Smart Driving Cars Podcast

Driverless cars a tough sell? Not to people who need mobility. That's Alain's response to a piece in The Atlantic. Plus Mercedes Drive Pilot, Uber plays nice with taxi industry, Teamsters oppose Cruise Origin, Tesla, Microsoft and May Mobility. And Alain shares his IATR presentation- Modernizing the Giving of Rides. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

With the swirling controversies surrounding robotaxis in San Francisco and beyond, some words of caution from Daniel Sperling. The University of California, Davis, founding Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies joins us for episode 336 of Smart Driving Cars. Plus Cruise, Waymo, Governor Newsome's climate lawsuit against oil, Tesla's Optimus robot and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

How long will NHTSA take to approve the Cruise Origin exemption to build without a steering wheel or pedals? Fred Fishkin chats with the acting NHTSA administrator and co-host Alain Kornhauser and guest Ariel Wolf, who heads Venable's Autonomous and Connected Mobility practice offer insights. Plus Cathie Wood, Tesla, SpaceX and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Waymo and big re-insurer Swiss Re say Waymo's autonomous vehicles are safer than human drivers. Tesla's Dojo supercomputer sends shares higher. Cruise Origin on verge of getting okay. No steering wheels or pedals. Episode 334 of Smart Driving Cars with Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

The Need for Driverless Vehicle Standards is the lead as The Dispatcher publisher Michael Sena joins us from Sweden for the latest Smart Driving Cars. More highlights from episode 333.. NHTSA, E-Fuels, China, Elon Musk demos the latest FSD and Bryce Rasmussen, Princeton '25, shows the results demo of the Interactive Person Trip Visualization tool from Princeton. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin...and subscribe! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

How can communities plan for autonomous mobility systems? There's a new Interactive Person Trip Visualization developed at Princeton University and Bryce Rasmussen, class of '25, shows us how it works. Episode 332 of Smart Driving Cars with Alain Kornhauser and Fred Fishkin. Plus..Cruise, Waymo, San Francisco, Tesla and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Following a crash with an emergency vehicle and a request from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, GM Cruise cuts San Francisco robotaxi fleet in half. What Princeton's Alain Kornhauser suggests they should do next, plus Cruise losses, automated vehicle legal issues, Tesla and more. Tune in to Alain and co-host Fred Fishkin for the latest. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Robotaxi service in San Francisco gets the green light from the California PUC. Princeton's Alain Kornhauser outlines his testimony, where services go from here and more on episode 330 of Smart Driving Cars with co-host Fred Fishkin. Plus...the big UPS contract, Tesla and the continuing efforts develop automatic emergency braking that works. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Tampa Downtown Partnership head Shaun Drinkard and Florida Policy Project Founder Jeff Brandes join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for a look at the new Tampa DASH service that will provide affordable mobility with a Tesla fleet of vehicles. Plus a preview of the Florida AV Summit, the latest headlines on Cruise, Waymo, Tesla, Luminar, NuView and more. Smart Driving Cars 329! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

On episode 328 of Smart Driving Cars, we're at the Holman Emerge conference in NJ focused on start-ups and the future of driving, dealerships and mobility. Guests include Holman CEO Carl Ortell, President Chris Conroy, Homan Growth Ventures CEO Bill Cariss and Spiffy founder Scott Wingo. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

A SF Taxi Alliance Board member takes a Waymo ride and says he felt extra safe! That's on top on episode 327 of Smart Driving Cars. That plus the latest from Cruise, Tesla, Uber, SpaceX and more. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for the latest in autonomous mobility. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Some disability advocates are voicing support for expanded robotaxis in San Francisco, a SF paper pits Uber against Waymo in a race, Cruise begins testing in Miami, Tesla begins production of DOJO supercomputer and talks to a major automaker about licensing Full Self Driving. That and more on episode 236 of Smart Driving Cars with Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Following a trip to the TRB Symposium in San Francisco and robo-taxi rides with Cruise and Waymo, Princeton's Alain Kornhauser declares they have passed the Turing (Kornhauser) Test of Proof of Technology. Now, he says, it is time for Proof of Market. How? Episode 325 of Smart Driving Cars with co-host Fred Fishkin --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

"Safe Street Rebels" are disrupting robotaxis in San Francisco, Elon Musk says FSD is almost here...probably this year, TRB Symposium approaches, VW to test self driving in Austin and more. Tune in to episode 324 of Smart Driving Cars with Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Robotaxis and first responders. The San Francisco situation with Waymo and Cruise. And focusing on solving mobility needs could generate more public support. Russ Mitchell of the L.A. Times joins Princeton's Alain Konrhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 323 of Smart Driving Cars. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

What were the takeaways when a Nissan Leaf owner picks up a Model 3 from a Hertz rental counter? Ken Pyle, managing editor of Viodi, tells us first hand. Plus more on Tesla, Mobileye, Cruise and Waymo and an interactive data visualization demo on mobility demand from Princeton student Bryce Rasmussen. Episode 322 of Smart Driving Cars. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

A look at the innovative Cruise Origin from CARTS Mobility's Jerry He, dissecting the market for autonomous mobility, Tesla's rocket ride and more. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 321 of Smart Driving Cars. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

NHTSA begins the rule process to require automatic emergency braking that works even at highway speeds. That and more on episode 320 of Smart Driving Cars. Guest Roger Lanctot, director Automotive Connect Mobility, Global Automotive Practice at TechInsights joins Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

Is vehicle to vehicle communication needed? Ford's electric vehicle issues even as it strikes a deal with Tesla. The Model Y becomes a global top seller while Elon Musk's Neuralink wins FDA approval for chip implant trials. The Dispatcher publisher Michael Sena joins Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for those stories and more on episode 319 of Smart Driving Cars. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support

On episode 318 of Smart Driving Cars: Futurist Chunka Mui says don't fall for the hype on generative AI...but don't be complacent. Plus the Mobileye deal with Porsche, Tesla's driver monitoring, Elon's CNBC interview and headlines from Waymo, Cruise and Lyft. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for the latest. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smartdrivingcars/support