The head of the ride-hailing giant says neither the technology, regulators, nor consumers are quite ready for widespread deployment of self-driving cars.
The self-driving future is further off than we think, says the CEO of Lyft, David Risher. According to Risher, “The technology doesn’t work yet, government regulators aren’t ready, and consumers don’t like them.”
In an interview with Fortune’s Jim Edwards, Risher said that those factors will “make the rollout of self-driving slow. Risher said he would be surprised if 10% of Lyft’s business came from self-driving vehicles by 2030.”
Even though robot cars may seem like an attractive option for companies, “Risher points out that a fleet of self-driving cars quickly becomes an expensive asset-depreciation issue.” Because of this, it’s still more efficient for ride-hailing companies to ‘rent’ cars from the individual drivers who own them rather than own entire fleets that sit (or worse, drive around) idly during off-peak hours.
Read the full story: There is ‘zero likelihood’ self-driving cars will replace human drivers in any reasonable timeframe, Lyft’s CEO says
Atlanta, Dallas Area to Launch Robotaxi Rideshare Fleets
Lyft and Uber will begin including autonomous vehicles in their networks in Atlanta and Arlington, Texas starting later this year.
Tesla Reveals Remote Drivers Temporarily Control its Robotaxis
The company admitted human drivers sometimes remotely take over robotaxi operations “if necessary.”
Amazon's steering wheel- and brake pedal-less Zoox robotaxis receive nation's first go-ahead for paid public rides
The NHTSA is giving a temporary permit to some autonomous cars that don't meet current safety standards as it develops a new framework for self-driving vehicles.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
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One Hundred Miles
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