The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[semi_infinite]

I have been visiting the Bay Area every couple of months and typically staying near all the autopilot beta testing is happening. The personal transport market is clearly shifting but I am not at all sure in the way that pundits are expecting. You turn on the local news (big on tech trends) and lots of talk about how ride sharing/autopiloting will take over and free up clogged traffic. Uber missing from local expressways as I think it is hard to make money in bumper to bumper traffic. I sure hope pundits are right but I haven't noticed it. Waymo comes and goes. Completely missing in action during last visit compared to the time before when I saw several every day. Tesla Xs much more in force and mostly single drivers like Tesla S. There will be multiple market segments with autopilot. Uber, Lyft etc will be limited to routes that can make money. Waymo much needed for local nooks and crannies. Much doubt that EV and autopilot will end personal mobility/freedom. BTW - I decided during this last trip that the Tesla X is a really ugly car.