PVMI In the News Archives

Preparing U.S. Workers and Employers for an Autonomous Vehicle Future

Slide from the Automated Vehicles Symposium 2018 titled "Preparing U.S. Workers & Employers for an Autonomous Vehicle Future" by Erica L. Groshen and colleagues from Cornell University ILR School.

Lessons from past innovations; sizing and timing autonomous vehicles’ impact on workers; next steps.…Read More

Long Road Ahead: The Promise — and Perils — of Self-driving Cars

The image shows a person seated in the driver''s seat of a car with hands off the wheel, indicating use of autonomous driving. A display screen shows "Autonomous Mode" with a map and speed limit.

The U.S. experienced a jump in traffic fatalities in the years 2014-2016, reversing a downward trend that began after the end of World War II. Distracted driving is a public health crisis, but fully autonomous vehicles are still many decades in the future, says PVMI director John Paul MacDuffie.…Read More

Why Undermining Fuel Efficiency Standards Would Harm the U.S. Auto Industry

An automotive assembly line with partially assembled cars being worked on by several technicians. The vehicles are mounted on yellow overhead supports.

Efforts to roll back U.S. fuel efficiency standards could erode the auto industry’s last decade of progress, warns PVMI member Susan Helper. In an opinion piece for the Brookings Institute, Helper and coauthors Jason Miller and Mark Muro write that a single, progressively more stringent national standard has been instrumental…Read More

Is Uber’s London Win a Sign of Better Times Ahead?

Uber has received a temporary license to operate in London, giving the company a chance to demonstrate that it has indeed changed its controversial ways. The city’s transportation regulator denied Uber a five-year license in 2017.…Read More

Autonomous Vehicles Could Worsen Urban Congestion, New Study Finds

Heavy traffic congestion on a multi-lane highway, with numerous vehicles in both directions. Overhead signs and a toll violation notice are visible.

Overcrowded downtowns could see an increase in traffic thanks to autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, according to a new report released by the World Economic Forum and the Boston Consulting Group with the city of Boston. Using surveys and traffic simulations, the study found that AVs would draw travelers away from mass transit options and encourage automobile use for short trips in city centers.…Read More

The Policy Trajectories of Autonomous Vehicles

In March, news broke that a self-driving car belonging to Uber accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona. It was the first non-passenger death caused by an autonomous vehicle (AV) in the United States. …Read More

Can Tesla Avoid a Breakdown?

A sleek, blue electric sedan driving on a road, with a blurred background suggesting speed and motion.

Can Tesla make the transition from niche product to mass-market manufacturer? It’s the pressing question on the minds of investors and analysts, yet CEO Elon Musk did little to quell their concerns on a call in early May.…Read More

Northeast Ohio Still Grappling with GM Cutbacks

Sign for Lordstown Complex East Plant, a GM facility, with parked cars and bare trees in a winter landscape.

As consumer interest in compact vehicles wanes, GM has announced its intention to scale back production at its Lordstown, Ohio plant. This move is likely to send negative ripple effects throughout the region, affecting both employees and suppliers, notes PVMI member Susan Helper.…Read More

Science Fiction or the Future of Trucking?

Some parts of the country might be as little as five years away from autonomous trucks hauling freight across the highways, according to a new report authored by PVMI affiliate Steve Viscelli. …Read More

Autonomous Car Crashes: Who — or What — Is to Blame?

A car accident scene with a silver SUV and a dark-colored car. The SUV''s rear is damaged, and the other car is overturned on its side. Debris is scattered on the road.

Two recent fatal accidents involving autonomous vehicles have raised concerns about the future of driverless technology. In an interview with Knowledge@Wharton, PVMI Director John Paul MacDuffie discusses the importance of being compassionate and responsible on the frontier of autonomous vehicle development.…Read More