Driverless cars are becoming more common, but they’re not becoming more beloved. As Waymo expands its robotaxi operations into new cities, a new survey shows that only 9% of Americans trust AVs, underscoring a major divide between the views of regulators and the public they serve.
In a cruelly ironic twist, America’s increased appetite for EVs and renewable energy may force utilities to burn more fossil fuels. It’s one of the reasons California is not on track to meet its climate goals. And it’s a good reminder that one of the best ways to combat climate change is to build walkable, transit-oriented cities and increase multi-modal offerings
Meanwhile, Biden announces billions of dollars to repair communitiesdivided by highways, India moves to welcome foreign EVs, Lordstown emerges from bankruptcy with a new name, and GM resumes sales of the Chevy Blazer.
Tune in to the latest episode of the Fast Forward Podcast, ‘Measure HLA: Is this LA's mobility inflection point?’ where CoMotion founder & CEO John Rossant is joined by active mobility and safe streets activist Michael Schneider, CEO & Founder, Streets For All — the organization behind the recently passed Measure HLA in Los Angeles.
What you need to know
Anxious about AVs: A new survey of 1,200 Americans by AAA finds 66% are afraid of driverless cars and only 9% say they “trust” them; 25% are unsure. Two years ago, only 55% said they were afraid, but that jumped up to 68% last year.
Waymo’s expansion continues: Waymo is debuting a limited launch of robotaxi service in Los Angeles and CEO Tekedra Mawakana says that Austinites will be able to pay for a fully driverless ride by the end of the year. The Alphabet-owned startup is currently testing in the Texas capital.
Autopilot on trial again: Tesla will be defending itself in court this week in a wrongful death suit linked to a fatal crash in 2018. Among other things, the plaintiffs have seized on a 2016 email from company president Jon McNeill to colleagues, where he said, “I got so comfortable under Autopilot that I ended up blowing past exits because I was immersed in emails and calls (I know, I know, not a recommended use).” This is proof, say the plaintiffs, that the automaker knew that drivers would not be attentive enough while at the wheel. A jury in California sided with Tesla in October in a similar case.
Biden announces $3 billion to heal highway divisions: The money which comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law approved in 2021, will be allocated to projects in 40 states aimed at reconnecting neighborhoods that have been divided by highways. While the idea of undoing the unjust highway policies of the past, which often came at the expense of Black and Brown neighborhoods, is broadly popular, freeway fighters have bemoaned the Biden administration’s continued support of highway expansions and view grants to improve connections across bigger highways as putting lipstick on a pig. In Austin, Tex.,for instance, the feds just awarded a grant to fund a highway cap as part of the state’s expansion of I-35, which for generations has served as a racial barrier in the city.
Measure HLA: Is this LA's mobility inflection point?
Measure HLA requires Los Angeles to add more than 230 miles of bike lanes and 300 miles of bus improvements - but can the car capital of the country really change? 🤔
On the latest episode of the Fast Forward podcast, John Rossant, Founder & CEO of CoMotion talks with Michael Schneider, CEO & Founder of Streets For All, the organization behind the recently passed Measure HLA in Los Angeles.
Joining us for the discussion:
Learn the lessons of HLA's success, what the future holds for LA, and how other cities can adapt the Streets for All playbook. Tune in now!
The Next Wave: Integrating Innovation
CoMotion MIAMI, May 6-7, is all about interactions and serendipitous encounters. Connect with innovators, public sector leaders, global mayors, and established players, as well as the coolest startups in town. A casual drink can lead to the next mobility solution.
Register now and save 30% on your pass. Early bird sale ends April 3.
India cuts EV tariffs: The world’s largest country agrees to lower its sky-high tariffs on EVs for automakers that commit to setting up domestic manufacturing operations. Companies that invest at least $500 million and set up a manufacturing facility in the next three years will be able to import 8,000 EVs a year subject to only a 15% import tax, as opposed to the standard 70-100% tax that is levied on cars, depending on their price. Eight thousand cars is nothing, particularly in a country of 1.3 billion, but it’s an important symbolic shift that shows the government is serious about engaging with Tesla and other foreign EV makers.
The best & worst climate cities in America: A new analysis by StreetLight Data ranks U.S. metro areas by the climate impact of their transportation systems. Unsurprisingly, the most climate-friendly regions are older transit-rich cities, including those that have always been transit-centric, like New York City, and others that have ramped up transit investment in recent years, like Seattle. At the bottom are car-centric Sunbelt metros like Houston and Atlanta.
California far from climate goals: A new analysis says the Golden State will need to triple its rate of reducing greenhouse gasses in order to meet its ambitious climate goals. The state aims for its emissions in 2030 to be 40% lower than in 1990 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2045. One thing that should help: Los Angeles voters’ approval earlier this month of Measure HLA, which will force the city to invest billions in new pedestrian, bike and transit infrastructure.
New name, old grudges: Lordstown Motors, the embattled EV startup, emerges from bankruptcy with a new name, Nu Ride, a new board of directors and $78 million in cash. The company says it is seeking to hold accountable Foxconn, the Taiwanese manufacturing giant that it once had a deal with to build vehicles, for “destroying the business of an American startup.” Specifically, it accuses the iPhone manufacturer of falling short of commitments to help the startup manufacture vehicles.
GM resumes Blazer sales at lower price: After pulling the Chevy Blazer from the market over software issues, GM announces that the SUV is once again available, but for about $6,000 cheaper than before. The lowest cost trim is now available at $50,195 and is also eligible for the full $7,500 EV tax credit.
CDS 101 - Ideal for any mobility professional not already super familiar with CDS
The world is moving fast and it's easy to feel left behind. Whether you are late to the CDS party or are already hosting it, we welcome you to join our friends at the Open Mobility Foundation for a complimentary virtual event on Thursday, March 21st, at 9:00 am PT/12:00 pm ET, focusing on the Curb Data Specification (CDS). This webinar will explore how CDS can be used to digitally share regulations, analyze curb usage, as well as create policies that help improve safety, reduce emissions, and better serve community needs.
What we’re reading
In search of nuance in the AV debate: Autonomous industry insider and member of CoMotion’s Global Strategic Council Alex Roy bemoans the myopia of both driverless critics and cheerleaders. He argues the industry is not a monolith; there are big differences between the many players in the AV space.
America’s unexpected power surge: Demand for electricity in the U.S. is surging after two decades of relatively flat demand. Power companies have doubled their forecasts for the amount of power they’ll need by 2028. The big increase is driven by an uptick in manufacturing, energy-intensive data centers and electric vehicles. Ironically, the increased power consumption for EVs may put pressure on utilities to quickly ramp up capacity by building more gas-powered plants.
The Uber Eats worker who caught the algorithm cheating: The Financial Times tells the story of Armin Samii, a bike courier for Uber Eats who developed an app, UberCheats, that essentially audited the algorithm that Uber used to calculate the price for deliveries. The new app in many instances recognized that Uber was significantly underestimating the time it would take to make a delivery and therefore underpaying workers.
CoMotion's mobility goodness brought to you by:
Jack Craver,
Editor, CoMotion NEWS
jcraver@comotionglobal.com
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