Despite economic and technical headwinds, robotaxis are making progress — one neighborhood at a time.
Waymo and Cruise, the two companies offering commercial driverless service in the U.S., have expanded their service territories in their respective launch cities in recent months and promise broader service ahead.
Their endeavors in San Francisco should be closely watched. Cruise, the General Motors subsidiary, offers service there now. Waymo has extensively tested on the city’s streets, but on Tuesday the California Public Utilities Commission again delayed a vote on Waymo’s application to begin commercial robotaxi service there.
Progress can feel tenuous. City officials have bristled at the propensity of Cruise autonomous vehicles blocking intersections due to technical glitches and how AVs have hindered first responders in emergency situations.
How the companies fix such problems and collaborate with city officials will go a long way toward improving upon the status quo — and establish a blueprint for how they’ll expand into more cities in the future.
Riders, enthusiasts and industry observers should all prepare for “a slow-drip adoption,” suggests McKinsey and Co. senior partner Philipp Kampshoff.
Here is the current outlook for 10 of the leading robotaxi ventures.
