autonomous vehicles 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

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

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

Uber’s Waymo Settlement: Why the Road Isn’t Clear Yet

A self-driving Uber car on a road, equipped with multiple sensors and cameras on the roof for autonomous navigation.

Auto industry experts were shocked when Uber settled the lawsuit brought by Waymo weeks before the trial was expected to end. …Read More

Changing Gears: A Review of Faster, Smarter, Greener

The image shows the cover of the book "Faster, Smarter, Greener: The Future of the Car and Urban Mobility." It features modern urban transport imagery, including cars, bicycles, and a person using a smartphone, set against a city

The future of mobility faces a plethora of possible solutions, from electric vehicles to self-driving and connected cars, even declining car ownership in favor of eco-friendly and intelligent public transportation. Along with co-authors Venkat Sumantran, and David Gonsalvez, PVMI member Charles Fine has released a timely new book attempting to read these trends and offer authoritative predictions for the industry.…Read More

Is This the Year for Electric Cars?

A digital 3D rendering of a car with a transparent, green glowing effect, showing the interior and mechanical components.

2017 experienced a sharp decrease in the number of vehicles sold for US automakers, putting an end to seven years of sales growth. Despite this drop, PVMI director John Paul MacDuffie asserts that “it was a strong year,” as electric cars and autonomous vehicle are on the rise.…Read More

Will Self-Driving Electric Vehicles Make Conventional Cars Worthless?

A person sitting in a classic Ford Model T car on a grassy field, surrounded by trees. The person is smiling and waving from the driver''s seat.

In the coming years, conventional cars will be as obsolete as rolling typewriters, according to RethinX, a Bay Area think tank. With the emergence of electric vehicles and Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS), experts disagree about the likely adoption rate of shared autonomous transportation. …Read More

Connected Vehicles: How Soon Will They Hit the Road?

A car driving on a road, with a blurred motion effect suggesting high speed and other vehicles nearby.

Advances in vehicle technologies promise to reinvent how we get around. The PVMI Connected Vehicle conference attempted to predict a timeline for the coming disruption.…Read More