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They could deliver a taxi service initially. Given that the sensor tech is only theoretically going to become affordable as production ramps up, they may have

• danboarder 14y ago
  The idea of autonomous taxis has been a part of the conversation for some time, I recall this was one scenario when Google was lobbying in Nevada. (think self-driving taxis on the Las Vegas strip). This NY Times article from last year hints at the same: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/science/11drive.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/science/11drive.html
• thematt 14y ago
  HA! Yeah right. Look at the outrage that is coming just from Uber offering a service that is basically a comfortable taxi you can hail from your phone. Now imagine what the reaction is going to be when you tell them you want to eliminate the need for a driver altogether. It'll inevitably happen, but there's a ton of legal battles that will need to be fought between now and then.
  • roc 14y ago
    Medallion/contract holders would get to squeeze out the overhead costs of employing drivers and would no longer need to ensure/insure the drivers' personal safety. This sort of automation promises to increase their profits directly. So long as this was pitched as a service for them as opposed to competing with them, I doubt they'd fight it. The only place I think you'd see push-back, is where drivers are not medallion/contract-holders but have (union) contracts that protect their place as the vehicle operator. But that's far from universal.