Tesla takes the robo out of robotaxis
Like commercial fusion power, Tesla’s robotaxis are always just around the corner but never quite here. In the case of Tesla, it doesn’t really matter because the marketing is the product.
“There’s an old adage in the auto industry that if you want to move a product you have to “show the car.” Tesla is clearly following its own version of this wisdom in the Bay Area, as it doesn’t currently have any capacity to legally deliver an autonomous ride-hailing service. So what Californians are likely to see is a modest fleet of Tesla Model Y’s zipping around with “Robotaxi” branding, just without the “robo” part actually engaged. It’s good advertising, but anyone looking closely would notice the human in the driver’s seat.”
In other words, regular taxis.
Tesla robotaxis are just ordinary taxis
Joel:
Is it safe to say, robots are predictable and humans not as much? In which case a robot acting along the lines of predictability may misinterpret a human’s actions or miss it all together.
@Bill,
It’s safe to say that Musk is predictable: his grasp of marketing exceeds his grasp of technology.
Look, I’d be delighted if robotaxis came online by the time I can no longer drive. But Tesla’s current approach is phony.
Joel:
I could not have said it any better than the author. It almost reads like the science fiction I would read when I was much younger. Except their tools or vehicles worked.
I do need to go back to reading more.
Your take on his marketing ability exceeds his techy knowledge is interesting. He is portrayed as something different and as a technical genius.
I like to drive. You are right though. Having a driver would be a plus.