3 Comments
User's avatar
NL's avatar

You actually missed the biggest possible impact of AVs - impact on shared space and road / land use efficiency.

A city with 100% autonomy needs radically fewer cars than currently exist - in the same way a good public transit system opens up public (and private) space away from parking. This is worth billions.

I founded a carshare service in Australia and had to jump through many of the proof hoops you mention - and regard better land use as one of our key benefits, even though it's pretty invisible.

Expand full comment
Phil Koopman's avatar

Thanks for the comment. I cover that angle in my companion piece: https://philkoopman.substack.com/p/the-greenwashing-of-robotaxis

We might get better land use, but only if we simultaneously implement policy changes.

Expand full comment
Robert Thibadeau's avatar

Great product sells products. - Steve Jobs. Having lists of features and benefits really only works in mature commercial markets in my experience. Also ASK the basis for Trust: https://medium.com/liecatcher/you-asked-for-it-a0f5b2a467c5 ... if I were trying to sell Robotaxis

I would associate it with Waze on my iPhone or Android or something like that and vary my ride request with options that include arrival time, travel time, safer routes, safer driving, low liability routing, avoid construction, avoid higher risk situations, use my rabbit trails, arrival time guarantee, Shepard-mode for children and other dependents, travel time guarantee, end at entrance, end at back entrance, end at handicapped parking area, etc. to give the riders some versatile control over their experience if they don't just want the default.

Expand full comment