Robotaxi Reality Check: Hype Crashes in San Francisco's Chaotic Streets
by AutoExpert | 22 March, 2024
Ugh, remember when the hype about robotaxis was INSANE? Like, this was supposed to be the next big thing, right? Well, guess what? It's all kinda crashing and burning (sometimes literally).
San Francisco is the latest example. Waymo and Cruise try to unleash their robot cars there, and it's a total dumpster fire. Protests, hit cyclists, and now this Lunar New Year thing where a MOB vandalizes a Waymo?
Maybe SF, with its halfway-decent public transport and those e-bike people taking over, wasn't the smartest place to test this stuff. Even Waymo's old CEO is low-key throwing shade.
And it's not just SF! Ford bailed on that Argo AI thing, Tesla's "self-driving" is basically under federal investigation, and guess what? Most people are like, "LOL nope, I'll stick with my steering wheel, thanks."
This whole thing is making me roll my eyes so hard. Sam Abuelsamid, this car expert dude, is right: EVs are gonna happen anyway, but robotaxis? Forget it. We're gonna be waiting YEARS.
Honestly, I'm bummed. Robotaxis sounded kinda cool...guess I'll just have to deal with rush hour traffic like everyone else. Ugh.