Mobility On The Go: 12/20/2024
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JARRETT RENSHAW, RACHAEL LEVY, and CHRIS KIRKHAM?12-17-2024
The Trump transition team is reportedly advocating the elimination of a car-crash reporting rule opposed by Elon Musk’s Tesla. Proponents argue that this rule, requiring disclosure of crash data, is crucial for the regulation of vehicle safety, especially for those with automated-driving systems. Tesla, having reported over 1,500 crashes, would notably benefit from its removal. The recommendation to scrap the rule comes as part of a 100-day automotive policy strategy, citing “excessive” data collection as a concern. While it’s unclear if Musk influenced these recommendations, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation also criticizes the rule. NHTSA data shows Tesla’s involvement in a high number of fatal crashes, including incidents involving the “Autopilot” feature. As we have reported previously, Tesla’s numbers may be considered “skewed” because, unlike most other OEMs, Tesla receives crash notifications wirelessly and is therefore required to report more accidents.
ALEX GROTH 12-18-2024
Milwaukee city officials will be installing 50 new EV chargers across the city after receiving a grant of nearly $15 million of federal money. Each new EV charging site is expected to include space for at least four vehicles and will be located at locations such as local libraries and medical centers. Under the program, the new chargers will be installed around the city between 2026 and 2030.
Also announced this week, Boone County Fiscal Court voted unanimously 4-0 against building EV charging stations in the Kentucky county. The US government has identified Boone County as an EV charging station “desert.” The struck-down agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet proposed utilizing $400,000 of federal grant money to build nine stations. “If there’s a void for a particular type of product from the private sector, there’s probably a good reason for it,” stated Commissioner Jesse Brewer.
ANDREW J. HAWKINS 12-16-2024
On the same day that General Motors decided to stop funding Cruise, China’s Pony.ai announced plans to expand its robotaxi fleet from 250 to at least 1,000 vehicles by 2025 through a partnership with GAC Aion. This expansion targets major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. In contrast, US automakers face challenges, with GM and Ford shifting focus to driver-assist technology. The Biden administration proposed rules to block Chinese vehicle software, heightening trade tensions. Despite China's advancements, concerns over autonomous vehicle regulation and local objections persist.
12-17-2024
Mercedes-Benz’s Level 3 driving system DRIVE PILOT has received approval from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority and is now set for release in early 2025. The driving system will only be available in two car ranges, S-Class and EQS. DRIVE PILOT has now become the “fastest certified system for conditionally automated driving in a standard production vehicle.” The system can now be used in Germany in traffic up to 95 km/h (around 59 mph) and, now legally, allows drivers to watch television or read a book while the system is enabled. Vehicles with DRIVE PILOT are equipped with over 35 sensors, including cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR to ensure that the system knows everything happening around the vehicle.
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LLOYD LEE?12-13-2024
As reported last week, General Motors has announced that the carmaker will no longer fund its robotaxi subsidiary, Cruise. With the exit of Cruise, the door is left open for Tesla, Amazon, or Waymo to take the lead in the robotaxi race in the U.S. Waymo has continued to expand is ride-sharing operations, including moving into Miami in 2026, and currently provides over 100,000 paid rides per week. Amazon’s Zoox is getting ready for its “carriage-style” robotaxi services to launch in Las Vegas and San Francisco in the new year. And Elon Musk is planning to debut its $25,000 Cybercab in 2026. Tesla likely has the advantage with millions of personal Tesla vehicles already on the road.
“We look at 2,000 companies a year that are cutting-edge tech companies, and we never see anybody trying to solve for autonomy,” said Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management. “The reason why is that this ship has basically sailed. It’s going to be one of those three.”
BEN OLIVER 12-13-2024
Wayve’s inconspicuous headquarters in north London, adjacent to a self-storage facility and a fast-food outlet, belies its remarkable achievements, including a billion-dollar investment from Softbank, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Founded by Alex Kendall in 2017, the company specializes in a unique AI approach to autonomous vehicles. Unlike competitors like Waymo, which use a combination of AI, high-definition maps, and hand-coded rules, Wayve’s end-to-end neural network learns unsupervised from driving videos, allowing it to adapt to various scenarios without detailed maps or manual interventions. This method aims for vehicles to operate smoothly and assertively in any environment, handling complex situations much like a human driver. Wayve’s vision includes deploying its AI-driven systems in vehicles globally, starting with advanced driver assistance systems, paving the way for full autonomy. Key leadership hires and significant investments bolster confidence in Wayve’s future, positioning it as a notable player in the autonomous driving industry.
Happy Holidays! Mobility On The Go will be back in in 2025!
?Contributors: Traci Atkinson Dirk Pastorick, and Kimberly Gross
Editor: Kimberly Gross
Nelson Law LLC
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