🚕 In Which Countries Does Robotaxi Operate, and How Safe Is It?
Last week, Uber and WeRide launched driverless taxis in Abu Dhabi. The UAE became the first country outside the US where Uber introduced autonomous taxis. Its partner, Guangzhou-based autonomous driving platform developer WeRide, also operates in China and Singapore.
Uber passengers in Abu Dhabi can now select the "Autonomous Transport" option to increase their chances of riding in a driverless taxi. The service is available in key areas of the emirate and serves the airport.
For safety purposes, each vehicle will have an operator during the testing phase. Fully autonomous taxis are expected to start operating by the end of 2025.
🚗 Who Else Is Developing Autonomous Transportation?
Waymo: A pioneer in the field, Waymo provides fully autonomous taxi services in Phoenix and San Francisco, USA, and plans to expand to Los Angeles and Austin.
Yandex: The Russian company has been testing robotaxis in Innopolis, Tatarstan, since 2018. In mid-2023, its robotaxi service began operating in Moscow.
Cruise: An American automaker's General Motors project has faced regulatory pressure due to safety concerns. A few days ago, the company announced it would shut down the division, which had cost $10 billion since 2016.
Autonomous taxi services have also been launched in China (Didi, Baidu), South Korea (SWM, Sonnet.AI), and Japan. In Europe, a pilot project is underway in the UK.
🚷 Is AI Safer Than Human Drivers?
In 2022, the average accident rate for autonomous vehicles in California exceeded 96 incidents per 1,000 vehicles, compared to a state average of less than 7. However, analysts note that most incidents were minor and were often caused by impatient or reckless human drivers. Additionally, robotaxi services tend to be more meticulous about documenting incidents.
The main advantage of autonomous vehicles is that they are expected to eliminate human error. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver mistakes are responsible for about 94% of all traffic accidents.
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🔜 What does a flying taxi look like today?
