A ๐๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ค vehicle with no one behind the wheel. No small talk, no honking, just the code and sensors performing their magic. Seems like a scene of movie right?
It's happening right now in different parts of World. Once the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters, ๐ผ๐ช๐ฉ๐ค๐ฃ๐ค๐ข๐ค๐ช๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐จ are now becoming part of our reality.
1) ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ?
โก๏ธ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ because of Advanced AI which makes real-time decision-making possible.
โก๏ธ Expectation of drastically reduce fatalities by removing distractions, fatigue, and poor decision-making.
โก๏ธย These vehicles optimize traffic flow and operate 24/7 which is great for logistics and public transit.
โก๏ธ Huge investments are pouring in for companies like Waymo, Baidu Robotaxis.
โก๏ธ Ability to fill labour gaps in those companies facing shortage.
2) ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐
โก๏ธ Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc and one of leading developer of autonomous vehicle technology.
โก๏ธ It operates in US cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
โก๏ธ I'll tell you about the massive uptick of Waymo market share -
2023 Market share in San Francisco (Uber - 66% , Lyft - 34%)
2025 Market share ( Uber - 55%, Lyft - 22%, Waymo - 22%)
โก๏ธ It is planning to launch it's services in 10 more cities this year.
3) ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐?
โก๏ธ Semi-autonomous technology features like ADAS, self-parking is being adopted by Companies.
โก๏ธ Autonomous Vehicle development is in a nascent stage with different startups.
โก๏ธ Bhopal-based startup ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ has had over 80 demonstrations so far showcasing true L5 autonomous driving, but it is still not yet there.
โก๏ธ Startup ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ is known for developing India's first fully autonomous vehicle, the zPod.
4) ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐
โก๏ธ Union Minister once stated that Driverless Cars would never be allowed which signifies it won't be easy to get the regulatory approvals.
โก๏ธ Need to revamp the roads which are no where near the standards of Europe and America.
โก๏ธ India needs a clear legal framework for autonomous mobility.
โก๏ธ Pilot programs and public demos done frequently which can help build confidence.
We Indians surely wouldnโt want to be pegged back while the world races ahead on autonomous roads. It's time that we support our homegrown startups in making India part of seismic change.
The question now is not just when India will join the driverless revolution, but how ready we are to rewrite the rules of the road.ย