Why a Hacker is Giving Away a Special Code That Turns Cars Into Self-Driving Machines
Here is a strategy for start-ups dealing with regulators who might shut down your product: Make it free.
Scrappy self-driving car start-up Comma.ai released a free software kit on Wednesday to help developers learn to build a device that can turn any car into an autonomous vehicle. The year-old company, which is founded by a well-known hacker and backed by prominent Silicon Valley investors, hopes to accelerate the development of self-driving cars while skirting the ire of Washington.
The move raises questions of how the United States should foster innovation for promising technologies that also carry great risks.
BMW’s Car Sharing Program Launches ReachNow Fleet Solutions
ReachNow is a premium car sharing program owned by BMW, exclusively featuring select BMW and MINI vehicles, including the electric BMW i3.
The program is currently available in Seattle, Portland and Brooklyn, and operates with a smartphone app and some unique car sharing features.
Where the current program resembles other ride-sharing services like Zip Car and Car2Go, where users check out vehicles from a publicly shared fleet, ReachNow Fleet Solutions will tie a designated small fleet of vehicles to a particular apartment building, business or community.
sgfleet Acquires the Motiva Group
Pictured: David Fernandes
sgfleet has acquired the Motiva Group, a UK provider of contract hire, short-term rental and fleet management services.
The acquisition follows that of Fleet Hire in August and builds further on the platform already in place. Together, Motiva, Fleet Hire and sgfleet enter the Top 20 segment of the UK contract hire market.
Self-Driving Cars Could Eliminate Urban Crashes
As the auto and tech industries pour millions into developing autonomous vehicles, some of the biggest gains will be realized by those who aren't even riding in self-driving cars.
Transportation experts see the dawning era of autonomous transportation as a chance to tame speeding cars and trucks, creating a vastly safer world for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.
Apple Gives Feedback on Autonomous Vehicle Regulation
Apple has sent a letter to the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration providing feedback on the agency’s planned regulations on self-driving vehicles.
Though it does not fully acknowledge the existence of Apple’s long-mysterious autonomous vehicle project, widely referred to as “Project Titan,” the letter does say the company is “investing heavily in machine learning and automation,” and paints Apple as a player in the autonomous vehicle industry.
The letter, accessible here, also contains several recommendations that, if acted on, would benefit new entrants to the auto industry.
