The Driverless Digest Podcast

Harry Campbell

Covering the intersection of autonomy x rideshare, and the business of AVs. www.thedriverlessdigest.com

  1. What It Would Take for Waymo to Launch in New York City (Podcast)

    NOV 3

    What It Would Take for Waymo to Launch in New York City (Podcast)

    Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post to access them). In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Dawood Mian, a long time NYC fleet owner, and founder of AutoMarketplace, the largest content platform focused exclusively on New York city’s TLC market. We get into what makes the NYC TLC ecosystem unlike any other market in the country — from the regulatory framework and driver pay rules to the insurance realities. And why it’s such an important market for ridehail players like Uber and Waymo. Dawood breaks down how the market has evolved over the past years, the origin of lockouts, and how the economics of operating a rideshare fleet in New York differ dramatically from the rest of the U.S. Dawood also walks through the details of running a rideshare fleet in NYC: managing insurance costs, sourcing and maintaining vehicles, plate values, and the operational challenges for future AV fleets, like finding real estate for parking, staging, and maintenance. We also explore what it would take for a robotaxi operator like Waymo to launch in NYC — the regulatory steps, business barriers, and technical constraints that make New York one of the toughest markets for AV deployment. Dawood shares what he sees coming next for mobility in the city, and how both human-driven and future autonomous fleets may coexist in such a dense, tightly managed market. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Dawood Mian (01:30) What makes the NYC TLC market unique (04:40) Why is insurance different for rideshare in NYC? (07:20) How the NYC rideshare/taxi market has evolved (09:50) NYC’s driver pay model, and the origin of lockouts (13:19) How the rideshare rental business works in NYC (16:30) Dawood’s fleet and business strategy (19:51) Insurance in NYC’s rideshare fleet business (22:57) Cost of an NYC TLC plate, and transferability (24:47) The mechanics of Waymo’s entry into the NYC ridehail market (30:00) Business and regulatory barriers to Waymo’s entry into New York city (36:35) The future of AVs in NYC (37:07) Are there technical/additional constraints to the operation of AVs in NYC? (39:50) Real estate challenges for fleet operators in NYC (43:55) Key NYC mobility issues to watch (46:26) Conclusion and final thoughts Notes/Links: Check out Dawood’s website (AutoMarketplace), and you can follow his newsletter for the latest in NYC’s TLC market (link). - Harry Thanks for being a subscriber to The Driverless Digest! If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share it with someone who might like it too. And if this email was forwarded to you, why not subscribe and stick around :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    48 min
  2. Inside Bot Auto’s Driverless Trucking Milestone with CEO Xiaodi Hou

    OCT 27

    Inside Bot Auto’s Driverless Trucking Milestone with CEO Xiaodi Hou

    Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post to access them). In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Xiaodi Hou, founder and CEO of Bot Auto, a company making big strides in autonomous trucking. Most recently, they completed their first human-less autonomous truck validation run — a major milestone in the push toward fully driver-out operations. We talk about Xiaodi’s journey before founding Bot Auto, how the autonomous vehicle landscape has evolved over the years, his perspective on whether autonomous driving has truly been “solved,” and the key milestones Bot Auto has hit on its road to commercialization. Xiaodi also dives into the cost savings from driver-out operations, and the unique economics of running a driverless fleet. We unpack how Bot Auto is able to achieve multiple operational milestones with relatively small capital and what it’ll take to boost revenue beyond their cost per mile. We also discuss the business side of autonomy — from Bot Auto’s model and approach to optimizing costs, to balancing cutting-edge technology with the realities of operations and customer acquisition. Xiaodi explains why Bot Auto doesn’t see itself as competing against human drivers, but rather solving the industry’s biggest pain points and creating value where it’s needed most. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Dr. Xiaodi Hou (01:40) Background on Bot Auto (02:27) Xiaodi’s background and early ventures before Bot Auto (04:03) The early days of AV development vs now (06:15) Has autonomous driving been solved? (08:05) Key milestones in the commercialization of autonomous driving at Bot Auto (10:20) Cost savings from driver-out operations in autonomous trucking (13:50) Broad insights into the trucking industry (15:25) How autonomous trucks solve human/time factor limitations in trucking (17:10) Bot Auto’s business model (19:06) Optimizing the cost of autonomous trucking (24:40) Bot Auto’s human-less validation run, and its significance (28:35) How were you able to achieve multiple operational milestones with relatively small capital? (31:32) What would it take for Bot Auto to make money, and increase revenue over cost-per -mile? (32:53) How to balance the technology and business operations (34:33) Customer acquisition in autonomous trucking (35:55) Why does Bot Auto not compete against Humans? and their value proposition (37:45) How does highway driving compare to urban driving for autonomous trucks vs robotaxis? (41:25) Conclusion and final thoughts Notes/Links: Bot Auto’s first human-less autonomous truck validation run * Full timelapse (link). * Article: Bot Auto Completes Human-Less Hub-To-Hub Validation Run In Texas (link, no paywall). - Harry Thanks for being a subscriber to The Driverless Digest! If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share it with someone who might like it too. And if this email was forwarded to you, why not subscribe and stick around :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    42 min
  3. Preparing Fleets and Streets for Responsible Operations (Urban Autonomy Summit NYC)

    OCT 21

    Preparing Fleets and Streets for Responsible Operations (Urban Autonomy Summit NYC)

    Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post to access them). Join panelists at the just concluded Urban Autonomy Summit at Newlab in Brooklyn as they discuss how cities, fleets, and regulators can work together to ensure AVs are deployed safely and responsibly. The panel featured Zach Greenberger (CEO, Nexar), Sarah Kaufman (Commissioner, NYC TLC), Jeremy Moskowitz (EVP Rideshare, VGM), and Aparna Paladugu (VP Policy & Government Affairs, Via), moderated by Andrew Hawkins, Transportation Editor at The Verge. The conversation explores when robotaxis might realistically arrive in New York, how cities can balance safety and job security as AVs scale, and what kinds of data are most important in the AV deployment journey. The panelists also touch on policy pointers for the next NYC mayoral administration, the growing role of computer vision in rideshare and AV operations, and how partnerships between AV companies and public transit can support safer, more efficient streets. They dive into questions around liability, fleet management, and public trust, and discuss how equitable robotaxi distribution could shape the future of mobility in New York and beyond. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to panelists (00:44) When are robotaxis coming to New York? (03:08) How to bridge the gap between safety and job security in AV deployment (05:28) What kind of data is important in the AV deployment journey? (10:36) Pointers for the next NYC mayoral administration on AV deployment (13:38) Partnerships between AV companies and public transit (18:44) Importance of computer vision is AV deployment and rideshare (22:26) Questions around safety, fleet management, and liability as AVs begin to scale? (26:57) How to build public trust around robotaxi/rideshare data collection/sharing (33:25) How can robotaxis distribution be more equitable? (38:20) Conclusion and final thoughts - Harry Thanks for being a subscriber to The Driverless Digest! If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share it with someone who might like it too. And if this email was forwarded to you, why not subscribe and stick around :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    39 min
  4. AVs’ Coming Impact on Existing Fleets & Driver Earnings (Urban Autonomy Summit NYC)

    OCT 21

    AVs’ Coming Impact on Existing Fleets & Driver Earnings (Urban Autonomy Summit NYC)

    Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post to access them). Join panelists, at the just concluded Urban Autonomy Summit at Newlab in Brooklyn as they dissect the impact the impact of AVs to existing fleets and driver earnings. The panel featured Ashwini Anburajan (CEO, Obi), Ryan Green (CEO, Gridwise), Daniel Muñoz (Co-Founder & COO, Tower Mobility), and Yariel Diaz (Director of Government Affairs, Serve Robotics), moderated by Natalie Lung, Tech Reporter at Bloomberg. The conversation explores how AVs are already affecting drivers’ earnings, how drivers and fleets are adapting, and where delivery bots fit into the mix. The panelists also touch on the kinds of new jobs AV deployment could create for humans — from fleet management to remote operations etc. They dive into AV ride pricing dynamics, the importance of pricing transparency for riders and drivers alike, and what the near future could look like for the gig economy. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to panelists (01:30) How AVs are affecting driver earnings (04:19) How are drivers adapting to AVs? (06:09) How has fleet management been affected by AVs? (08:34) The role of delivery robots in AV deployment (10:18) AV pricing dynamics for riders (14:23) Importance of rideshare pricing transparency (15:24) What jobs will AVs create for humans? (21:43) How is trust from drivers in existing fleets and AV partners maintained? (29:14) Data sharing between fleets and rideshare/AV companies (30:30) How do you improve utilization with additional AV deployment? (31:40) Mitigating adverse weather conditions for delivery robots - Harry Thanks for being a subscriber to The Driverless Digest! If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share it with someone who might like it too. And if this email was forwarded to you, why not subscribe and stick around :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    33 min

  5. OCT 13

    David Zipper on AVs, Congestion, and the Future of Cities

    This week’s podcast is brought to you by Terawatt – purpose-built charging for autonomous vehicle fleets. Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post to access them). In today’s episode, I’m speaking with David Zipper, a Senior Fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative known for his writing on transportation policy, technology, and urban planning. He often writes about the impacts of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on cities, emphasizing concerns about increased congestion, safety risks from “car bloat”, and the potential for AVs to undermine public transit. We discuss the evolution of the ridehail industry and its broader impact on cities and mobility. David shares his perspective on the early days of autonomous vehicles, highlighting both their promise and the risks they pose — particularly around congestion and the potential to draw riders away from public transit. He breaks down why cheaper AV rides could worsen traffic, the role that policy tools like bus rapid transit, congestion pricing, and deadheading fees could play in addressing it, and whether robotaxis can meaningfully improve road safety. We also touch on the shared responsibilities of governments and AV companies, potential synergies between AVs and transit, and how cities can better design pickup and drop-off zones to serve riders, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to David Zipper (02:29) David’s new transportation podcast (03:39) Overall view of the ridehail industry and its impact on society (07:30) How do you feel about AVs at this early stage? (09:34) The biggest potential negative impact of AVs (Congestion) (11:45) Should ridehail be blamed for congestion in cities? (15:20) How price reduction in AVs could potentially affect congestion (17:14) What are the solutions to congestion in the advent of AVs? (24:11) Can robotaxis reduce road fatalities? (30:40) The role of Government and AV companies in road safety (31:01) AVs vs Public Transit (34:24) Possible synergies between AVs and Transit (37:13) Improving pickup and drop-off points for ridehail/AVs (39:30) Cyclists and Pedestrians in the Age of AVs (43:00) Conclusion and final thoughts Notes/Links: * Check out David’s website (link) to join his newsletter and explore his past writing. * David’s new podcast: Look Both Ways with David & Wes (link). * David’s Vox Article: A self-driving car traffic jam is coming for US cities (link). Designing Charging Hubs for Autonomous Fleets We are excited to partner with Terawatt, one of the leading providers of charging infrastructure. To learn more about Terawatt’s network of AV charging hubs and track record of 99%+ uptime, reach out to Logan Szidik at lszidik@terawattinfrastructure.com - Harry This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    44 min
  6. Lessons Learned From Testing All of China's Major Robotaxis (Dimitri Strobbe)

    OCT 6

    Lessons Learned From Testing All of China's Major Robotaxis (Dimitri Strobbe)

    It’s less than two days until our first annual Urban Autonomy Summit, presented by Nexar, on October 8th, at Newlab in Brooklyn. We’re down to just a few spots, so this is your last chance to apply and make sure you don’t miss out on the action. Register here to secure your spot! Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post to access them). In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Dimitri Strobbe, Director of Road Maintenance at the Brussels Capital Region, who recently joined a study tour in China, testing autonomous vehicles from major local players and engaging with industry leaders to see firsthand how the technology is developing abroad. We discussed the study tour and the impetus behind it, as well as his interactions with Chinese autonomous vehicle companies and executives. He also talked about his experience testing various AV products from companies like Pony.ai, Baidu, Xpeng, and Huawei, and how these experiences measured up to his expectations. Dimitri dove into some of the things that stood out in Chinese society, including urban infrastructure and technological shocks he experienced during the study tour, as well as his interactions with Chinese AVs and society. He discussed the differences in transparency between Chinese AV companies and American ones like Waymo, and wrapped up with some lessons learned from the trip. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Dimitri Strobbe (02:02) Details of the China study tour (03:35) The impetus for the China Study Tour (06:55) How transparent were Chinese AV companies? (7:57) Which AV companies did you interact with in China? (08:42) What was the experience riding Chinese robotaxis and Robobuses? (11:25) What stood out with the robotaxis (14:19) Expectations vs reality (17:35) High-level AV executive interactions in China (20:35) What stood out with the Chinese society (23:16) Urban infrastructure shocks (24:28) Automation of AV maintenance/charging in China (25:26) DiDi’s giant AV strides (26:39) Take-home lessons from the China study tour (32:20) Conclusion and final thoughts Notes/Links: * Apply to attend our Urban Autonomy Summit here * Itinerary for the China study tour (link). * Dimitri’s first/second post about the China Study Tour. * Jacco’s post on Neolix’s autonomous cargo delivery robots from the Study Tour (he was another participant). * Pieter’s video of Chinese AVs demonstrating autonomous maintenance and charging (he was another participant of the Study Tour) - Harry Thanks for being a subscriber to The Driverless Digest! If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share it with someone who might like it too. And if this email was forwarded to you, why not subscribe and stick around :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    32 min
  7. Rideshare and Robotaxi Pricing with Ashwini Anburajan (Obi CEO)

    SEP 29

    Rideshare and Robotaxi Pricing with Ashwini Anburajan (Obi CEO)

    It’s less than a month until our first annual Urban Autonomy Summit, presented by Nexar, on October 8th, at Newlab in Brooklyn. Space is limited, but you can apply to attend here if you’re interested in joining the festivities! Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post to access them). In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Ashwini Anburajan, CEO of Obi, an app that compares real-time prices and pickup times across ride-hailing platforms. We discuss Ashwini’s journey from Upside to Obi, and her recent rise to the role of CEO. She goes over the facts and figures on price differences among human/AV rideshare providers and the recent trends in rideshare pricing, including rideshare loyalty programs and opportunities for riders and providers. She also talks about Obi’s international operations and their somewhat complicated relationship with rideshare providers. Ashwini dove into Waymo’s recent pricing data and shared additional insights, including customer attitude toward wait times and her thoughts on Waymo’s pricing model across its jurisdictions — such as Waymo on Uber in Austin and the forthcoming Waymo on Lyft in Nashville. We also discussed how the AV landscape would evolve in the coming times, and market fragmentation from the customers’ POV. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Ashwini, and her background (03:34) What Obi does and Ashwini’s focus as the new CEO (05:14) Insights on pricing differences among human/AV rideshare providers and the logic behind them (09:54) Recent trends in rideshare pricing (11:49) Rideshare customer pricing behaviour (14:16) Rideshare loyalty programs and the opportunities that lie within (16:18) The international landscape of rideshare (20:23) Obi’s international operations (21:29) Obi’s relationship with rideshare providers (22:59) Waymo pricing report (25:59) Customer attitude towards wait times (28:49) Ashwini’s thoughts on Waymo’s pricing (31:19) Peculiarities of Waymo on Uber, in Austin and Atlanta (32:18) Lyft–Waymo partnership and pricing insights (35:12) How will the AV landscape evolve from the customer/pricing POV? (36:46) Human/AV rideshare market fragmentation from the customers’ POV (38:50) Conclusion and final thoughts Notes/Links: * Apply to attend our Urban Autonomy Summit here * Obi’s Waymo pricing data - The Road Ahead: Pricing Insights On Waymo, Uber and Lyft * TechCrunch article on Obi’s Waymo pricing data - Waymo rides cost more than Uber or Lyft — and people are paying anyway * Forbes article highlighting Obi’s Waymo pricing data - Waymo Is A Trillion-Dollar Opportunity. Google Just Needs To Seize It (no paywall) * Obi blog (link) - Harry Thanks for being a subscriber to The Driverless Digest! If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to share it with someone who might like it too. And if this email was forwarded to you, why not subscribe and stick around :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    39 min

  8. SEP 22

    Fleet Management for an AV Future with Tower Mobility

    This week’s podcast is brought to you by Terawatt – purpose-built charging for autonomous vehicle fleets. Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. We now have transcripts available too (Click on the "transcripts" button in the top right corner of this post to access them). In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Daniel and Andres Munoz, co-founders of Tower Mobility. They are one of Uber’s largest fleet partners and operate with a unique W2 driver model, where all of their drivers are employees and they own every vehicle in the fleet. This model allows them to invest in training for their drivers, infrastructure for their vehicles, charging and more. We also go into the details of their Uber partnership, especially from the insurance and safety perspectives. We also discuss the main challenges of managing a human fleet and how this might evolve with the advent of AV fleets, touching on charging infrastructure and Tower’s future plans as AVs take more market share. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more about Tower, they will be one of our featured speakers at the Urban Autonomy Summit in NYC on 10/8. Space is limited, but you can apply to attend here if you’re interested in joining the festivities! Chapters (0:00) Introduction to Daniel and Andres (02:53) Background on Tower Mobility and how it started (04:40) The difference between W2 drivers and independent contractors (06:50) What types of drivers does Tower Mobility recruit and how do they find them? (10:15) Tower Mobility driver benefits/comp (13:27) Tower Mobility’s partnership with Uber and its benefits (19:50) Insurance and Safety benefits of Towers model (23:15) The main challenges of managing a human/autonomous vehicle fleet (26:38) Tower’s fleet size and details (27:58) What benefits come with managing an EV fleet? (32:23) How Tower handles charging for their EV fleet (34:18) Tower’s future plans in the advent of AVs, and business with Waymo (39:25) Conclusion and final thoughts Designing Charging Hubs for Autonomous Fleets We are excited to partner with Terawatt, one of the leading providers of charging infrastructure. To learn more about Terawatt's network of AV charging hubs and track record of 99%+ uptime, reach out to Logan Szidik at lszidik@terawattinfrastructure.com - Harry This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

    40 min
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4.7
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7 Ratings

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Covering the intersection of autonomy x rideshare, and the business of AVs. www.thedriverlessdigest.com

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