Robotaxi oversight is now a priority at Los Angeles City Hall. At a press briefing on Wednesday, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez told Waymo and Cruise that their robotaxis are not welcome. “The purpose of this press event is to send a very clear message about robot taxis, and say that they do not belong in the… Continue reading Robotaxis ‘do not belong in the city of Los Angeles,’ lawmaker says
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
California agency pulls Cruise’s commercial robotaxi permit following DMV action
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has suspended Cruise’s authority to carry and charge passengers for its robotaxi service, following similar action from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. The CPUC is also “independently carrying out investigatory activities into recent incidents involving passenger service,” Terrie Prosper, director of news and outreach at the CPUC, told… Continue reading California agency pulls Cruise’s commercial robotaxi permit following DMV action
Robotaxi pushback grows in Los Angeles as Cruise loses permits
Less than a month after Waymo’s Los Angeles County expansion, labor organizers and an LA lawmaker are calling for new autonomous-vehicle regulations. On Tuesday, the office of LA Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez said he will introduce a motion “urging officials in the state to address public safety concerns around autonomous vehicles and reign in the expansion… Continue reading Robotaxi pushback grows in Los Angeles as Cruise loses permits
Waymo’s new simulator helps researchers train more realistic agents
Autonomous vehicle companies use simulators to train their self-driving systems and teach them how to react to “agents” — things like pedestrians, cyclists, traffic signals and other cars. To have a truly advanced AV system, those agents need to behave and react realistically to the AV and to each other. Creating and training intelligent agents… Continue reading Waymo’s new simulator helps researchers train more realistic agents
Uber sexual assault survivors score a win, down goes another SPAC and why EV battery plants remain a UAW sticking point
The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here — just click The Station — to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free. Welcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B.… Continue reading Uber sexual assault survivors score a win, down goes another SPAC and why EV battery plants remain a UAW sticking point
Uber sexual assault survivors call for in-car cameras, tech upgrades
Hundreds of women have filed lawsuits against Uber claiming the company hasn’t done enough to prevent instances of sexual assault by drivers. Now a panel of judges has ruled that more than 80 cases can be consolidated into federal court. The stakes are high for both parties with implications extending to future Uber riders and… Continue reading Uber sexual assault survivors call for in-car cameras, tech upgrades
Cruise opens robotaxi service in Houston
GM’s self-driving car subsidiary Cruise has opened its robotaxi service to users in Houston — an expansion that comes amid increasing criticism of the company’s operations in San Francisco, it’s first launch city. Cruise said it will operate seven days a week from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in about 11 square miles of sprawling… Continue reading Cruise opens robotaxi service in Houston
Waymo expands in San Francisco while Cruise feels the heat
Alphabet subsidiary Waymo is expanding its service area in San Francisco despite protests against robotaxis, while rival Cruise grapples with crashes and other incidents. Waymo riders can now access the service across the vast majority of SF, Waymo announced on Monday on social media site X. The company had limited rides in many of the… Continue reading Waymo expands in San Francisco while Cruise feels the heat
Waymo-Zeekr robotaxi poised for US testing by end of 2023
Nearly two years after Waymo and Geely struck a deal to develop robotaxis for the U.S. market, we are seeing concrete progress in the collaboration. According to a job post posted on LinkedIn, Zeekr, the young electric car brand started by Chinese auto giant Geely, is hiring a logistics manager in the U.S. A spokesperson for… Continue reading Waymo-Zeekr robotaxi poised for US testing by end of 2023
Uber couriers will now drop your package off at the post office
Uber is expanding its peer-to-peer package delivery service, Uber Connect. Now, customers who don’t want to schlep a package to the post office can request an Uber courier to do it for them with the new ‘Return a Package’ feature. Uber couriers can pick up five packages at a time to be delivered at your… Continue reading Uber couriers will now drop your package off at the post office