Nuro’s Desperate Attempt to Revive Its Failing Autonomous Dreams
In a last-ditch effort to stay relevant, Nuro has finally received approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test its third-generation R3 autonomous delivery vehicle in four Bay Area cities. This desperate move comes after the company’s financial struggles and setbacks, including two rounds of layoffs and a manufacturing partnership with BYD that’s been put on hold.
Nuro’s R3 is a pathetic excuse for an autonomous vehicle, resembling a large sidewalk delivery robot with no seats, windows, or pedals. It’s only designed to carry goods, not passengers, and operates on public roads like a poorly designed robot. Despite its lackluster design, Nuro claims its vehicle is capable of Level 4 autonomy, allowing it to drive itself without human intervention in certain circumstances.
But don’t be fooled – Nuro’s real goal is to cling to its Uber Eats partnership and make a quick buck. The company has been testing its R3 with retrofitted Toyota Priuses and plans to roll out a few dozen R3s from BYD in the next few months. But with steep tariffs looming over any BYD-made vehicles, Nuro may need to find a new manufacturing partner if it wants to scale its operations.
Ferguson, Nuro’s CEO, claims the company has "dramatically accelerated" its autonomy progress, but we all know that’s just PR spin. Nuro’s true focus is on validating its AI architecture and getting the most out of its Uber Eats deliveries. And if that means putting its manufacturing and commercial operations on the backburner, so be it.
But don’t worry, Nuro still has plans to explore other markets outside of autonomous delivery. Yeah, right. We’ll believe it when we see it.
Update: A spokesperson for Uber told TechCrunch that the ride-hail and delivery giant expects to start using the R3 for deliveries this fall. Because what’s a little more automation to help Uber squeeze out even more profits?
Author: Kayitsi.com
