news 
Robocars 2024 in Review: Top Ten Stories and More
As we close the books on 2024, it’s clear that the year was marked by significant shifts in the robocar landscape. While Tesla may not have delivered on its ambitious “We Robot” launch for its robotaxi/cybercab, the company remains committed to this space.
One of the biggest stories of the year was GM shutting down Cruise’s robotaxi efforts and redirecting resources to develop autonomous driving systems (ADAS) tools for their consumer vehicles. This move effectively brought an end to one of the most high-profile self-driving car projects in the industry. However, it also raises questions about whether this marks the beginning of the end for automaker-backed ventures.
The decision by GM and other traditional automakers to scale back their efforts may have been a necessary step due to the intense scrutiny faced by companies like Uber and Cruise following incidents where pedestrians were seriously injured or killed while in the vicinity of self-driving vehicles. It’s likely that regulators will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of this industry.
On a more positive note, Waymo remains the only operator of a robotaxi service in the West, with Zoox delaying its own launch until 2025. May Mobility also continues to operate a limited shuttle service without a human driver on board, but with remote supervision.
While China’s self-driving car industry has been making significant strides, it seems unlikely that we will see any major breakthroughs from Tesla in this area anytime soon, given the company’s slow progress and lack of regulatory approval.
Source: http://www.forbes.com
