G.M. Says Its Driverless Car Could Be in Fleets by Next Year - The New York Times
▻https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/business/gm-driverless-car.html
The advent of self-driving cars, the subject of so much fanfare over the last few years from automakers and technology companies, may be just around the corner — at least according to General Motors.
On Friday, G.M. submitted a petition to the United States Department of Transportation seeking permission to begin operating fully autonomous cars — without steering wheels or pedals — in a commercial ride-hailing service next year.
Lancée par les industries du numérique, la question des voitures autonomes est dorénavant reprise par les géants de l’automobile. La disruption n’est plus aussi facile quand entrent en jeu des mécaniques et des questions de sécurité... retour de l’ingénierie face aux expérimentations numériques sauvages ?
G.M. is convinced that self-driving cars can play a significant role in reducing deaths and injuries from auto crashes. Traffic accidents kill more than 35,000 people a year, and 95 percent result from driver errors. Ride services with self-driving cars could also make it easier to get around without owning or renting a car — and producing those cars would help G.M. weather a shift away from individual ownership.
“Ultimately we see a very big business opportunity around this,” Mr. Ammann said.
