Waymo and other robotaxi operators argue they need to charge higher fares to control demand. Are they risking public backlash? Waymo and other robotaxi operators argue they need to charge higher fares to control demand. Are they risking public backlash? It’s a familiar frustration for ridehail users: you open the Uber or Lyft app, enter… Continue reading Surge pricing, the scourge of ridehailing, is evolving for the robotaxi era
Tag: Waymo/Google
An Internal Tesla Analysis Found the Robotaxi Would Lose Money, and You’ll Never Guess What Elon Musk Did in Response
Back in October of 2024, Tesla investors and fanboys alike flocked to Hollywood for the company’s “We, Robot” event. The company’s backers hoped Musk would finally unveil the long-awaited “$25,000 Tesla” — a lower-budget EV that was sure to rejuvenate sales as the costly Cybertruck flopped — but what they got was anything but. Instead, the… Continue reading An Internal Tesla Analysis Found the Robotaxi Would Lose Money, and You’ll Never Guess What Elon Musk Did in Response
Waymo starts autonomous vehicle project in Japan
The cherry blossom time in Japan traditionally symbolizes new beginnings, and in this spring it also marks the beginning of the Waymo project in Tokyo. At the end of last year a partnership between Waymo, the taxi platform Go and Nihon Kotsu, Tokios largest taxi company, announced. The goal: to bring the autonomous driving technology… Continue reading Waymo starts autonomous vehicle project in Japan
Waymo and Uber prepare to launch robotaxi service in Atlanta this summer
Uber is inviting customers in Atlanta to join a list if they’re interested in hailing a Waymo robotaxi as the companies prepare to launch a commercial service in the city. Uber and Waymo last September announced plans to offer a robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025 as part of an expanded partnership.… Continue reading Waymo and Uber prepare to launch robotaxi service in Atlanta this summer
Autonomous trucking startup Kodiak Robotics to go public via SPAC
Self-driving truck startup Kodiak Robotics plans to go public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company Ares Acquisition Corporation II. The transaction values Kodiak, which has raised around $243 million to date, at about $2.5 billion pre-money. New and existing Kodiak institutional investors, like Soros Fund Management, ARK Investments, and Ares, have funded or… Continue reading Autonomous trucking startup Kodiak Robotics to go public via SPAC
Week in Review: Jeff Bezos’ secret EV startup
Welcome back to Week in Review! We’ve got tons of cool stuff for your reading pleasure this week: Jeff Bezos backs EV startup Slate; a Meta whistleblower accuses the company of collusion; Waymo may use interior camera data; and much more. Let’s get to it! I want this: Slate, an EV startup, has the ambitious… Continue reading Week in Review: Jeff Bezos’ secret EV startup
Waymo readies autonomous cars for first international tests in Japan
The company has yet to commit to launching a commercial robotaxi service in the country but is still celebrating the tests as a ‘significant milestone.’ The company has yet to commit to launching a commercial robotaxi service in the country but is still celebrating the tests as a ‘significant milestone.’ Andrew J. Hawkins is transportation… Continue reading Waymo readies autonomous cars for first international tests in Japan
A Waymo robotaxi got trapped in Chick-fil-A drive-through
A Waymo robotaxi caused a traffic jam at a Chick-fil-A in Santa Monica, California, this week after getting stuck in the fast food restaurant’s drive-thru lane. Waymo confirmed the incident, which was first reported by local broadcast station KTLA 5, to TechCrunch via email. Waymo told TechCrunch that there weren’t any passengers in the robotaxi.… Continue reading A Waymo robotaxi got trapped in Chick-fil-A drive-through
Amazon’s Zoox begins robotaxi testing in Los Angeles
Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle unit, is deploying a small fleet of retrofitted test vehicles on the streets of Los Angeles starting Tuesday – a modest, yet meaningful step as the company inches toward offering public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year. The data-collection effort marks Zoox’s entrance into its sixth city… Continue reading Amazon’s Zoox begins robotaxi testing in Los Angeles
Waymo: ‘no plans’ to use in-car camera data for targeted ads
An unreleased page from the robotaxi company’s privacy policy raised questions about privacy and AI training. An unreleased page from the robotaxi company’s privacy policy raised questions about privacy and AI training. Andrew J. Hawkins is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in… Continue reading Waymo: ‘no plans’ to use in-car camera data for targeted ads