TechCrunch Mobility: Tesla Cybercab hits the road — and a snag
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it.
The TechCrunch Mobility report covers the Tesla Cybercab event, which took place in Austin and was met with mixed reactions. The event was notably quiet and lacked the atmosphere of past Tesla events, as it did not feature CEO Elon Musk, who had previously emphasized the importance of robotics and AI for Tesla's future. Despite the mixed reception, the real test for Tesla remains whether it can launch a robotaxi service safely and at scale, with only 45 Cybercabs currently registered in Texas compared to Waymo's more extensive operations.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also opened an investigation into Tesla shortly after the Cybercab launch, citing the lack of manual controls like brake pedals, which federal regulations typically require. Tesla had chosen to self-certify the Cybercabs, a decision that led to the NHTSA's intervention. However, Tesla may still operate the vehicles despite the ongoing investigation.
Additionally, the report discusses various other technological developments, including Allianz's potential acquisition of AA and Allteon's autonomous aircraft startup securing funding.
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