Tesla's FSD is a mess, thoughts on Uber's pilot program and Waymo goes B2B. LegalRideshare breaks it down.

TESLA'S FSD TROUBLES

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People are calling Tesla's FSD a “mess”. Forbes reported:

During a 90-minute test drive in Los Angeles, in residential neighborhoods and freeways, the 2024 Model Y with Tesla's latest hardware and software (Hardware 4, FSD version 13.2.9) ignored some standard traffic signs and posted speed limits; didn't slow at a pedestrian crossing with a flashing sign and people present; made pointless lane changes and accelerated at odd times, such as while exiting a crowded freeway with a red light at the end of the ramp. There's also no indication the company has fixed a worrisome glitch identified two years ago: stopping for a flashing school bus sign indicating that children may be about to cross a street.

In fact, there are so many easy-to-find problems with the feature, recently redubbed “Full-Self Driving (Supervised),” it raises a question: Why is the $8,000 feature, or a $99 a month subscription, even legal in its current form?

Turns out, there's a simple answer: “Driving-assist systems are unregulated, so there are no concerns about legality,” said Missy Cummings, a George Mason University professor and AI expert who has advised the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on autonomous vehicles. “NHTSA has the authority to step in, but up to now they've only stepped in for poor driver monitoring.”

NHTSA, which opened an investigation last month into Tesla's failure to report FSD and Autopilot accidents in a timely manner, said it “does not pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems.” Instead, it's up to carmakers to certify that vehicles and technologies meet federal safety standards. If an investigation finds a system to be unsafe, “NHTSA will take any necessary actions to protect road safety,” a spokesperson said.

UBER'S WOMEN-ONLY SERVICE

Uber has rolled out its women-only service. But is it working? Knowledge at Wharton explains:

Uber announced the program, called Women Preferences, in July and has since rolled it out in Los Angeles, Detroit, and San Francisco. The company said the initiative is in response to feedback from women saying they want the option to be matched to other women. Allegations of sexual assault have plagued the ride-hail industry almost since its inception. While a vast majority of Uber's trips are without incident, court records revealed that more than 400,000 Uber trips between 2017 and 2022 resulted in reports of sexual assault or sexual misconduct, according to The New York Times.

But Cameron said for the program to succeed in the United States, Uber has to get enough women drivers on the road to meet the demand without significantly increasing wait times. That's a challenge because the company has said most of its drivers are men.

Lyft, the second-largest ride-hail operator in the U.S., already has a gender-based program called Women+ Connect that launched in 2023. It allows women and nonbinary drivers to match with women and nonbinary passengers. It said wait times were the same, although it did not provide details.

In an August 2024 press release, Lyft said there were early indications that the program was incentivizing more female drivers to get behind the wheel. When the program started, women and nonbinary drivers were getting matched with women and nonbinary riders 50% of the time. In a year, that number had increased to 66%.

WAYMO ENTERPRISE SERVICE

Waymo goes B2B. Bloomberg reported:

Dubbed “Waymo for Business,” the new enterprise offering targets employers, universities and event organizers that have subsidized transportation programs in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, where Waymo currently offers paid trips on its own app. The interface allows corporations to manage discount codes, track rides and plan budgets, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Alphabet Inc.-owned self-driving car unit is inviting organizations to register for the tool — at no extra cost — after piloting it with several firms. One of those named in the statement is the used-car platform Carvana Co., which has provided Waymo rides for employees and guests at its events.

Commuters are a key demographic for ride-hailing services. Waymo said one in six of its users in those three markets rely on it for traveling to work or school. For Uber Technologies Inc., commutes comprised nearly 30% of its rideshare and delivery bookings in 2024. Those trips similarly made up more than a third of Lyft Inc.'s total rides in the first quarter.

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