Latest news with #driverlessTaxi
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Starts Long-Awaited Robotaxi Service With Low-Key Rollout
(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc. rolled out its long-promised driverless taxi service to a handful of riders Sunday, a modest debut for what Elon Musk sees as a transformative new business line. Bezos Wedding Draws Protests, Soul-Searching Over Tourism in Venice One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports The first robotaxi trips were limited to a narrow portion of Tesla's hometown of Austin, with an employee in each vehicle keeping tabs on the operations. The carmaker hand-picked a friendly crop of initial riders, which featured investors and social-media influencers who live-streamed their trips. In one video, Herbert Ong, who runs a fan account, marveled over the speed of the vehicle and the ability to park autonomously. Another influencer with the @BLKMDL3 handle on X said the trip was 'smoother than a human driver.' Sawyer Merritt, a Tesla investor who runs an account focused on the company, called the experience 'awesome.' With no kickoff event and little in the way of formal announcements, Tesla has relied largely on word of mouth and media coverage ahead of the robotaxi launch, which comes about a decade after Musk began talking about the possibility. The unveiling was uncharacteristically low-key for a company that held a 'Cyber Rodeo' to mark a Texas factory opening in 2022 and an invite-only party near Hollywood last year to unveil autonomous products. Musk is reorienting the carmaker around hyped-but-still-unproven technologies including self-driving vehicles and humanoid robots. Some investors are counting on new markets to revive Tesla following a sales slump and consumer backlash against the chief executive officer. Its shares have tumbled 20% this year. 'Robotaxis are critical to the Tesla investment case,' Tom Narayan, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, said in a note. About 60% of Narayan's valuation for the shares is attributable to the self-driving vehicles. The videos of the robotaxi launch posted Sunday were largely mundane, showing Model Y SUVs driving short distances, navigating intersections, avoiding pedestrians and parking — albeit with no one sitting in the driver's seat. There were some hiccups, like when one streamer tested a button to have the vehicle pull over and it instead briefly stopped in the middle of a road before the vehicle began moving again. The first riders are being charged a flat rate of $4.20 per trip, Musk said Sunday, though it's unclear what pricing will look like longer term. Robotaxis will be available between 6 a.m. and midnight daily within a geofenced area of the city, not including the airport, according to terms of use that some early riders posted. Service may be limited or unavailable in foul weather. The launch marks a crucial test for Tesla, which is using only 10 to 20 vehicles at first. It's aiming to show it can safely and successfully navigate real-world traffic, which has tripped up some other companies and brought regulatory scrutiny. Cruise, the now-defunct autonomy business of General Motors Co., grounded its fleet in late 2023 and had its operating license suspended in California following an accident that injured a pedestrian. Uber Technologies Inc. ceased testing self-driving vehicles after one of its SUVs struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona in 2018. Less than three years later, the company agreed to sell its self-driving business. While Tesla hasn't said when the robotaxi service will open to the general public, Musk has pledged to scale up quickly and expand to other US cities in the near future. The company faces a crowded market in Austin. Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., is scaling up in the city through a partnership with Uber. Inc.'s Zoox is also testing there. Dan Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities who rates Tesla outperform, said he expects robotaxis to be competitive with Waymo from the start. After a member of his team rode in one Sunday, the analyst told Bloomberg the robotaxi user experience was 'better than expected.' Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
I travelled alone in a driverless taxi – it's a game changer for single women like me
A SLEEK white car approached me, gliding towards the pavement as a flashing green beacon like an old fashion police light revealed the letters 'CF'. That was the signifier that this way my driverless taxi. 5 5 To unlock the car, I had to go back onto the app and confirm - none of the usual issue of someone battling you for the Uber you thought was yours. I was in San Francisco hailing a Waymo taxi, which was introduced to the public in the city back in 2024. The cars are littered all over the city and look like car-versions of Big Hero 6's Baymax. Once inside, the energy felt very much the same. Unlike an Uber - where I avoid the front seat at all costs - I made a beeline for it. This was the best place to be - like the front of the rollercoaster, where you can see all the action. Though in this case, it was the roads ahead, a wheel rotating on its own accord and a tablet screen showing all of the things within feet of the car. In fact, the cars sensors and cameras even stretched to the bins and people on the pavement... on the other side of the road. Without doubt, I was impressed. The apprehension I had prior to getting in the car had immediately subsided. Incredible moment Britain's first ever air taxi takes to UK skies with speeds of 150mph and room for four passengers It didn't feel like an erratic or janky journey, instead very smooth, taking each turn and speedbump with a planned approach. The reason why San Francisco is home to these vehicles - and other brands' driverless vehicles too - is mostly due to the city's proximity to Silicon Valley, it being a challenging city with lots of hills and also, it having a welcoming attitude towards new technologies. Whilst the cars cannot go on the highway, they can zip around the city with ease. Admittedly, to a lot of people they seem like a novelty. But in reality, the cars really do feel safe and like the future of taxis. In recent years, there have been a flurry of taxi driver scandals, with young women airing their grievances over creepy drivers. And in 2022, Uber was sued in the US over allegations of assault by drivers including allegations women passengers were kidnapped. I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. When I first moved to London, these kinds of incidents meant I didn't know which firm to trust - if it could happen with Ubersdrivers, it could happen with any driver from any taxi app or firm. I remember having a female driver in Texas, who drove so erratically I thought she was drunk. And a male driver in London, at 10am in the morning, interrogating me if I had been drinking - all because I had a can of Sprite in my hand. After a night out, I was stranded on two percent with no Uber accepting my trip. Whilst the app told me there were no nearby drivers, I was in central London, with many cars with Uber stickers whizzing by me. More than likely, I was being rejected by drivers because my trip was short and only would cost £5. Another night, whilst with friends, we had an Uber abandon us on the side of the road and zoom off with no reason explained. 5 I have had Uber drivers ask about my age, question my career as a journalist, ask if I am single, been on any dates recently, 'behave' appropriately on nights out - the list goes on. Undoubtedly, I have had amazing drivers too - chatty or not, friendly and respectful, and ones who have offered me water or a charger. And whilst I make effort to give five stars and a tip for these drivers, I shouldn't feel the need to award someone for not being creepy. With Waymo, there is none of this anxiety. You unlock the car from your phone, get in and a safety demo is explained to you, the screen constantly shows what is around the car, the doors are locked for the duration of the journey, you can contact customer service by simply asking. 5 All of these safety measures are then enhanced by measures that make your ride enjoyable - a fun, upbeat voice, music options and even the joke that "you can sing as loud as you like because no one will hear you". Essentially, my experience was a safe, comforting private karaoke room on wheels. No complaints - even despite the slightly-higher-than-Uber price - just one satisfied customer. Driverless taxis don't just offer a tourist experience, they offer a haven away from questionable drivers and forced conversations. Uber self-driving robotaxis are due to come to UK roads NEXT YEAR. Last year, a British driverless car firm also raised $1bn from investors in Europe's biggest AI deal to date. 5
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Waymo gets the green light to operate in San Jose
The autonomous vehicle company Waymo can now operate in San Jose. The company is the first driverless taxi company to offer services in the city. According to Mayor Matt Mahan's office the California Public Utilities Commission approved an amendment to Waymo's existing permit allowing them to drive in San Jose. "It's about time autonomous vehicles rolled into San José," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "For decades, our region has shaped the future—and now, the ride to work is as forward-thinking as the breakthroughs happening at the office." Waymo will be restricted to certain streets in San Jose. Before Monday's announcement their autonomous taxi service was only available between San Francisco and Sunnyvale. The company had to recently recall roughly 1,200 self-driving vehicles prone to hitting road barriers.
