Robotaxis are here and the public is divided

Self-driving cars are racing on America's roads, but whether the public will trust robotaxis remains an open question.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, nearly two-thirds of Americans said they wouldn't want to ride in a driverless passenger vehicle if given the chance. That's because residents of cities new to robotaxis are still unfamiliar with the technology, while those in cities with driverless taxis have not yet forgotten the high-profile accidents involving other companies GM-own cruise.

Now Teslathe loudest and most optimistic autonomous driving advocate of all, will unveil its long-awaited robotaxi after years of unfulfilled promises.

The company's existing autonomous driving technology, which still involves a human behind the wheel, has drawn scrutiny from regulators and multiple lawsuits after hundreds of accidents. Experts say a great presentation from CEO Elon Musk will not guarantee a secure robotaxi network.

The impending market launch of Tesla's robotaxis threatens to derail the entire autonomous vehicle sector.

alphabetThe Waymo-owned company is a leader in this space. The company says it has logged more than 22 million driverless miles. It turns out there is strong consumer demand: weekly paid rides in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin have doubled in just a few months. And Waymo has worked to build its reputation by launching an online safety hub with data showing its cars are safer than human drivers.

In addition to Tesla, other competitors also want to enter the race.

Amazon says it is preparing to launch its fleet of Zoox vehicles and Cruise is resuming operations after an accident in 2023 led regulators to ground the fleet. Wall Street is already looking towards a driverless future. One analyst argues that without generative AI, 2024 would have been the year of the robotaxi.

As driverless networks become more widespread, one of the fiercest debates is whether ridesharing will survive. Robotaxis may cause consumers to question whether they really want to book an Uber or Lyft ticket and talk to a stranger, sit in someone else's car and tip a human when there is a driverless alternative. Uber has hedged its bets by securing high-profile deals with autonomous vehicle makers, but it's unclear how long these partnerships will last.

Watch this video to learn more.