this 'meaty' rice, this week's Morning After sets its sights on Mark Zuckerberg, the multimillionaire who's decided to review technology now. Does he know that's my gig?The Meta boss unfavorably compared Apple's new Vision Pro to his company's Meta Quest 3 headset, which is a delightfully hollow and petty reason to 'review' something. But hey, I had to watch it. And now maybe, you'll watch me?We also look closer at Waymo's…

Last year, two Waymo robotaxis in Phoenix "made contact" with the same pickup truck that was in the midst of being towed, which prompted the Alphabet subsidiary to issue a recall on its vehicles' software. A "recall" in this case meant rolling out a software update after investigating the issue and determining its root cause.In a blog post, Waymo has revealed that on December 11, 2023, one of its robotaxis collided with a backwards-facing pickup truck being towed ahead of it. The company says the truck was being towed…

However, GM's Barra asserted on Tuesday that "we had already demonstrated and validated externally that Cruise technology is already safer than a human driver."General Motors' Cruise self-driving car unit faces a trip that could last the better part of this year to convince regulators and a wary public that its robotaxis are fit to share the road with human drivers, industry officials said. After releasing a withering safety report last week that Cruise commissioned, GM…

1 San Francisco is fighting back against self-driving cars The city has filed a lawsuit that could force firms to roll back their rapid expansions. (WP $)+ Meanwhile, Waymo is planning a new fleet in LA. (NBC News)+ Robotaxis are here. It’s time to decide what to do about them. (MIT Technology Review) 2 The EU is going to force Apple to permit non-App Store downloadsNaturally, Apple has discovered it’s a way for it to introduce new fees. (WSJ $) 3 Amazon has been fined for excessively surveilling its workersA French…

One difference between the robotaxi rollouts in the two countries has to do with regulation. Chinese regulators are known for their hands-on approach and the tendency to rein in new technologies early. Robotaxis have been no exception. In December 2023, China’s first regulation on commercial operation of autonomous vehicles went into effect. It sets some ground rules for different kinds of vehicles: roboshuttles or robotrucks still need to have in-car safety operators, while robotaxis can use remote operators. The ratio…

Talon is striving to distance itself from the mining industry’s dirty past, portraying its plan as a clean, friendly model of modern mineral extraction. It proclaims the site will help to power a greener future for the US by producing the nickel needed to manufacture batteries for electric cars and trucks, but with low emissions and light environmental impacts. But as the company has quickly discovered, a lot of locals aren’t eager for major mining operations near their towns. Read the full story. —James Temple…

Bryant Walker Smith, an associate professor of law at the University of South Carolina, echoes this concern. “These companies are competing with an Uber driver who, in any estimate, makes less than minimum wage, has a midpriced car, and probably maintains it themselves,” he says.  By way of contrast, robotaxis are expensive vehicles packed full of cameras, sensors, and advanced software systems, and they require constant monitoring and help from humans. It’s almost impossible for them to compete with ride-sharing…

The Jaguar I-Pace EVs currently being deployed / Credit: Waymo Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous driving unit Waymo is looking to expand its driverless robotaxi service in Los Angeles, where it is currently testing rides. Although, in light of the fallout from Cruise, it might not be smooth sailing. Waymo, which already has a large fleet of robotaxis in San Francisco, hopes to procure a license in Los Angeles to operate and expand its service. Waymo has been testing its driverless white…

The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here — just click TechCrunch Mobility — to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free. Hi folks, I’m back from CES 2024 and ready to share what I saw and heard! But first, big changes are coming to this weekly transportation newsletter. We’re retiring “The Station” name. Next week, look for “TechCrunch Mobility” in your inbox. Inside, you’ll find the same insightful transportation news,…