Self-driving cars are speeding down America’s streets, but whether the public will trust robotaxis remains an open question.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they would not want to ride in a driverless passenger vehicle if given the chance. Pew Research Center survey. This is because residents of cities who have not yet experienced robo-taxi are still unfamiliar with the technology, while residents of cities with driverless taxis have not yet forgotten high-profile accidents involving other companies, e.g. General MotorsCruise ship owned.
Now TeslaOne of the loudest and most optimistic self-driving proponents, it is launching its long-awaited robotaxis after years of unfulfilled promises.
The company’s existing self-driving technology, still driven by humans, has drawn scrutiny from regulators and multiple agencies. litigation After hundreds of crashes. Experts say Chief Executive Elon Musk’s brilliant speech does not guarantee the safety of the robotaxi network.
Tesla’s upcoming robotaxis could derail the entire self-driving car field.
letterWaymo is a leader in the field, claiming it has logged more than 22 million driverless miles. Consumer demand has proven strong, with the number of weekly paid rides doubling in just a few months in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin. Waymo has been working to build its reputation and launch online services Security Center Data shows its cars are safer than human drivers.
In addition to Tesla, other competitors are also hoping to join the fray.
Amazon Cruise said it was preparing to launch its Zoox fleet as it resumed operations after a crash in 2023 that led regulators to ground the fleet. Wall Street is already looking toward a driverless future, with one analyst arguing that without generative artificial intelligence, 2024 will be the year of the robotaxi.
As self-driving networks expand, one of the fiercest debates is whether ride-sharing services can survive. Robo-taxis may make consumers question whether they really want to book an Uber or Lyft and talk to strangers, ride in someone else’s car and tip a human (whether there are self-driving alternatives). Uber has hedged its bets by signing high-profile deals with self-driving car companies, but it’s unclear how long those partnerships will last.
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