So next up: will they be able to reach profitability servicing SF and Phoenix. So far, highly small scale subsidized pilot projects.
The hardware is more expensive than regular cabs. The software has cost billions, an may cost billions more.
Operationally, energy use should be marginally higher. Hourly cab-driver wages: gone. Insurance and write off — we'll see, but if the software is any good this should be considerably lower.
I guess it comes down to the big unknown: will it work at scale. Can we find enough cities with great weather, where enough people will use it? What will happen when the price goes up? What is a fair, sustainable price? Will that be higher than human-driven car?
