Sorry Tesla, Lyft Is Deploying Its Own Robotaxis

Tesla’s robotaxis were a long time coming

For years, Tesla has received considerable public and investor attention regarding the future of self-driving cars, promising services and software like Full Self-Driving and a full-on robotaxi service using bespoke Tesla vehicles, such as the sleek Cybertruck. Before the recent supervised Tesla robotaxi launch in Austin, Elon Musk had spent years trying to sell the public on a futuristic vision where robotaxis would supposedly make your personal Tesla vehicle earn money for you while you sleep. 

In fact, Tesla’s recently released Master Plan IV puts any idea of selling EVs for personal use to the back burner, citing a need to reap the benefits of “sustainable abundance,” where robots, robot cars, and artificial intelligence do everything for you.

“We are building the products and services that bring AI into the physical world,” it said. “We have been working tirelessly for nearly two decades to create the foundation for this technological renaissance through the development of electric vehicles, energy products, and humanoid robots. Now, we are combining our manufacturing capabilities with our autonomous prowess to deliver new products and services that will accelerate global prosperity and human thriving, driven by economic growth shared by all.”

But while Tesla is still sharing its ideas about a “technological renaissance,” the ride-hailing app Lyft went ahead and did the thing.

Meet Lyft’s new driverless ride

In partnership with autonomous vehicle startup May Mobility, Lyft has officially launched its first fleet of robotaxis in Atlanta, Georgia. Centered around the Midtown area, riders in the commercial, retail, and corporate center and surrounding areas such as Virginia Highlands, Old Fourth Ward, and Inman Park may have their next Lyft ride piloted by an autonomous vehicle.

Riders who open their Lyft app in the designated zone and request a standard or Wait & Save ride can get paired with one of May Mobility’s hybrid Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles instead of the typical Prius or Camry. These special minivans are equipped with the company’s Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology with active monitoring, vehicle guidance, and predictive capabilities, which enables the car to think quickly, handle complex city driving, and keep riders safe.

Per Lyft and May Mobility, May’s MPDM technology is capable of “analyzing thousands of potential scenarios every second and then choosing the optimal maneuver in any situation,” easily adapting to a new scenario or environment; a proven feat shown during manned and autonomous deployments in cities across the U.S. and Japan.

However, initially, this pilot program in the ATL will utilize a standby operator on-site. These operators are tasked with being the AI’s babysitter, ready to grab the wheel if things go sideways, and to make passengers feel safer with this new technology. Over time, as the system matures, the human element will gradually cease to exist, and the service will transition toward being fully driverless.

​​“We’re bringing the future of transportation with May Mobility to Atlanta while staying true to our core mission – connecting people and communities,” Jeremy Bird, Executive Vice President at Lyft, said in a statement. “Our human-centered approach to autonomous vehicles is giving Atlanta riders access to tomorrow’s mobility today – with the same safety and community focus that defines Lyft, and the proven technology from May Mobility.”

First in Atlanta, then possibly a city near you

This deployment in Atlanta is May Mobility’s second active project in the state of Georgia. In partnership with Curiosity Lads and T-Mobile, they operate a driverless service that uses the same Siennas to take visitors of Peachtree Corner’s Curiosity Lab on a predetermined course with eight stops around popular destinations such as hotels, restaurants, retail shops, office spaces, the Innovation Center at Curiosity Lab, and Peachtree Corners City Hall.

With over $90 billion expected to be invested in regional transportation projects by 2040, Lyft and May’s Atlanta’s autonomous vehicle deployment is a key part of its transportation transformation. It shows that the city is an attractive destination for tech companies focused on innovative solutions.

In a statement, Lyft and May Mobility said the deployment in Midtown Atlanta serves as a model for how autonomous vehicle technology can be “responsibly introduced to communities while maintaining a focus on human experience and safety.” In the future, both companies say they plan to expand their autonomous vehicle partnership based on how it performs, as well as community feedback.

Final thoughts

This isn’t Atlanta’s first rodeo regarding Robotaxis, as Google’s Waymo currently operates within a very large 65-square-mile service area across different parts of the city. Nonetheless, Lyft’s entry into this service seems to dig a bigger robotaxi-sized hole for Tesla, whose robotaxi service is still limited to a rapidly growing geofenced area in Austin, Texas, despite its current hiring for a possible expansion of the service in New York City.

Ultimately, today’s announcement shows that Tesla has some competition on its hands when it comes to this type of service, as more established names are gaining a foothold and rapidly expanding.

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