Uber’s race for autonomous vehicle supremacy is contested by a lot of major global car manufacturers. While Uber has deals with Toyota and Volvo, they are now facing competition from Waymo, GM and Ford in the US, Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi’s, together with DeNA in Japan are seeking to partner up with Chinese Didi Chuxing. Mercedes and Bosch in Germany are preparing for a major AV launch in 2020. Waymo received TNC status in Arizona, and this comes after a successful year testing their Chrysler AV’s in Phoenix.
By Driving_Google_Self-Driving_Car.jpg: Steve Jurvetsonderivative work: Mariordo - This file was derived from Driving Google Self-Driving Car.jpg: , CC BY 2.0, Link
Basically, the AV race is on, it is hot, and it is bloody. The market is not just about rideshare cars; it is about autonomous vehicles and how the world of transportation will change within the next 5 years. The race goes way beyond the app taxi trade. Whole industries are gearing up to change the basic design of cars, where the focus is on rider comfort and space, gadgetry and in ride entertainment and less on power and speed.
Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa told Reuters."We realize that it's going to take time to become a service operator, but we want to enter into this segment by partnering with companies which are experts in the field,"
Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told the press this week that he intends to "make sure we have access to leading autonomous technology." This comes at the time he opens up for more partnerships beyond Toyota and after the Waymo-Uber case closed with Waymo's win. Khosrowshahi continued to say "In less than a year, autonomous vehicles will be on the road in our network."