ROBOTAXIS / FLYING TAXIS
WAYMO OPENS UP SAN FRANCISCO ROBOTAXIS TO EVERYONE
Waymo has announced the full launch of its driverless taxi service, Waymo One, in San Francisco, making it available to the general public. The Alphabet-owned company has removed the previously extensive waiting list, allowing anyone to hail a robotaxi through the Waymo app. This expansion mirrors Waymo’s strategy in Phoenix, where it first introduced its driverless taxi service. The company emphasises a gradual and responsible rollout, working closely with local authorities and safety advocates to ensure a positive impact on the community. The announcement comes amidst
recent challenges for Waymo. The company voluntarily recalled all 672 of its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis following a collision with a telephone pole. This is the second software recall this year after previous incidents involving crashes with a towed pickup truck. Despite these setbacks, Waymo has been steadily expanding its presence in the San Francisco area. Since gaining approval to charge customers for rides last year, it has amassed a waiting list of nearly 300,000 people. The company has gradually opened up the service to waiting customers, with the dwindling list now prompting its complete removal.
Waymo also holds a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission to operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Peninsula, and on San Francisco freeways. However, the company is currently focusing on its San Francisco fleet of 300 robotaxis, offering rides within city limits. The company boasts tens of thousands of weekly trips in San Francisco, a figure comparable to its Phoenix operations. A company survey revealed that over half of San Francisco customers use Waymo for medical appointments, while 36% utilise it as a connection to other forms of transport.
DRIVERLESS TAXI CRASH IN CHINA SPARKS DEBATE ON AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SAFETY
A collision between a Baidu- operated self-driving taxi and a pedestrian in Wuhan has ignited fresh concerns over the safety and reliability of autonomous driving technology. The incident, captured on video, showed the vehicle striking a person sitting on the street after the traffic light turned green. While the pedestrian sustained no apparent injuries, the crash has raised questions about the technology's ability to
handle
unexpected situations. Despite significant investment and progress in the field, experts warn that challenges remain, particularly in complex and dynamic road environments. Unconventional
PHTM AUGUST 2024
behaviour by pedestrians and other motorists can pose difficulties for autonomous systems. Ensuring the safety and reliability of self-driving vehicles is a top priority, and further development is needed in areas such as algorithm refinement, cost reduction for components like lidar sensors, and the advancement of intelligent transportation infrastructure. While some cities in China are actively promoting autonomous driving technology, including Beijing, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Shenzhen, experts predict that widespread commercialisation of fully driverless taxis is still at least a decade away. The potential impact on the taxi
driver workforce is also a growing concern. Although robotaxis currently represent a small fraction of the market, fears of job displacement are prevalent. However, experts argue that the immediate threat to taxi drivers comes from ride-hailing services rather than autonomous vehicles. Nevertheless, the development of autonomous driving technology is expected to drive innovation in the automotive industry, boosting sales of related devices and accelerating the development of intelligent transportation systems. China is projected to lead the global robotaxi market, with an estimated 12 million self-driving vehicles by 2040, according to Bloomberg NEF.
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