The economics of robotaxis and AV shuttles remain more speculative than analytical.
Argo AI teams up with Volkswagen to test Autonomous Vehicles on the roads of Munich (image: Argo.ai)
What’s at stake?
The potential stakeholders in the emerging AV bus and taxi business are many, but thus far tech companies have driven the narrative, and a solid business case for robotaxis and roboshuttles has yet to be demonstrated. The good news is that robotaxi operators will have many knobs to turn as they fine-tune their operations. The bad news is it remains unclear how much fine-tuned market knowledge they already have. If they don’t have it yet, where they can get it?