2022 was a year that made me think, “What an era to cover transportation.” This year was completely dominated by conversations about the realities of bringing self-driving cars to market, the potential cataclysm of the gig worker economy, the micromobility drama, and of course Tesla.
To help you decide what’s important to you, dear readers, we’ve taken a look back at our top-performing transportation articles.
Image credit: Algo AI
Self-driving car startup Argo AI launched in 2017 with a $1 billion investment. Today, the company is gone after Ford and Volkswagen withdrew their investments.
This shocked the AV world.In particular, he said that Argo is a robotaxi pilot. Austin lift When Testing fully self-driving technology in MiamiThe company’s closure signals (1) that the next round of integration is near for the self-driving technology company, and (2) that large-scale deployment of Level 4 self-driving technology is still a long way off. I’m here.
Both Ford and VW have decided to direct their investments towards a more short-term path to profitability, especially Level 2 and Level 3 automated driving or advanced driver assistance systems. Ford CEO Jim Farley said: He didn’t think automakers needed to develop L4 technology themselves, but could instead outsource it in the future.
Image credit: bolt mobility
This is the transport mystery of the year. What happened to Bolt Mobility, the Miami-based micromobility startup co-founded by Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt? They reported abandoned equipment, unanswered phone calls and emails, and many questions left in the city. Also, at least he had outstanding charges in one city, Portland.
No one, including TechCrunch and many city officials, was able to get in touch with the company to ask what happened or what the company plans to do with all the equipment it left at the scene.
The company appears to have shut down — it hasn’t been active on social media since July — despite its booming growth in the previous year. I was. This opened up 48 new markets for startups. Micromobility is a tough game to win, even when the odds look favorable.
If anyone has any information on Volt Mobility, I’m dying to know what happened.
Image credit: chrysler
Who doesn’t love Roundup? The New York Auto Show in April brought together legacy and upstart automakers to showcase their electric vehicle offerings. Here’s what caught our attention this year:
- Alfa Romeo’s first compact crossover, the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale.
- of chrysler airflow graphite concepta sophisticated crossover with Level 3 features.
- Jeep’s Grand Cherokee High Altitude 4xe, a full-size hybrid SUV.
- Deus Automobiles’ curvy roadster, the Vayaanne EV hypercar.
- Indi One from Indi EV, a ‘lifestyle-focused’ crossover with built-in gaming computer.
- Kia’s subcompact SUV, the 2023 Niro, is available with a hybrid, PHEV, or EV powertrain.
- Kia Motors also unveiled the EV9 concept, a box SUV expected to hit the US market by 2023.
- The Genesis X Speedium Concept, a coupe with bold design.
- Vinfast’s two SUVs, VF8 and VF9.
Image credit: Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images
A day before Tesla opens its Gigafactory in Berlin in March, CEO Elon Musk hinted at the release of Tesla’s “Master Plan Part 3.”
“Tesla’s main subject will be scaling to the extreme size needed to keep humanity away from fossil fuels and AI,” Musk said. murmured At the time. “But we also include sections on SpaceX, Tesla and The Boring Company.”
Part 3 of Tesla’s master plan is the first to include references to Musk’s other companies. Note: This was published before Musk acquired his Twitter.
A quick review of parts 1 and 2. Part 1 was published in his 2006 blog post, outlining Tesla’s proof-of-concept, building a sports car and using the money to build a more affordable car while also producing zero-emission electricity. included providing. Two partsPublished 10 years later.
Later that year, Musk unveiled details of Part 3 of the Master Plan. According to the company-wide meeting, the plan’s raison d’être is:
Image credit: Gina Moon/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Russia’s war in Ukraine caused gas prices to skyrocket globally earlier this year. When the war started he in March, Uber and Lyft responded: temporary fuel surcharge to rider fares to help drivers cover rising fuel costs.
The Rideshare Guy is a blog and podcast dedicated to helping rideshare drivers make more money and stay up to date on the latest in the industry. In the US, he surveyed the Uber and Lyft driver community and found that 43% quit or refrained from driving. gas prices are high. Before the fuel surcharge was announced, that figure was 53% for him.
Many drivers said the surcharge wasn’t enough and preferred a per mile surcharge rather than a flat rate to account for increased fuel consumption on long trips.
One Lyft driver told TechCrunch that the surcharge was “an insult to drivers.”
This article is important today because it summarizes many themes. Continued deterioration of gig workers. It’s a subtle dance that Uber and Lyft try to appease their drivers, but it doesn’t really seem like a meaningful way to do it.
Another big story this year is Department of Labor’s proposed ruling on gig worker status, And then the crash of app-based companies’ stock prices. The rule, if passed, will make it easier for gig workers to claim employment status if they can prove they are financially dependent on the company. Drivers who are constantly plagued by macroeconomic events and feel little protected by Uber and Lyft may be praying for real change at the federal level.
