330. Robotaxis vs Personal AVs: A WCX Panel Discussion
From SAE Tomorrow Today by SAE International
April 30, 2026 · 1h 5m · Season 1 · Episode 330
About this episode
A discussion on the challenges of scaling automated driving from robotaxis to personal AVs.
What does it really take to scale automated driving from a mapped robotaxi service to personally owned autonomous vehicles? Recorded live at the WCX 2026 in Detroit, listen in as Chris Gerdes, Field Safety Architect, Waymo, and Hugh Nguyen, Automotive Technology and Mobility, KPMG, explore the technical, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges reshaping mobility as SAE Level 4 automation makes its way to the road. From safety data and sensor performance in harsh conditions to public trust, city readiness, and the growing divide between robotaxi ecosystems and consumer AVs, it’s a grounded discussion on what scalable autonomy really looks like. We’d love to hear from you. Share your comments, questions and ideas for future topics and guests to podcast@sae.org. Don’t forget to take a moment to follow SAE Tomorrow Today—a podcast where we discuss emerging technology and trends in mobility with the leaders, innovators and strategists making it all happen—and give us a review on your preferred podcasting platform. Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.
People in this episode
Host: Grayson Brulte
Guests: Chris Gerdes, Hugh Nguyen
Topics covered
- automated driving
- robotaxis
- personal autonomous vehicles
- mobility challenges
- SAE Level 4 automation
- public trust
- infrastructure
Keywords
- robotaxi
- autonomous vehicles
- mobility
- safety data
- sensor performance
- public trust
- city readiness
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Waymo, KPMG, SAE International
Places: Detroit
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