autonomous vehicles

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Tesla's robotaxis are moving in reverse
2 months ago
- Tesla's Robotaxi network saw a 36% decline in paid miles driven in Q2 2026 compared to Q1, despite expanding to six cities in Texas and Florida.
- The company acknowledged that it needs to accumulate driving data from the Cybercab before scaling, contrasting with prior claims that its fleet of customer cars was collecting data for robotaxi training.
- Tesla executives cited safety concerns and the risk of regulatory crackdown from media coverage of accidents as reasons for cautious scaling, while claiming zero notable incidents in over 380,000 unsupervised miles, though 22 crashes have been reported to NHTSA.
- Tesla reiterated its belief that a camera-only autonomous system (without radar or lidar) is sufficient, contradicting industry experts, and promised rapid growth with unsupervised miles increasing roughly 10% weekly since late 2025.
Waymo's driverless cars crash less often than people
2 months ago
- Waymo's driverless vehicles had 68% fewer crashes per mile compared to human drivers in four U.S. cities.
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study highlights the need for better federal data monitoring for automated vehicles.
- Waymo operates Level 4 automation, which can drive without human supervision under certain conditions, unlike Level 2 systems that require constant driver attention.
- Current crash reporting systems, including NHTSA's Standing General Order and California's database, make it difficult to directly compare crash rates due to different reporting thresholds and incomplete mileage data.
- Researchers had to clean and filter crash data to only include incidents a reasonable person would report to police, resulting in a far lower number of police-reportable crashes.
- Waymo's crash involvement rate was lower in Phoenix (76%), San Francisco (35%), Los Angeles (71%), but 4% higher in Austin (small sample size).
- Waymo vehicles were involved in 85% fewer single-vehicle crashes and 81% fewer injury crashes per mile than human drivers.
Waymos cause "way mo" injuries per mile driven than for-hire vehicles in NYC
2 months ago
- Waymo robotaxis in the US cause fatal and serious injury crashes at a rate 1.5 times higher than New York City's for-hire vehicles per mile driven, according to a new report.
- The report compared Waymo incidents nationwide to NYC's Uber and Lyft fleets from 2020, noting Waymo's rate is skewed due to fewer miles driven (fewer than 4,000 Waymos vs. nearly 120,000 for-hire vehicles).
- Waymo disputed the report's methodology and criteria for 'serious' injuries, emphasizing the need for apples-to-apples comparisons.
- For all crashes, Waymo's safety record improved, with 67% fewer injury-causing crashes per million miles than NYC's for-hire vehicles, but researchers caution against firm conclusions due to limited data.
- The report also argues Waymos could worsen traffic congestion due to parking issues when without passengers, and urges lawmakers to proceed cautiously before approving broader operations in New York.
Tesla driver who blamed crash on autopilot pressed accelerator 100%, NTSB finds
2 months ago
- NTSB's preliminary findings confirm Tesla's claim that driver Michael Butler overrode Full Self-Driving before a fatal crash, pressing the accelerator to 100% in a residential area.
- Michael Butler had initially told police autopilot was engaged, but internal data and Musk's statements contested this, suggesting manual override due to the high-speed nature of the crash.
- Phone data indicated Butler was working for DoorDash at the time, with multiple successful stops before the incident; he claimed to have passed out and didn't recall leaving the highway or entering residential streets.
Uber is lobbying to keep robotaxi rides 85% human in New Jersey
2 months ago
- Uber initially viewed autonomous vehicles as a threat, but has shifted to a strategy of becoming a platform connecting riders to both human-driven and driverless rides.
- Uber is lobbying for laws to mandate 'hybrid networks' where human drivers and autonomous vehicles operate together, including proposals in New Jersey requiring 85% human-driven rides.
- These lobbying efforts could limit competition by preventing self-driving companies like Waymo and Tesla from operating their own ride-hail apps, forcing them onto platforms like Uber.
- In Washington, D.C., Uber is advocating for inclusion in autonomous vehicle programs to ensure hybrid networks are part of the transition, citing worker and competitive concerns.
- Uber released a policy paper advocating a 'phased transition' to autonomous vehicles to protect riders, drivers, and cities, marking a shift from its earlier regulatory resistance.
- The company's past includes regulatory battles and a failed self-driving program, with its new stance acknowledged as ironic given its history of exploiting regulatory gray areas.
We tried London's first driverless bus
2 months ago
- London's first driverless bus was tested on public roads, showing smooth but cautious autonomous driving.
- The bus is proposed as a solution to Hammersmith Bridge's closure due to weight limits, as it is lighter than traditional buses.
- The project faces opposition from Transport for London and unions, but community advocates continue to push for its implementation.
- A hacker's motivation is highlighted as social rather than financial, with ransom money seen as trophies.
- A property developer is in a dispute over installing a piece of the Berlin Wall in his garden, deemed an artwork.
- A historic Edinburgh building linked to tax-evading gift shops was damaged in a fire.
- Picturehouse Central's rooftop bar restrictions have been lifted after a legal dispute with the landlord.
- London's Norwegian connections include historical sites and cultural elements, like the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square.
Feds demand autonomous vehicle companies stop interfering with first responders
3 months ago
- NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a directive to AV developers, stating it is unacceptable for their vehicles to interfere with first responders or law enforcement.
- The agency identified a pattern of driverless AVs interfering with emergency scenes, such as blocking ambulances or failing to recognize safety conditions like flashing lights and flares.
- NHTSA demanded that AV developers present solutions by the end of the month, emphasizing that such issues are not rare 'edge cases' and require immediate focus.
- The letter, while not naming specific companies, appears directed at robotaxi operators like Waymo, which has had repeated run-ins with first responders in cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix.
- NHTSA implied it would hold companies accountable similarly to human drivers who impede law enforcement, who face fines or jail time, though consequences for ignoring the request were not specified.
- The agency is also updating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), proposing changes that could benefit AV companies like Tesla and Zoox by eliminating requirements for features like steering wheels or windshield wipers.
Global robotaxi market set to hit US$1T by 2040 as China tech costs plummet
3 months ago
- Morgan Stanley forecasts the global robotaxi market to reach US$1 trillion by 2040.
- Chinese robotaxi manufacturing costs are projected to drop to US$35,000-40,000 per vehicle by 2027.
- Lower hardware costs, AI advances, and clearer regulations may enable robotaxis to cover operating costs by 2028.
- Baidu, Xpeng, and WeRide are seen as regional front-runners in China alongside Tesla and Waymo globally.
- Europe and broader Asia could gain increasing importance in the robotaxi sector by mid-decade.
- Chinese companies benefit from structural advantages like cheaper supply chains to accelerate industry growth.
The Case of the Missing Tesla Fatal Crash Data
3 months ago
- Dillon Angulo and Naibel Benavides were struck by a Tesla on Autopilot while stargazing on Card Sound Road in Key Largo, Florida, in April 2019, resulting in Benavides' death and severe injuries to Angulo.
- The crash investigation revealed Tesla's Autopilot system identified obstacles but failed to issue warnings or brake, with critical data initially claimed missing or corrupted, later recovered by a hacker showing the system's awareness.
- Tesla faced legal and regulatory scrutiny over Autopilot's safety, marketing, and data handling, culminating in a $243 million verdict against Tesla in 2025 for defects and deceptive practices, the largest such verdict against the company.
- The case highlighted broader issues with Tesla's self-driving technology, including inadequate driver monitoring, lack of geofencing, and misleading marketing, leading to recalls and federal investigations into its systems.
- Post-verdict, Tesla continued to expand its Robotaxi services while facing multiple federal probes and appeals, with the legacy of the case influencing ongoing lawsuits and safety debates in the autonomous vehicle industry.

autonomous vehicles

Tesla's robotaxis are moving in reverse

Waymo's driverless cars crash less often than people

Waymos cause "way mo" injuries per mile driven than for-hire vehicles in NYC

Tesla driver who blamed crash on autopilot pressed accelerator 100%, NTSB finds

Uber is lobbying to keep robotaxi rides 85% human in New Jersey

We tried London's first driverless bus

Feds demand autonomous vehicle companies stop interfering with first responders

Global robotaxi market set to hit US$1T by 2040 as China tech costs plummet

The Case of the Missing Tesla Fatal Crash Data