{"id":2109142,"date":"2026-08-24T16:42:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T13:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2109142"},"modified":"2026-08-24T16:42:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T13:42:37","slug":"robotaxis-are-real-now-so-is-the-pushback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2109142","title":{"rendered":"Robotaxis are real now \u2014 so is the pushback"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><main id=\"content\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<article>\n<div class=\"duet--article--lede duet--page-layout--feature-article _1se63890\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--feature-lede yrbje60\">\n<div class=\"yrbje61\">\n<div class=\"yrbje66\">\n<div class=\"_1xtd7xb6 _1xtd7xb4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1044qiz7\">\n<div class=\"yrbje62 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"yrbje63 _1044qizp\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e0 _5s9d1e1\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e3\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"_1phh1th0\">\n<li>\n<div 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-->Transportation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb_mobile-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjEwNg==\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q816 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Policy<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjEwNg==-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Policy<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/policy\">See All <!-- -->Policy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb_mobile-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjQ1Mw==\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q816 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Report<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjQ1Mw==-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Report<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\">See All <!-- -->Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<h1 class=\"cbn62f2 cbn62f0 cbn62f8 _19wv7tcc _19wv7tc9\">Robotaxis are real now \u2014 so is the pushback<\/h1>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup cbn62fi cbn62fg _19wv7tcc _19wv7tc1\">As more robotaxis hit the road, the fight over the rules governing the technology is intensifying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo22 _29pwo20\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo29\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _19wv7tcc _1p3b6390\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead_mobile-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MjEzMTU3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6395 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Rani Molla<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MjEzMTU3-author_byline_lead\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Rani Molla<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/rani-molla\">See All by <!-- -->Rani Molla<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw6 g4xafw1 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _19wv7tcc\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-24T16:42:37+00:00\">Aug 24, 2026, 4:42 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo2m 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-->Policy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div id=\"follow-category-breadcrumb_desktop-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjQ1Mw==\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q816 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Report<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjQ1Mw==-breadcrumb\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Report<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\">See All <!-- -->Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<h1 class=\"cbn62f2 cbn62f0 cbn62f8 _19wv7tcc _19wv7tc9\">Robotaxis are real now \u2014 so is the pushback<\/h1>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup cbn62fi cbn62fg _19wv7tcc _19wv7tc1\">As more robotaxis hit the road, the fight over the rules governing the technology is intensifying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo22 _29pwo20\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo29\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _19wv7tcc _1p3b6390\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead_desktop-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MjEzMTU3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6395 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ki _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Rani Molla<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MjEzMTU3-author_byline_lead\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Rani Molla<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/rani-molla\">See All by <!-- -->Rani Molla<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw6 g4xafw1 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _19wv7tcc\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-24T16:42:37+00:00\">Aug 24, 2026, 4:42 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo2m _29pwo2w\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo2x\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--share-buttons _1e9wo7z0\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"_1e9wo7zo\"><button aria-label=\"Copy link\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Link<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Share article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Share<\/title><\/button><\/li>\n<li>\n<div><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Gift this article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z4 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Gift<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"_29pwo225 _1044qizr _29pwo217\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo21u _29pwo21y\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo21h\">\n<div class=\"o1ls98 o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls9d o1ls99\" data-concert=\"article_sponsorship_headline_above_desktop\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body-container j2p4kx0 _1044qiz3 _1044qiz17\">\n<div class=\"j2p4kx1\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body mebm7x0\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--standard-lede-bottom\">\n<div class=\"h9mca15\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\" class=\"_1044qiz13\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Robotaxis are expanding. So is the fight over the rules governing them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/new-york-governor-hochul-pulls-robotaxi-expansion-proposal-2026-02-19\">withdrew<\/a> a proposal earlier this year that would have opened the door to driverless robotaxis outside New York City after taxi drivers, unions, and state lawmakers opposed it. Six months later, commercial driverless service remains illegal in the state, and legalization efforts are stalled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">In DC, labor unions are fighting legislation that would legalize commercial robotaxis, while lawmakers are weighing a 200-vehicle cap and a 15-cent-per-mile fee that would fund Metro upgrades and aid workers displaced by autonomous vehicles. A July City Council hearing on the proposal stretched for a grueling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/washington-dc\/2026\/07\/20\/waymo-robotaxi-approval-charles-allen-dc-council\">10 hours<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">In San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie, a vocal supporter of robotaxis, is now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/bayarea\/article\/waymo-robotaxis-safety-standards-22362222.php\">calling for tougher robotaxi regulations<\/a> after Waymos repeatedly snarled traffic during emergencies and major events. And as of July, California police <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/joshmax\/2026\/05\/04\/california-cops-can-ticket-robotaxis-now\/\">can now formally cite autonomous-vehicle manufacturers<\/a> when their driverless cars break traffic laws.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">And while Congress has yet to pass comprehensive robotaxi legislation, federal regulators have stepped up their scrutiny. The Trump administration\u2019s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/press-releases\/av-developers-automated-vehicle-that-cannot-safely-interact-first-responders-danger\">warned autonomous-vehicle companies<\/a> that vehicles unable to safely interact with police, firefighters, and other first responders pose a danger to the public.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Even in states that have broadly welcomed autonomous vehicles, governments are grappling with how to oversee them. Texas this year began enforcing <a href=\"https:\/\/dallasexpress.com\/state\/texas-self-driving-law-takes-effect-today-robotaxis-av-trucks-need-txdmv-permit\/\">new permitting requirements<\/a> for commercial AV operators, while cities in Florida have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wfla.com\/news\/hillsborough-county\/wrong-way-tesla-robotaxi-in-tampa-raises-safety-regulation-questions\/\">complained<\/a> that state preemption laws leave them with little power to respond to problems on their own streets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">Even in states that have broadly welcomed autonomous vehicles, governments are grappling with how to oversee them<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Taxi drivers, labor unions, and safety advocates have fought autonomous vehicles for years. What\u2019s changing is the scale and immediacy of the fight. Now that robotaxis have burst free from the pages of science fiction and onto actual city streets, policymakers are confronting a messier reality filled with questions about safety, regulation, growth, and jobs. They\u2019re having to decide how quickly fleets should be allowed to expand, what companies must prove before they do, and how much control cities and states should have over their operations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Waymo, the market leader, is currently operating more than 3,500 vehicles publicly in 11 US cities. Zoox \u2014 a purpose-built robotaxi without a steering wheel that bears a striking resemblance to a toaster \u2014 just began offering paid rides in Las Vegas and continues to offer free trips to users of its Explorer program in San Francisco as it collects feedback. It\u2019s testing in a total of 10 cities and plans to extend the Explorer program to Austin and Miami later this year. Tesla, which began its Robotaxi rollout with a safety monitor aboard more than a year ago, appears to finally be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982759\/tesla-robotaxi-unsupervised-austin-robotaxi-tracker\">growing its unsupervised fleet<\/a> ahead of launching its purpose-built robotaxi, the Cybercab, later this month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Still, for all the political attention, robotaxis remain a tiny share of the US ridehailing market. While Waymo now provides more than 500,000 paid rides <em>a week<\/em>, Uber handles about <a href=\"https:\/\/investor.uber.com\/news-events\/news\/press-release-details\/2026\/Uber-Announces-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2025\/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">40 million trips<\/a> <em>a day<\/em>. At that scale, robotaxis haven\u2019t yet displaced many driving jobs or fundamentally changed how cities move. But their visibility vastly exceeds their market share, especially when a driverless car stops in the wrong place during a blackout or interferes with an emergency response.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">And the consequences could look very different as autonomous fleets grow from thousands of vehicles to hundreds of thousands. That\u2019s why the battles taking shape across the country are increasingly about the terms of expansion: what companies have to prove before they grow, what they owe cities and workers, and how much control cities and states should have over their operations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1044qizj\">\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5\" id=\"dmcyOmltYWdlOjk4Mzc3OQ==\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/gettyimages-2286668940.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"5760\" data-pswp-width=\"8640\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"23 July 2026, United States, Los Angeles: A self-driving Waymo taxian autonomous, driverless vehicleis on the roads ahead of the LA28 Summer Olympics. Photo: Michael Kappeler\/dpa (Photo by Michael Kappeler\/picture alliance via Getty Images)\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/gettyimages-2286668940.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmb5\">Photo by Michael Kappeler \/ picture alliance via Getty Images<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"what-the-critics-want\" class=\"_1gfm6td2 _1gfm6td0 duet--article--standard-heading _19wv7tc1\">\n<h3 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\"><strong>What the critics want<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">In many places, the robotaxi rollout has outpaced the rules governing it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cRobotaxis are popping up all over the place,\u201d said Shua Sanchez, national campaign director of <a href=\"https:\/\/safeavs.com\/\">SAVE-US<\/a>, a nonprofit advocating for stricter state AV legislation in the absence of federal rules. \u201cThe state legislatures don\u2019t have experience with this technology, and there aren\u2019t good laws on the books to regulate them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">SAVE-US is working with lawmakers in New Jersey and New York on a three-pronged approach. It wants multi-stage testing and commercial-deployment permits, under which companies would have to demonstrate their vehicles can operate safely with a small fleet before adding more cars, while continuing to share safety data after commercial service begins. It also wants autonomous vehicles to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/962309\/new-jersey-robotaxi-bill-lidar-tesla\">multiple kinds of sensors<\/a>, rather than relying on cameras alone (as Tesla does), and is calling for restrictions on marketing terms like \u201cAutopilot\u201d or \u201cFull Self-Driving\u201d for consumer driver-assist features when the systems still require human oversight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The group isn\u2019t opposed to autonomous vehicles, Sanchez said, but is \u201cpro the safe development of technology.\u201d He added that AV safety isn\u2019t a settled question, and that even a strong record today doesn\u2019t guarantee the same after a software or hardware change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), who has pushed for greater federal oversight of AVs, makes a similar argument about transparency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cAutonomous vehicle companies are making huge claims about how their technology is going to save lives,\u201d Markey told <em>The Verge<\/em> in a statement. \u201cBut right now, our regulatory structure amounts to this: we hope they\u2019re telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Markey has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/907478\/robotaxi-remote-assistance-markey-investigation-waymo-tesla\">investigated AV companies\u2019 use of remote human operators<\/a> and introduced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markey.senate.gov\/news\/press-releases\/senator-markey-introduces-legislation-to-mandate-av-companies-report-traffic-safety-data\">legislation<\/a> that would require them to regularly report safety data.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">\u201cRight now, our regulatory structure amounts to this: we hope they\u2019re telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj13\">\u2014 Sen. Ed Markey<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cCommunities deserve transparency and consistent oversight before we let Big Tech invade their public roads,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">But safety is only part of the fight. For labor groups, the stakes are also economic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Peter Finn, Teamsters international vice president at large, called autonomous vehicles an \u201cexistential threat\u201d to the work his members do. He pointed to the enormous number of jobs potentially affected by autonomous driving beyond rideshare drivers, including truckers, delivery drivers, and other commercial drivers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Like other groups in the robotaxi debate, the Teamsters insist they aren\u2019t opposed to new technology in principle. But that still leaves them staking out positions that would sharply constrain how autonomous vehicles are deployed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">That includes requiring heavy-duty autonomous vehicles like semitrucks to have a trained human operator aboard \u2014 legislation the Teamsters have twice pushed in California, only to see Gov. Gavin Newsom veto it. Finn said the Teamsters plan to pursue the issue again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cIf the technology is solely designed to automate and eliminate labor costs, the only entity benefiting from that is corporations,\u201d Finn said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The Teamsters\u2019 immediate legislative priority isn\u2019t robotaxis themselves so much as what it sees coming next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">To Finn, Waymo and Zoox are precursors to a much larger fight over autonomous driving. He pointed specifically to Zoox\u2019s ownership by Amazon, arguing that similar technology could eventually be applied to package delivery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Zoox and Waymo both said their current focus remains their robotaxi services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Taken together, the objections go beyond any one safety rule or labor concern. AV resistance has become part of a broader backlash to Big Tech\u2019s growing physical footprint, from data centers to Flock cameras. Companies are pouring enormous sums into new infrastructure, and many residents are still asking what, exactly, they get in return for having it in their communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1044qizj\">\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.898667\" id=\"dmcyOmltYWdlOjk4Mzc4MA==\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/gettyimages-2270749488.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"3000\" data-pswp-width=\"2696\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tesla Cybercabs are lined up on a lot at Tesla Giga Texas in Austin, Wednesday, April 8th.\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/gettyimages-2270749488.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>Tesla Cybercabs are lined up on a lot at Tesla Giga Texas in Austin, Wednesday, April 8th.<\/em><\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmb5\">Photo by Jay Janner \/ The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"even-robotaxi-companies-want-rules\" class=\"_1gfm6td2 _1gfm6td0 duet--article--standard-heading _19wv7tc1\">\n<h3 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\"><strong>Even robotaxi companies want rules<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Robotaxi companies, meanwhile, are trying to get ahead of the backlash \u2014 and sidestep a patchwork of confusing state and local laws \u2014 by helping shape the rules themselves. That includes supporting certain regulations while pushing back on others they see as too restrictive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cI want to unequivocally say we agree with the administrator and the administration and the regulatory agency. We need to be regulated,\u201d Zoox CEO Aicha Evans recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/media\/zoox-ceo-says-autonomous-vehicles-need-regulation-after-robotaxi-drove-las-vegas-fire-scene\">said<\/a> on Fox Business in response to NHTSA\u2019s warnings about unsafe interactions with emergency vehicles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Zoox said it is also trying to head off conflicts before entering new markets. Ron Thaniel, the company\u2019s senior director of policy and regulatory affairs, said Zoox establishes lines of communication with local and state officials and conducts hands-on engagement with first responders before launching in a city. As the industry expands, he said, Zoox sees \u201can opportunity at the federal level to more uniformly regulate autonomous vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Waymo told <em>The Verge<\/em> much the same thing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cI think there definitely needs to be some regulation,\u201d Waymo global head of public policy Justin Kintz said. \u201cThey\u2019re powered by incredible technology that makes the world a safer place, but it still needs oversight from the federal government, from states, and from cities in the same way that they manage human drivers today.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">\u201cI want to unequivocally say we agree with the administrator and the administration and the regulatory agency. We need to be regulated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj13\">\u2014 Zoox CEO Aicha Evans<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Zoox and Waymo are hardly alone in wanting clearer rules. The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, which counts both companies as members, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/17\/technology\/waymo-driverless-taxis-politics.html\">said<\/a> only about half of US states have passed laws that allow vehicles to operate without humans. The industry group <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theavindustry.org\/policy\">believes<\/a> states should establish a legal framework for AVs, require first-responder interaction plans, and set minimum requirements before vehicles can operate without a human driver. (The association didn\u2019t respond to requests for more specifics.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Waymo said it has long advocated for a national AV safety standard covering minimum testing requirements, vehicle design, and data sharing. Under its preferred system, the federal government would continue setting vehicle safety standards, while states would govern road rules and cities would handle local concerns like curb space, law enforcement, and emergency response.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The disagreements emerge in the details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">In Washington, DC, Waymo said it broadly supports Councilmember Charles Allen\u2019s effort to establish a regulatory framework allowing commercial robotaxi service, including its goals of funding transit and helping workers transition as transportation becomes more automated. But it objects to parts of the current proposal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Waymo said a 200-vehicle limit would probably be too small for a city the size of Washington. It could accept starting small, but wants regulators to let fleets grow as companies demonstrate safe performance rather than putting a permanent ceiling into law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cI don\u2019t think legislation needs to set a hard cap on that,\u201d Kintz said, \u201cor it\u2019s going to lead to preventing important groups from being able to access the service when they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The company has been more receptive to the proposed 15-cent fee for every mile an autonomous vehicle travels. Kintz said Waymo supports \u201cthe fundamental principle of raising revenue\u201d for transit and affected workers, though it raised concerns that a per-mile charge could become prohibitively expensive, particularly for smaller AV operators. An annual fee, it suggested, is one possible alternative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Emergency response is another area where Waymo says it supports regulation, even as it argues that some of the work is already underway. After NHTSA called for stronger coordination between AV companies and first responders, Waymo said it immediately asked to participate in the agency\u2019s discussions. The company said it already maintains dedicated first responder training programs and 24\/7 priority lines for dispatchers and officers, while Kintz acknowledged that \u201cwe haven\u2019t always got it right.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">\u201cWe haven\u2019t always got it right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj13\">\u2014 Waymo global head of public policy Justin Kintz<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Waymo is also trying to make the case that robotaxis can complement, rather than undermine, public transit. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/usa.streetsblog.org\/2026\/08\/13\/waymo-speaks-we-have-more-in-common-with-urbanists-than-you-might-think\"><em>Streetsblog<\/em> piece<\/a> this month, Waymo policy development and research manager Arielle Fleisher argued the company has \u201ccommon cause\u201d with urbanists trying to reduce dependence on private cars. Waymo told <em>The Verge<\/em> that in San Francisco more than a third of its riders use the service to connect with public transportation. But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2024-10-24\/robotaxis-aren-t-going-to-help-save-public-transportation\">research has also suggested<\/a> that robotaxis could replace some trips that otherwise would have been taken on public transit, potentially undermining ridership rather than complementing it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">On labor, Waymo argues that automation will eliminate some tasks while creating others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cThese cars don\u2019t clean, charge, fix themselves, code themselves,\u201d Kintz said, pointing to jobs including fleet technicians, mechanics, remote support workers, and operations managers. Of course, simply taking the driver out of the driver\u2019s seat could have huge economic implications. Earlier this month, Uber <a href=\"https:\/\/s23.q4cdn.com\/407969754\/files\/doc_earnings\/2026\/q2\/transcript\/Uber-Q2-26-Prepared-Remarks.pdf\">said<\/a> that 10.2 million drivers and couriers earned money on its platform during the second quarter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div style=\"position:relative\">\n<div class=\"_1044qizj\">\n<div class>\n<div style=\"background-image:none\" class=\"duet--media--content-warning _1k8kvzd0\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--image-gallery-image _1pegheu0\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49986\" id=\"dmcyOmltYWdlOjk4Mzc4MQ==\"><a class=\"_1pegheu1\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/gettyimages-2288941257.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"3565\" data-pswp-width=\"5347\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"An Amazon-owned Zoox driverless robotaxi drives down a street on August 3rd in San Francisco. The National Highway Traffic Safety \u200cAdministration cleared Amazon-owned Zoox robotaxis to charge customers for robotaxi rides.\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/gettyimages-2288941257.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--media--caption _77sxmb0\"><figcaption class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmba\"><em>An Amazon-owned Zoox driverless robotaxi drives down a street on August 3rd in San Francisco. The National Highway Traffic Safety \u200cAdministration cleared Amazon-owned Zoox robotaxis to charge customers for robotaxi rides.<\/em><\/figcaption><cite class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _19wv7tc2 _77sxmb5\">Photo by Heather Diehl \/ Getty Images<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Kintz acknowledged that autonomous vehicles could eventually displace drivers and said Waymo was \u201ceyes open\u201d about that possibility. But he argued the change would happen over time and that unions could help build retraining and reskilling programs for affected workers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Asked whether autonomous driving would ultimately create more jobs than it eliminated, Kintz said it was \u201ctoo soon to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Notably Waymo has continued to expand as these fights play out. The California Public Utilities Commission this month <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news10.com\/automotive\/waymo-gets-the-green-light-across-california\/\">cleared the company<\/a> to expand driverless passenger service across parts of 18 counties, including Sacramento and San Diego and more of the Los Angeles and Bay Area regions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">For now, robotaxis are helping a very small number of Americans get around. The fights underway today are about what happens if they don\u2019t stay that way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tly2fw0\"><span class=\"tly2fw2\"><strong>Follow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"tly2fw3\">\n<li id=\"follow-author-article_footer-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MjEzMTU3\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1uf8q814 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89kf _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Rani Molla<\/span><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6MjEzMTU3-article_footer\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Rani Molla<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from 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class=\"dynamic-native-ad-native_ad_latest\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/\" aria-label=\"Native Ad Placement\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mv0\">\n<div class=\"_14xz0mvc\"><span data-native-ad-id=\"preamble\" class=\"_14xz0mv8\">Advertiser Content From<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mvh\"><img data-native-ad-id=\"sponsored_logo\" src alt=\"Sponsor Logo\" class=\"_14xz0mvg\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"_14xz0mvj\" data-native-ad-id=\"title\">This is the title for the native ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mvd\">\n<div class=\"_14xz0mve\"><img data-native-ad-id=\"thumbnail\" src alt=\"Sponsor thumbnail\" class=\"_14xz0mvf\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"noh1q12 noh1q18\">\n<div class=\"o1ls922 o1ls90 o1ls92i\">\n<div class=\"o1ls90 o1ls923\" data-concert=\"btf_medium_rectangle_variable\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--article-recirc-color-container e3czlx0\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--article-recirc e3czlx1 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"e3czlx3\">\n<div class=\"e3czlx4\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _75r1tr2\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0\">\n<div class=\"bpecqnj bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqno bpecqnm _19wv7tc2\">More in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\">Transportation<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1hofmaw0\">\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tesla sunsets its Solar Roof tiles\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/7369261\/2016-10-28_at_5.57_PM.0.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=13.189799331104%2C0%2C73.620401337793%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/983167\/tesla-solar-roof-tiles-discontinued\">Tesla sunsets its Solar Roof tiles<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Genesis GV90 blows the bloody doors off what\u2019s possible in EV design\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Original-6722-photo-2-gv90-neolun-exterior.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C5.5555555555556%2C100%2C88.888888888889&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982910\/genesis-gv90-ev-suv-coach-door-heated-floor\">The Genesis GV90 blows the bloody doors off what\u2019s possible in EV design<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon\u2019s drone deliveries are landing in pools and ponds\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/amazon-pool-drone.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.7840909090909%2C0%2C84.431818181818%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/982808\/amazon-prime-air-drones-packages-pools-ponds\">Amazon\u2019s drone deliveries are landing in pools and ponds<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tesla Robotaxis appear to go fully unsupervised in Austin ahead of Cybercab launch\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/STKE001_STK086_Tesla_Robotaxi_3_C.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982759\/tesla-robotaxi-unsupervised-austin-robotaxi-tracker\">Tesla Robotaxis appear to go fully unsupervised in Austin ahead of Cybercab launch<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Waymo lifts the lid on the \u2018brain\u2019 powering its robotaxis\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/STKS518_WAYMO_TAXI_C.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982653\/waymo-brain-computer-chip-robotaxi-hardware-suppliers\">Waymo lifts the lid on the \u2018brain\u2019 powering its robotaxis<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Audi S6 Sportback E-tron proves that sedans still matter\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/2027AudiS6SportbacketronPeterNelson12.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.575%2C0%2C98.85%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982464\/audi-s6-sportback-etron-sedan-ev-review\">The Audi S6 Sportback E-tron proves that sedans still matter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1hofmaw2\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tesla sunsets its Solar Roof tiles\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/7369261\/2016-10-28_at_5.57_PM.0.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=25.459866220736%2C0%2C49.080267558528%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tesla sunsets its Solar Roof tiles\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/chorus\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/7369261\/2016-10-28_at_5.57_PM.0.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=13.189799331104%2C0%2C73.620401337793%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/983167\/tesla-solar-roof-tiles-discontinued\">Tesla sunsets its Solar Roof tiles<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Jess Weatherbed<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-21T12:01:07+00:00\">Aug 21<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Genesis GV90 blows the bloody doors off what\u2019s possible in EV design\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Original-6722-photo-2-gv90-neolun-exterior.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=12.5%2C0%2C75%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Genesis GV90 blows the bloody doors off what\u2019s possible in EV design\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Original-6722-photo-2-gv90-neolun-exterior.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C5.5555555555556%2C100%2C88.888888888889&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982910\/genesis-gv90-ev-suv-coach-door-heated-floor\">The Genesis GV90 blows the bloody doors off what\u2019s possible in EV design<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Andrew J. Hawkins<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-20T19:52:57+00:00\">Aug 20<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon\u2019s drone deliveries are landing in pools and ponds\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/amazon-pool-drone.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=21.856060606061%2C0%2C56.287878787879%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amazon\u2019s drone deliveries are landing in pools and ponds\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/amazon-pool-drone.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=7.7840909090909%2C0%2C84.431818181818%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/982808\/amazon-prime-air-drones-packages-pools-ponds\">Amazon\u2019s drone deliveries are landing in pools and ponds<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Emma Roth<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-20T14:59:21+00:00\">Aug 20<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tesla Robotaxis appear to go fully unsupervised in Austin ahead of Cybercab launch\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/STKE001_STK086_Tesla_Robotaxi_3_C.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tesla Robotaxis appear to go fully unsupervised in Austin ahead of Cybercab launch\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/STKE001_STK086_Tesla_Robotaxi_3_C.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982759\/tesla-robotaxi-unsupervised-austin-robotaxi-tracker\">Tesla Robotaxis appear to go fully unsupervised in Austin ahead of Cybercab launch<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Rani Molla<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-20T14:09:31+00:00\">Aug 20<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Waymo lifts the lid on the \u2018brain\u2019 powering its robotaxis\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/STKS518_WAYMO_TAXI_C.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Waymo lifts the lid on the \u2018brain\u2019 powering its robotaxis\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/STKS518_WAYMO_TAXI_C.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982653\/waymo-brain-computer-chip-robotaxi-hardware-suppliers\">Waymo lifts the lid on the \u2018brain\u2019 powering its robotaxis<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Andrew J. Hawkins<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-20T14:00:00+00:00\">Aug 20<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Audi S6 Sportback E-tron proves that sedans still matter\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/2027AudiS6SportbacketronPeterNelson12.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=39.05%2C12.443095599393%2C57.5%2C87.253414264036&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Audi S6 Sportback E-tron proves that sedans still matter\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/2027AudiS6SportbacketronPeterNelson12.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.575%2C0%2C98.85%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/transportation\/982464\/audi-s6-sportback-etron-sedan-ev-review\">The Audi S6 Sportback E-tron proves that sedans still matter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Peter Nelson<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-20T11:00:00+00:00\">Aug 20<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--ad--native-ad-linkset _14xz0mv4 _14xz0mv5 _14xz0mva hidden\" data-native-ad-id=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"visually-hidden\">\n<div class=\"dynamic-native-ad-native_ad_linkset_link\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mv7\"><span data-native-ad-id=\"preamble\" class=\"_14xz0mv8 _14xz0mv9\">Advertiser Content From<\/span><\/p>\n<div><img data-native-ad-id=\"logo\" src alt=\"Sponsor Logo\" class=\"_14xz0mvg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_14xz0mvj\" data-native-ad-id=\"title\">This is the title for the native ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"e3czlx6\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _75r1tr2\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0\">\n<div class=\"bpecqnj bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqno bpecqnm _19wv7tc2\">Top Stories<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-24T14:00:00+00:00\">Two hours ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/podcast\/982901\/gofundme-ceo-tim-cadogan-fundraising-healthcare-medical-expenses\">How GoFundMe became America\u2019s backup plan<span class=\"_1d4s5vdq\">\ufeff<title>Video<\/title><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-23T12:00:00+00:00\">Aug 23<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/column\/983410\/grand-theft-auto-vi-exists-in-its-own-universe\">Grand Theft Auto VI exists in its own universe<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-22T13:00:00+00:00\">Aug 22<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/983554\/hp-omnibook-3-16-snapdragon-laptop-review\">An okay laptop with 16GB of RAM is better than a nice laptop with 8GB, and this $520 HP OmniBook proves it<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-22T15:00:00+00:00\">Aug 22<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\/980452\/w-kamau-bell-whos-with-me-comedy-interview\">W. Kamau Bell has the most practical \u2018most indispensable tool\u2019<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-24T11:37:53+00:00\">11:37 AM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/983714\/grapheneos-motorola-razr-fold-ultra-support-pixel-11\">De-Googled GrapheneOS is coming to Motorola\u2019s foldables next year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Transportation Close Transportation Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. 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