Attorney Amy Witherite Says: Billions at Stake as Tesla and Aurora Innovations Bank on Driverless Technology

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Attorney and traffic safety expert Amy Witherite says billions of dollars are at stake as autonomous trucks begin operating on the nation’s highways in 2025. Aurora Robotics has announced plans to begin removing drivers from trucks operating on routes between Dallas—Houston and Fort Worth—El Paso. This move comes as the company prepares to go public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company. Published reports estimate the deal values Kodiak at approximately $1.1 billion.

According to Reuters, Tesla has pivoted to robotaxis and artificial intelligence promising a driverless ride-hailing service to the public in Texas by June.

According to investors.com, "For many investors and analysts, the robotaxi and true autonomous driving are the major catalysts for Tesla stock.”

“With billions of dollars at stake it is more important than ever there be strict government oversight of the autonomous vehicle industry,” warns attorney and traffic safety expert Amy Witherite, founder of the Witherite Law Group. “The financial stakes are far too high to allow for-profit companies to determine whether their operations are safe.”

According to an analysis by McKinsey consulting firm, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for heavy-duty trucks could be reduced by 42 percent per mile even after considering the cost of autonomation.

Witherite notes that the McKinsey report and many others point out that the autonomous technology being tested on public highways has not proven safe.

McKinsey is correct when stating:

• Only a few fatal accidents could result in a negative public perception of autonomous trucking.
• After only a few fatal accidents, public perception might change to be no longer accepting of autonomous trucking.
• AV trucks need to be reliable. Shutting down a major highway or causing a major traffic jam would also likely cause the public and regulators to reject autonomous trucks.

“These are serious concerns that need to be addressed by strong federal oversight, standards and regulations,” said Witherite. “Too often it takes a tragic accident to create the public outrage that leads to meaningful change.”

The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website. www.witheritelaw.com.