Washington DC Autonomous Vehicle Bill: Uber and Waymo Clash

Last week coverage examined how the Uber and Waymo partnership appears to be deteriorating. For the past several weeks sources have been contacted and correspondence has been reviewed that Uber sent to the D.C. Council. The council is evaluating a proposed bill that would allow autonomous vehicles to operate in Washington, D.C. Uber opposes the bill and argues it would displace for-hire human drivers and hand Waymo a de facto monopoly.

Policy divide at council hearing

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 has been testing its AVs with human safety operators in Washington, D.C. and has already surpassed the 180-day and 250,000-mile requirements. Tesla senior policy adviser India Herdman echoed concerns 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.

Broader industry activity

Uber is now cementing that status through a $14.8 billion deal to acquire Germany’s Delivery Hero. Delivery Hero also made a separate agreement to sell its business in 14 markets where Uber Eats is already operating to New York-based investment firm SSW Partners for $1.6 billion. Self Inspection a San Diego-based startup trying to disrupt the vehicle inspection process raised $10 million in a round led by the family office of Sheryl Sandberg. Senra a startup modernizing how wire harnesses are made raised $65 million in a Series B round co-led by Lowercarbon and Interlagos with participation from General Catalyst Sequoia Capital Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund among others. Zepto the Indian fast-delivery company is seeking a valuation in an initial public offering well below its $7 billion peak Bloomberg reported citing anonymous sources. The National Transportation Safety Board said the driver of a Tesla who crashed into a house in June had pressed the accelerator pedal to 100% overriding the company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie has urged state regulators to toughen rules on autonomous vehicles after Waymo robotaxis became immobile in heavy July 4 traffic ran out of power and blocked key streets further compounding the gridlock. SpaceX abruptly aborted the second attempted launch of its upgraded Starship rocket system on Thursday just moments after the booster ignited at the company’s complex in South Texas. Zoox issued a software recall after one of its robotaxis got confused by smoke emitting from an emergency fire scene in June.