E10: The Road to Self-Driving Cars, Model Y Quality Issues, Uber SaaS

This is episode ten of the Inside Transportation podcast. This podcast was made possible by Ford Motor Company (www.ford.com) and Fenwick (www.fenwick.com). Featuring Jason Calacanis (Angel investor, LAUNCH, Inside.com) and Johan Moreno (inside.com). Subscribe to Inside Transportation newsletter: inside.com/transportation Subscribe to Inside Electric Vehicles newsletter: inside.com/evs Recorded on June 22, 2020. 3:25 — Jason and Johan discuss the best path forward for autonomous vehicles to appear roads today. Do we take a centralized route where the government works with autonomous developers to set guidelines, or do we continue with the de-centralized, hands off approach? Supporting link: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2020/06/15/michigan-fiat-chrysler-join-federal-self-driving-car-initiative/3194309001/ 21:00 — The Model Y is here and...there are problems. Tesla forums have documented issues with the vehicle. Jason and Johan discuss whether these quality issues are going to impact sales and whether demand for the Model Y will weaken as a result. Jason talks about his own experience ordering a Model Y. Supporting link: https://electrek.co/2020/06/16/tesla-model-y-quality-issues/ 37:00 — Amid ride-hailing demand declines, Uber becomes a SaaS company, as it reaches an agreement to manage Marin County’s on-demand public transportation service, Marin Connect. Johan and Jason discuss Uber’s move and whether it represents a “panic” button for the company. Supporting link: https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/17/uber-pushes-into-on-demand-public-transit-with-its-first-saas-partnership/ 46:00 — United said that it may ban passengers not wearing face masks from boarding planes. Jason and Johan discuss why there is a lack of federal legislation in mask wearing and why the current administration is apprehensive about enacting these rules on a federal level. Supporting link: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/airlines-face-masks-passengers/ 53:00 — DOPE OR NOPE - Mazda BT-50 pickup truck Jason and Johan discuss the design of the Mazda BT-50 pickup truck and whether it should arrive in the U.S. Supporting link: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/mazda-bt50-pickup-truck-isuzu-dmax-us-availability/