First, it was just a dream. Now self-driving cars are on the edge of transforming transportation where the winners will seize a worldwide market expected to reach $77 billion by 2035.
A recent Navigant Research study ranked the top 18 contenders in the autonomous vehicle industry, giving automaker Ford the lead, followed by GM and the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Automated driving is expected to resolve major transportation problems caused by traffic congestion, injuries, and fatalities. The development of automated driving started in the 1950s, however, accelerated in the last decade with many technology advancements and further cost reductions.
Ford has an investment of $1 billion in self-driving technologies including investments or acquisitions of other related technology companies. GM invested $500 million in Lyft and also acquired several self-driving technology companies.
Google, who has been testing self-driving cars since 2009, is ranked seventh. It is working with Fiat Chrysler to roll out a fleet of self-driving minivans. Although Google scored lower, it has the lowest rate of disengagements or times when human drivers took control of the car due to mistakes or dangers of any company according to the report.
Tesla and Uber came in 12th and 16th. Tesla has a limited distribution network and a history of losing money the researchers wrote. Uber scored low but has a history of bypassing regulations covering taxi services, which may cause them issues with federal and state regulators.
This is another great technology innovation to keep us safer and reduce the national injury and fatality rates.
~ Bob Larson is a former engineer, photo-journalist, technologist, and Marketing Director at 50 Plus Media Solutions.