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I'm skeptical about this. It seems like the people who say "I want a self driving car" seem to be really saying they wish they didn't need a car at all. The pe

by vlehto 11y ago

I'm skeptical about this. It seems like the people who say "I want a self driving car" seem to be really saying they wish they didn't need a car at all. The people tho like cars often say "I want a car with less computers". What they probably really want is access to the technology they have already bought. I'm pretty sure Uber has not run it's course yet. They could almost destroy the market for self driving cars. Especially with competition. I hope that cars go to the direction of bicycles. Currently bicycles are more standardized than ever, with more options than ever. And with more competition than ever. It's hard(?) to find a new bicycle with all parts coming from same manufacturer. To me it seems this modularity is ultimately good for consumers. If capitalism works, that's where cars should gravitate too.

padobson 11y ago
Seems to me that Uber won't stop the market for self-driving cars, so much as validate it. They'll save a lot of money when they don't have to pay drivers anymore. Or... One person or company that owns a fleet of self-driving cars and sells them all on Uber. I think this is what the writer mean when he said self-driving cars will eliminate the need for parking lots. You'll walk out of any building in the developed world and your ride to the next place will be an driverless Uber cab.
- vlehto 11y ago
  If someone gives me a ride with a deal that he drives and I pay the gas, how could anything compete with that? Lot's of people genuinely enjoy driving. Also bus ticket costs me 45e/month. They have schedule, which is huge asset. You could make self driving bus, but that market isn't as big. And the cost savings aren't that huge. With bus, large share of the costs come from fuel and maintenance. There are minibuses I can already order to my doorstep. https://kutsuplus.fi/tour https://kutsuplus.fi/tour And for really seldom occasions renting a car is becoming more and more easy and cheap. If it takes 15 years to develop self driving car, it's possible that 90% of the current market for it has melted away.

by vlehto 11y ago

padobson 11y ago

Seems to me that Uber won't stop the market for self-driving cars, so much as validate it. They'll save a lot of money when they don't have to pay drivers anymore. Or... One person or company that owns a fleet of self-driving cars and sells them all on Uber. I think this is what the writer mean when he said self-driving cars will eliminate the need for parking lots. You'll walk out of any building in the developed world and your ride to the next place will be an driverless Uber cab.

vlehto 11y ago
If someone gives me a ride with a deal that he drives and I pay the gas, how could anything compete with that? Lot's of people genuinely enjoy driving. Also bus ticket costs me 45e/month. They have schedule, which is huge asset. You could make self driving bus, but that market isn't as big. And the cost savings aren't that huge. With bus, large share of the costs come from fuel and maintenance. There are minibuses I can already order to my doorstep. https://kutsuplus.fi/tour https://kutsuplus.fi/tour And for really seldom occasions renting a car is becoming more and more easy and cheap. If it takes 15 years to develop self driving car, it's possible that 90% of the current market for it has melted away.