Uber Opens Waitlist for Waymo in Atlanta 🌆🤖📲
Uber and Lyft are not happy that Waymo is getting special access in SF, why Tesla may have to replace the computers in 4 million cars, and Waymo rides now accessible through Google Maps
Top Stories of the Week
Uber customers in Atlanta can now sign up to join the Waymo waitlist (link). And similarly to Austin, this is just an ‘interest list’. So once Waymo launches in Atlanta, users can call for an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric, and they may get matched with a Waymo. Based on the previous timeline in Austin, it should be about a month before public paid driverless rides are happening in Atlanta and the coverage area will span 65 square miles—including Downtown, Buckhead, and Capitol View.
I actually found a cool way (h/t Burritocade) for anyone to join the interest list for both Austin and Atlanta. All you need to do is go to your phone’s browser (use Safari on iPhone) and type in: uber://avinterestlist?city=aus or uber://avinterestlist?city=atl
Waymo’s launch on Uber in Austin has been a big hit so far, so it will be interesting to see if Atlanta rings all the same chords. My guess is that it will be a big success!
Uber and Lyft are upset about SF Mayor Lurie granting Waymo exclusive Market Street access (link). Private passenger vehicles and rideshares have been prohibited from Market Street in downtown San Francisco for over five years. Since the start of 2020, only public transit, commercial vehicles, and taxis have been permitted to use this busy city street.
I’m not a fan of any policy that gives preferential treatment to one group over another, so it’s safe to say I’m team Uber/Lyft on this issue. Waymo’s vehicles are licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as Charter-Party Carrier (TCP), which is the same designation required for Uber Black vehicles. So both Waymo and Uber technically have commercial vehicles on the platform. Ironically, it sounds like they could have been driving on Market St. this whole time based on the original policy. So I’m not sure there’s anything legally preventing Uber and Lyft from joining Waymo on Market St.
If I was going to steel man the Mayor’s side though, I would argue that Waymo is a big tourist attraction so some folks may take Waymos to various destinations around town and having pick-up/drop-off access would make it slightly easier to visit businesses on Market St. I think that’s a stretch though, since it’s not much of a hassle to walk half a block. So are customers really going to go to new destinations that they wouldn’t have gone to previously on Market st. because access is a little easier? I doubt it.
The evidence is clear that Waymos are much safer than human drivers so I think this is a more compelling reason to only allow them on Market St. But then why are taxis allowed? That doesn’t make sense.
Ultimately, this policy is all over the place and could have a negative impact on Muni/transit lines if Market St. is packed with Waymos, which was one of the reasons why Market St. went car free in the first place. I appreciate Lurie’s intentions here but think he’s off the mark.
Cool Rides
I guess this is now becoming a thing.
Feels like Zoox self-driving cars are going to be the next SF thing. Just did a test ride (friend works there), incredible experience. No steering wheel, spacious, and the carriage style seating makes for an actual social experience. Waymos are great but these cars are built from the ground up to be self-driving and so it feels more living room/train than car (link). I’m looking forward to hopping in a Zoox since I think it’s just one of those products you have to try in real life to get the full effect. The Waymo experience is awesome but after 1 or 2 rides, it feels like you’re just sitting in the back of a nice Jaguar (although I recommend the front seat - safer and comfier).
I took my first ride in a Waymo today. It is, without a doubt, the single most impressive piece of technology I’ve experienced in years (link).
AV/Human behaving badly
Waymo hit bus? Or bus hit Waymo? (link). Hard to tell who’s at fault here but in the meantime, it’s safe to say that the legendary battle between Waymo and Public Transport might have gotten physical 🤣
A homeless man in downtown LA tried to hitch a ride atop a Waymo (link).
Other Stuff
(Opinion) Tesla (TSLA) has to replace computers in ~4 million cars or compensate their owners (link). I know Tesla fans are not big fans of Mr. Lambert’s but I thought the case he laid out and the timeline makes a lot of sense. Tesla marketed a product that was supposed to have certain capabilities, and that is now not going to happen. So there’s a clear loss of value with older Teslas that will be unable to full self drive. I’m no lawyer but this seems like a good case. My only nitpick is that the title was too affirmative. There’s no official ruling but Tesla definitely could be liable.
Waymo Rides Now Accessible Directly in Google Maps Everywhere They Operate (link). With this, you can now search your route in Google Maps, select ride service directions, and jump straight to the Waymo One app with your trip details already filled in. Worked well for me when I tried it!
Going Global: Nuro is Heading to Japan (link). Following last week’s funding news, they’re sending some vehicles from their U.S. fleet to Japan—similar to what Waymo did recently. The goal? To help train their AI by better understanding how traffic flows on Japanese roads.
LAPD Publishes Crime Footage It Got From a Waymo Driverless Car (link). This is neat but what was the passenger thinking crossing like that? Can’t blame the driver for that one.. (but obviously shouldn’t have hit and run).
Chinese Robotaxis Have Government Black Boxes, Approach U.S. Quality (link, no paywall).
Do Waymo Robotaxis Really Make Up 20% of Uber Rides in Austin? (link).
Reilly Brennan Returns (link).
—Trucks VC GP and godfather of the Autonocast—is back on the pod with and Kirsten Korosec! They dive into everything from the robotaxi business and how AVs have changed over the years, to his newest fund and some surprising insights into Tesla.Shout-outs
We just hit 1,000 subscribers so I’d like to thank all of you for subscribing and reading! It’s been fun getting back into the writing groove and covering a topic with a ton of momentum and interest. Feels just like the early Uber days 11 years ago 🙂
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Until next week.
-Harry