Category: Automotive News

Robotaxi companies like Cruise, Waymo, Baidu seek scale

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Robotaxis operate like ride-hailing services. Both incorporate data analytics to determine where rides will be needed, maximizing the utilization of their platforms. Customers hail them via apps. The similarities end there. “It is an entirely different business than ride-hailing,” said Alisyn Malek, CEO of consulting firm Middle Third and former COO of self-driving tech startup May Mobility. Unlike Uber and Lyft, which rely on independent drivers who own and maintain their own vehicles, robotaxi providers must account for vehicle ownership and maintenance costs, whether they absorb themselves or partner with fleet management companies. That business is inclined to conventional taxi…
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Tesla will shoot for volume over profit: Elon Musk

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Tesla missed market estimates for first-quarter total gross margin after cutting prices in the US and globally. The electric vehicle maker reported a total gross margin of 19 percent, compared with an expectation of 22 percent from analysts polled by Refinitiv, Reuters reported. Net income during the most recent period dropped 24 percent to $2.5 billion. Tesla reported global deliveries of 422,875 in the first quarter, a 4.3 percent increase compared with the previous quarter. That small growth suggests price cuts were necessary to maintain momentum amid rising EV competition and higher interest rates. The EV maker likely sold 161,630…
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