Its important to note that true, fully autonomous vehicles do not exist.
To say they are fully autonomous is heavy handed.
There are some commercial tests taking place, but they are heavily geo-fenced and continually monitored.
They are far from being cars capable of driving in all conditions.
One such test comes from Waymo, Googles self-driving off shoot.
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Frequent rider
Meet Arizona-based student, YouTuber, and self-driving car superfan JJ Ricks.
Becoming an early rider?
I was right on top of their December 2018 Waymo One launch, he tells me.
Its not surprising that no-one really talks about what goes on inside a Waymo.
The Early Rider Program was highly selective, and those that were accepted were held under strict non-disclosure agreements.
However, JJs plans to start telling the world about what its like being a Waymo passenger were scuppered.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Waymo paused its services between March and October 2020.
How many moments of terror are there?
Its clear to him that Google has put a lot of effort into rider comfort and reassurance.
They can then ensure the car is operating as it should and intervene if its not.
Even with human drivers this is still a dangerous maneuver.
Now, more than 120 rides in, JJ is completely used to the experience.
About 50 pedestrians were perfectly rendered on the screen, all bustling about.
The car slowly inched forward through the crowd as it navigated and changed its route accordingly.
Its absolutely amazing, and still just as impressive every time I go back there, he tells me.
You get used to it surprisingly quickly!
Every guest Ive brought along with me agrees, enthusiast or otherwise.
Even so, Waymo is taking its time to roll out its driverless vehicles.
Back in 2018,Bloomberg reportedthat Waymo was close to starting its first driverless car service.
But three years later, the platform is still in testing.
Waymo is taking a reserved approach all in the name of safety.
Its hardly indicative of how theyd fare if unleased in cities which Waymo doesnt know as well.
As the video below shows, the teach is far from finished.
Thecar struggles in heavy rain, disengages, and calls for a humandriverto take over.
These disengagements seem to be becoming less common though.
In 2019, when the vehicle faced challenging obstacles, it would immediately hand over to the driver.
By early 2020, it was capable of negotiating more hazards, but it didnt do so smoothly.
Now, it doesnt even bat an eye when navigating hazards, Ricks says.
Over the past few years Waymos valuations has gone from $175 billion to $105 billion.
While Waymo is very much still in the game, it seems to be just about hanging on.
Uber andLyfthowever two ofself-drivings biggest players have exited the market over the past year.
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Story byMatthew Beedham
Matthew is the editor of SHIFT.
He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls.
