Less stringent AV rules from NHTSA might aid in this. Additionally, VW is prepared for extended-range electric vehicles.
This decade may well be remembered as the time when electric vehicles really gained momentum. As car manufacturers lay the groundwork for autonomous driving technology, the coming decade might become known as the age of the robotaxi. These self-driving vehicles are unlikely to remain confined solely to fleet operations and ridesharing platforms; personal autonomous automobiles seem poised to take center stage.
very much
On the table sits this information: Tesla indicates their arrival is imminent. Similarly, Alphabet, the parent firm of Waymo, implies the same thing.
Welcome to the Friday issue.
Critical Materials
, your daily round-up of news and events shaping the world of electric cars and technology. Also on the radar today: Tesla CEO Elon Musk may have scored a win as the Trump administration announced looser regulations for autonomous vehicles. And Volkswagen jumps on the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) bandwagon after showcasing the ID. Era at Auto Shanghai. It plans to develop its own EREV powertrain for Europe.
30%: Waymo AVs As Personal Vehicles?
Waymo has made significant progress since its inception. Originally, it was just a modest self-driving car initiative within Google back in 2009. By 2017, it had begun its journey
testing a fleet
Of Chrysler Pacifica minivans in Phoenix, Arizona, prior to rolling out a public commercial service the subsequent year.
It then expanded to San Francisco in 2021 with the Jaguar I-Pace electric crossover retrofitted with radars, LiDAR and cameras. These cars are now in L.A. and Austin, with Atlanta and Washington D.C. coming soon. There were regulatory hurdles, safety investigations and also accidents, but Alphabet continued investing in Waymo to maintain its lead. And the fleet is growing fast—Waymo is already operating 700 robotaxis in the U.S., of which 300 are in San Francisco alone.
Alphabet might boost its sales even more, particularly if equipped with advanced self-driving technology. During Thursday’s earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai mentioned that the company is contemplating providing Waymo cars for individual use.
Here’s more from
Reuters
:
During a post-earnings conference call, Pichai didn’t offer a timetable or specifics about how they plan to market Waymo cars, simply stating that “future possibilities include options for individual ownership.”
Waymo would likely offer personal ownership of its robotaxis through a partnership model, said David Heger, an analyst at Edward Jones. “Google doesn’t build its own automobiles and I certainly don’t think they would try to get into that business,” he said.
Pichai’s remarks came as a reply to an analyst querying about Waymo’s prospects. “I think this might be the inaugural time I’ve been asked about Waymo during these financial discussions,” Pichai quipped. “That shows how far we’ve come.”
For years, Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has assured everyone that individual Tesla cars would soon achieve full autonomy. This development would enable owners to transform their vehicles into robotaxis—a fusion of an Airbnb-like sharing concept and an Uber-style service. Whenever these car-owners aren’t using their automobiles, they have the potential to generate income through this distinctive approach, with Tesla set to receive a percentage of those profits.
It’s not anywhere near reality—the launch of Tesla’s robotaxi ride-hailing service hasn’t started yet. For many years, Musk has made commitments that remain far from actualization, gaining backing primarily through promises, governmental attention, and investor excitement. These pledges frequently materialize but often after significant delays spanning multiple years.
Will Waymo realize its dream of making robotaxis available to everyone? Currently, details about the extent and size of their fleet remain uncertain. In fact, during Tesla’s recent earnings call on Tuesday, Musk humorously commented that Waymo’s self-driving cars, equipped with costly autonomous technology, are far more expensive compared to Tesla’s less pricey method which relies solely on cameras and AI instead of radars and LiDAR systems. Only time will tell how this unfolds.
60%: NHTSA Eases Upcoming Autonomous Vehicle Guidelines
No matter what strategy autonomous vehicle firms adopt, the pace of their rollout hinges on getting regulatory permissions and NHTSA certifications. Given that the organization was tightly controlled by the Trump administration, this could be a moment for Musk to feel optimistic.
NHTSA’s revised rules will allow some AVs to operate on U.S. roads that don’t comply with federal safety standards—like having a rearview mirror for example, according to
Reuters
Reporting of minor accidents will now occur on a monthly basis, and certain autonomous vehicles may be exempted from safety regulations.
Here’s more from the
Reuters
report:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the updated guidelines for enhancing self-driving cars would assist American automobile manufacturers in competing with their Chinese counterparts.
Duffy stated that this administration recognizes we’re in a competition with China to excel in innovation, emphasizing that the consequences are significant. He added that their new strategy aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety expressed disappointment that the U.S. Department of Transportation decided to weaken rather than strengthen the reporting obligations.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade organization encompassing almost all leading car manufacturers, commended the USDOT.
The sector has been constrained due to governmental lack of action… This statement indicates that the administration is moving forward with haste, ensuring we do not lose our lead in autonomous vehicle technology to China and other nations, as mentioned in the report.
Electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle initiatives elicit varied responses within the United States. The level of support can vary greatly depending on individual perspectives and personal interests involved. Nonetheless, it is accurate to say that the U.S. faces potential challenges in winning the autonomous vehicle competition against China because of cumbersome regulations.
However, the attitude towards autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems became significantly muted at this week’s Shanghai Auto Show. A fatal accident involving a Xiaomi SU7 operating with its ADAS enabled resulted in the deaths of three young women in China during late March.
It will now be important to monitor how autonomous vehicle firms manage the trade-off between public safety and technological progress moving forward.
90%: Volkswagen Joins the EREV Craze
Volkswagen smoked Tesla
To emerge as Europe’s top electric vehicle seller in the initial three months of this year. This resurgence is positive news for the company, which has been grappling with declining profits and sluggish EV sales growth. However, Volkswagen’s primary challenge remains in China, where domestic competitors have significantly reduced its market presence.
EREVs are already expanding their presence in China, and the automaker is now targeting this market segment. At Auto Shanghai, it unveiled the ID. ERA concept vehicle—a plug-in hybrid electric car jointly developed by Volkswagen and its affiliate SAIC. The production variant of this model is anticipated to become Volkswagen’s inaugural EREV offering in China.
Volkswagen asserts that their EV model under the ID series can travel up to 186 miles solely using electric power. Additionally, this vehicle offers another 435 miles of driving distance thanks to its gasoline-powered generator. Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) utilize internal combustion engines specifically for generating electricity to recharge the high-voltage battery. However, these engines do not drive the wheels; instead, they rely entirely on electric motors for propulsion.
In theory, EREVs provide the optimal combination of gas and electric advantages.
100%: Would You Purchase a Private Robot Taxi?
The Waymo vehicles are expensive, with their cost potentially in six figures. But it’s also true that
LiDAR costs are coming down
. At some point in the future they could be democratized.
Should these vehicles become more affordable, meet safety standards, and receive the necessary approvals, would you be inclined to purchase one? Share your views on the advantages and disadvantages of using autonomous vehicles for personal use in the comments below.
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