Waymo heads to NYC, drivers earnings are split in half and Tesla’s robotaxis are in trouble. LegalRideshare breaks it down.
WAYMO HEADS TO NYC
Waymo is heading to NYC. Bloomberg reported:
Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo has applied for a permit to test its robotaxis in New York City, underscoring its intent to operate in one of the largest ride-hailing markets in the US despite an absence of local regulations supporting commercially operated autonomous vehicles.
Regardless of the permit outcome, Waymo plans to have a human driver manually operate its cars in New York to collect data and evaluate its technology starting next month, he said, similar to a mapping project it carried out in the city in 2021.
UK DRIVER EARNINGS CUT IN HALF
Some UK drivers are seeing their earnings cut in half. The Guardian reported:
Having initially taken a fixed 20% cut of the UK fares charged, which subsequently rose to 25%, Uber introduced dynamic pricing in 2023, an algorithm that variably sets pay for drivers and fares for passengers. It is a later iteration of Uber’s “surge pricing” that increased fares during periods of peak demand.
Uber is now claiming a cut, or “take rate”, of 29% of a fare, rising to more than 50% in some cases, the researchers found.
Unions criticised the move when it was made in 2023, claiming there was no transparency and that the technology “could push down working conditions by targeting drivers based on their willingness and ability to accept lower fares”.
The Oxford research said: “Post-dynamic pricing, Uber’s passengers now pay higher prices, but the drivers are not better off.”
The paper, which was published in partnership with the non-profit gig worker organisation Worker Info Exchange (WIE), concluded: “Our findings suggest that post-dynamic pricing, many aspects of Uber drivers’ jobs have gotten worse. Average pay per hour on the app is stagnant, and is lower in real terms in the year following the introduction of dynamic pricing.
“Uber’s median take rate per driver has increased from 25% to 29%, and on some trips the take rate is over 50%. Furthermore, the higher take rates are concentrated among higher-fare trips, which explains how Uber can extract an additional 38% [income] from its driver’s labour on average … Many drivers are earning substantially less per hour.”
TESLA ROBOTAXI TROUBLE
Tesla’s robotaxis are running into trouble. The Street reported:
Musk picked Texas for a reason: home turf with a lot looser autonomous vehicle (AV) rules than California. However, just days before go-time, Texas lawmakers have sent a disappointing message.
A group out of Austin urged Tesla to hold off until September 1, when new AV rules kick in. The new rules include safety checks and clearer compliance rules.
Seven Texas lawmakers have reportedly signed the hold-off on the rollout.
The message is essentially for Tesla to pump the brakes, follow the new rules, and launch later when everything complies.
The pressure is unwelcome from the company’s perspective, especially when it has received an AV operator designation in Austin ahead of the planned trials.
All this hits as Tesla’s FSD tech is under scrutiny, throwing safety concerns back in the spotlight.
LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.