The week in electric vehicle technology: Robotaxis have arrived. Are we prepared?

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      Imagine a ride in a robotaxi—just you and an automated vehicle at the helm. Does that sound enticing or frightening? I haven't experienced it yet, but I can easily envision myself appearing calm on the outside while my inner backseat driver panics silently at every unexpected turn.

      If you share similar reservations about this emerging technology, you are not alone. An MIT/JD Power survey reveals that 83% of people are seeking more safety data before embracing it, while 86% want the option to take control of the steering wheel in case the technology malfunctions.

      The situation wasn’t made any easier by reports at the start of the year about a tech entrepreneur who nearly missed a flight in Phoenix, Arizona, after his robotaxi malfunctioned and circled a parking lot eight times.

      Nevertheless, overall consumer confidence in the technology has gradually risen over the past few years, aligning with an increase in safety studies. Prominent leaders in the U.S. market, including Alphabet's Waymo, Amazon's Zoox, and soon Tesla's robotaxis, are progressively rolling out automated vehicles on urban streets.

      Waymo

      Recently, Waymo secured permission to further extend its operations around the San Francisco Peninsula, including San Jose. With over 1,500 vehicles currently operating across California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida, the company is the clear leader in the U.S. robotaxi market, providing over 250,000 rides each week.

      What unique strategies does Waymo employ to help riders feel at ease in its Jaguar I-Pace EVs?

      Before your first ride, you'll go through an introduction to both the vehicle and the app, learning how to begin the ride, lock and unlock the doors, and reach support—this initial step helps build comfort.

      Once you’re seated, a screen before you showcases a live map and the car's exact location. This real-time data allows you to understand the vehicle's actions and destination. Research indicates that these “situational awareness displays” can alleviate anxiety and diminish feelings of helplessness—similar to inflight maps on airplanes. If your backseat driver instincts persist, audio and visual notifications prompt riders about the car’s next moves, such as ‘slowing for a pedestrian’ or ‘waiting to turn left,’ enhancing trust in the vehicle's choices.

      For Waymo, as with most other robotaxi manufacturers, safety begins with high-cost navigational technology: Waymo’s cars depend on pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (laser-light radar). This largely explains why Waymo received early approval from safety regulators and took a leading position in the U.S. market.

      Tesla

      Set to launch its own robotaxis in Austin, Texas in June, Tesla has adopted a different, more cost-effective approach: Its self-driving technology uses numerous onboard cameras to feed data into AI machine-learning models that assist the car in decision-making. This technology has so far been under significant scrutiny from regulators.

      At this stage, automakers are experimenting with various combinations of navigational tech, and soon the outcomes will need to prove themselves. Notably, just one month prior to the launch of its robotaxis, Tesla's head of Autopilot and AI Software, Ashok Elluswamy, made a surprising revelation: “Technically, Waymo is already performing,” Elluswamy stated during an interview with an Indian podcaster. “We are lagging by maybe a couple of years.”

      Zoox

      Amazon’s self-driving unit, Zoox, also made headlines this past week by announcing plans to begin testing self-driving vehicles in Atlanta. The fleet will comprise retrofitted SUVs with human safety operators, marking the seventh testing location for the company.

      When you step into a Zoox, the first thing you might notice is the lack of a steering wheel, followed by the seating layout: Four individual seats are arranged symmetrically in a face-to-face configuration—with two seats on each side—without a traditional front or back.

      The company asserts that this arrangement creates a lounge-like environment, promoting conversation among passengers and eliminating the hierarchy often found with front and back seating in standard vehicles. Each seat offers equal comfort, space, and access to features, ensuring all passengers are treated equally. Your individual seat is equipped with amenities such as cupholders, wireless charging pads, and touchscreens that let you manage music, climate settings, and lighting.

      If there's no steering wheel in sight and I can relax in a lounge-style cabin chatting face-to-face, I might just forget all about my backseat driver tendencies. Do you think that would work for you as well?

      Uber

      In other updates regarding robotaxis, ride-hailing app company Uber has announced its readiness to launch driverless taxi services in the UK, collaborating with 18 tech firms to equip vehicles with radar, multiple cameras, and AI