Alphabet’s Waymo and GM’s Cruise Get California DMV Approval to Run Commercial Autonomous Car Services
The California Department of Motor Vehicles approved autonomous vehicle deployment permits for both General Motors-backed Cruise and Alphabet’s Waymo on Thursday.
The permits mean the companies are one step closer to offering services to the general public outside of a testing program, but they still need approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Both companies have been testing fleets of autonomous vehicles in California with permits that allow for free driverless rides to passengers in test vehicles. Under the new authorization, Cruise vehicles can operate on public roads in designated parts of San Francisco between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., including in light rain or light fog, but cannot exceed 30 miles per hour, the department said. Waymo can operate its fleet in parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties at or below 65 mph, including in the rain or light fog.
Read the article at CNBC.
Positive Findings from Enterprise Fleet Management’s EV Suitability Assessment Study
Enterprise Fleet Management recently conducted an EV Suitability Assessment of their existing vehicles - and they got some encouraging news.
Tackling Challenges
In today’s issue, PARS’ Teri Ross gives an insightful Update on COVID-Impacted Transport Challenges. She has some great ideas for dealing with the current landscape.
Secret Weapon Against Driver Risk
Official figures revealed a 10.5% surge in deaths on U.S. roadways in the first quarter of 2021. Ed Dubens has a timely article in Crash-Free Culture today, explaining why Managers are the Secret Weapon in Your Driver Risk Management Toolbox. It’s a very worthwhile read.
To all of our friends at AFLA - a great big Hello! We wish we were with you. I was lucky enough to attend the board meeting remotely on Sunday, and I am happy to see that things continue to move onward and upward for this great organization!
Ted Roberts
President
GM’s Startup, BrightDrop, to Make New EV Service Van for Verizon
General Motors' all-electric commercial delivery startup, BrightDrop, will make a new commercial van for its next new customer: Verizon.
On Tuesday, BrightDrop unveiled the EV410, a midsize electric commercial van designed for smaller, more frequent trips than its EV600 van, which more closely resembles the well-known brown UPS trucks.
"We have a rich pipeline of new products we’re working on," BrightDrop CEO Travis Katz said. "You can expect this will not be the first offering we’ll be sharing on new products we’re bringing to market.”
Read the article at Detroit Free Press.
Lucid Air Production Begins, with EV Range Exceeding Tesla’s
Lucid Motors said on Tuesday it will start delivering its luxury electric sedans with a Tesla-beating driving range in late October, in a major challenge to the market leader whose sales of premium models have stagnated.
The California-based startup began production of its long-delayed Lucid Air cars at its Arizona factory on Tuesday. The company, founded in 2007, received funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2018 before going public via a shell company in July.
Lucid said on Tuesday it has received more than 13,000 reservations for Lucid Air models, whose price starts at $77,400. It also said it has increased the planned total production of the top-end Lucid Air Dream Edition to 520 vehicles. That car is priced at $169,000 and will be available in late October, followed by less expensive models: Grand Touring, Touring and Air Pure.
Read the article at MSN.
