Tesla Wanders, Waymo Eyes NYC, Uber Looks Abroad, and Zoox Starts Building

Be careful what you wish for.

Maybe this Tesla robotaxi had a little too much champagne at the launch.

Tesla has started testing autonomous taxi cabs in Austin, years behind the competition. Still, it was something of a tiny bright light for investors who have been staring down a long dark tunnel of late.

Tesla, which is hobbled by limited hardware and a distinct lack of a sophisticated perception system (it relies primarily on low res video cameras), is pressing ahead nonetheless (fatal crash investigations notwithstanding). The service includes a safety driver in attendance but rides are a flat $4.20 (probably an attempt at humor by the humorless CEO).

However, the leader in AVs, Google's (or Alphabet's) Waymo is looking to take on if-you-can-make-it-there-you-can-make-it-anywhere New York City. It has applied for a permit to test its robotaxis in Manhattan, with safety drivers in situ. Waymo is also looking to change existing laws in the Big Apple that prevent the use of AVs.

Across the pond, Uber announced it would start testing self-driving taxis in, of all places, London. Despite congestion pricing, traffic in the U.K. metropolis remains steady and frustrating. It should be an excellent test bed for the vehicles (never mind what driving on the other side of the road does to the learning software.)

Meanwhile, Amazon-backed Zoox has announced a new plant for building its boxy Sleeper-style autonomous ride-share vehicles. Like the now defunct Navya people movers, the Zoox vehicles don't have steering wheels or brake or accelerator pedals. (Actually, they don't even really have a front or a back end.)

Coincidentally, NHTSA also recently announced that it will accelerate reviews of safety exemption requests for self-driving car manufacturers who want to launch vehicles without said steering wheels and controls.