The battle over robotaxi rules is heating up, with Uber and Waymo taking opposing sides on a proposed bill in Washington, D.C. that would allow autonomous vehicles to operate in the city. The dispute is part of a broader battle over the rules governing robotaxis, which could have significant implications for the UK's transportation sector.
Uber has made a particularly interesting argument in its effort to shape the rules, arguing that the bill would give Waymo a monopoly and displace human drivers. Instead, it has lobbied for a system that would require robotaxis to operate on a ride-hailing network alongside human drivers. However, insiders tell me that this 'hybrid' approach has little chance of becoming law.
A D.C. Council hearing on Monday drew representatives from Lyft, Tesla, Uber, and Waymo, along with dozens of disability rights and accessibility advocates, local business and industry groups, highway safety organizations, government officials, labor unions, and think tanks. Waymo is one of the few companies that generally likes the bill, while much of the rest of the industry does not.
Tesla's senior policy adviser, India Herdman, echoed concerns that have been heard from multiple AV developers, including objections to the 180-day, 250,000-mile mandatory testing requirement; the $1 million application fee; the $5 million permit fee; and the $0.15-per-mile tax. Tesla, along with other companies, argued that testing miles accumulated in other jurisdictions should count toward the mileage threshold.
Waymo, which has been testing its AVs with human safety operators in Washington, D.C., has already surpassed the 180-day and 250,000-mile requirements. This means that if the bill passed as written today, Waymo would enter the market with at least a six-month head start.