Lyft is making Autonomous Vehicle tech safer. But…

Lyft (LYFT) published its Approach to Autonomous Vehicle Safety, which outlines how the company plans to execute on its mission to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation. All good. Very good, in fact. But…

Are you getting into an enclosed space that was previously (possibly seconds earlier) occupied by people you don’t know, who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and coughed and sneezed in the vehicle? How will fleet vehicles, especially driverless Level 5 AVs, clean themselves? UV light? Some antiviral spray? (If there is such a thing.)

I think it’s going to be tough enough to get people back into cabs, car services, and ride sharing/hailing services with live drivers. Making “clean and disinfected” AVs for fleets is going to present significant challenges. The good news: if they get it right, there may be hope for public restrooms.

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• I would be willing to take a cab or Lyft or Uber right now. No problem.*
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• Fleet vehicles need to have automated systems to clean and disinfect the passenger areas.*
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• This is nonsense. By the time AVs are ready for market, the pandemic will be over.*
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• I am interested in attending a workshop focused on the evolution and future of autonomous vehicles (AVs).*
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