U.S. Dark Money Tries to Stop Robotaxis as Japan Says Yes to Full Autonomy

This week on Autonomy Signals presented by KPMG, Grayson Brulte and Rob Grant discuss the dark money campaign trying to stop robotaxis in the United States, Japan’s new certification framework for vehicles without steering wheels or pedals, and Reliable Robotics autonomous regional cargo aircraft.

A dark money campaign is working to stop robotaxis before they reach new markets. The Coalition for Accountability in Road Safety (CARS) has spent over $2.6 million on ads opposing autonomous vehicles in DC, outspending the mayoral candidates, raising questions as to who is funding the group.

Japan is moving the other way and making autonomy a national priority. Starting in December, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) will introduce a unified certification framework for SAE Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles that no longer need steering wheels, brake pedals or mirrors.

Autonomous cargo flight is getting closer. Reliable Robotics completed a flight in Albuquerque where software handled taxiing, takeoff and landing on a Cessna Grand Caravan, supervised by a pilot 700 miles away in California. The company is targeting its first FAA approvals by the end of 2027, though fully uncrewed cargo flights remain years away.

Episode Chapters

• 0:00 KPMG Sponsor Introduction
• 1:58 Signal 1: Dark-Money Coalitions Are Trying to Stop Robotaxis
• 37:01 Signal 2: Japan Greenlights Full Autonomy
• 55:02 Signal 3: Cleared for Autonomous Takeoff

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