The cyber taxi has landed in Australia: transport unions prepare to fight

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The Cybercab is taking a tour of Australia’s big cities. The Transport Workers Union has joined forces with Uber to fight autonomous vehicles. I’m sure the Cybercab will add fuel to the fire.

On our last day of adventure, Majella and I visited the Tesla showroom in Mt Gravatt (Brisbane) and had a good look at the Cybercab. It wasn’t as busy as I expected, but the manager assured me that there has been a steady flow of curious onlookers all week. Tesla is touring Australia with the Cybercab, a week in every major population centre. A similar approach to the one they took with the Cybertruck a few years ago. The Cybertruck is still not on sale two years later, so it’s anyone’s guess if and when the Cybercab will be seen on Australian roads.

The futuristic car was fenced: we could look, but not touch. Look and admire, we did it. I leave you to see the photos below.

Before our visit to the Tesla showroom, we had lunch with some fellow EV drivers, one of whom uses his Tesla Model Y as an Uber. I asked him what he thought. He noted that when Uber came to Australia, the Transport Workers Union (on behalf of taxi drivers) strongly opposed its introduction. Now they have joined forces to fight the new kid on the block. Cybercab = undesirable number one. But even before that, he believes Tesla’s robotaxi network will be operational within 12 months, and its Model Y will be part of it. You will still be able to earn income.

Another of our frequent coffee lovers shared his experience in Florida with a Model Y robotaxi. His big idea: the staggering difference in cost of using Robotaxi vs. Waymo. He made the same trip with both platforms and found Robotaxi significantly cheaper. I hope Robotaxi is even cheaper than Uber or a taxi. Have any of our readers taken this test? Would you be willing to share data?

Major media outlets are discussing these issues, particularly around government regulation. Listen to the ABC podcast here. They expect the hurdle of 700 regulations to be cleared in the next 18 months. Sydney Premier Chris Minns says he would travel in one and considers it “a good thing for Sydney”. This despite some security concerns. My concern would be the state of some Australian roads. I expect a cautious start. Waymo may pave the way for Tesla. It will be an interesting transition to watch.

Let’s return to the Transport Workers Union (TWU), which has formed an unexpected alliance with Uber to influence and manage the introduction of autonomous robotaxis in Australia. It’s the classic “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” (at least until the fight is over).

“For years, Uber and TWU were fierce adversaries in the sharing economy. However, the looming threat from Alphabet’s Waymo, which operates a purely driverless business model, has pushed both entities to pressure Australian state and federal lawmakers to implement stricter regulations.”

The TWU has warned the Prime Minister of an election backlash as 7 in 10 union members oppose driverless vehicles. Of course yes, robots don’t pay union dues. And I don’t think these people have seen the Cybercab yet! The TWU has more than 60,000 members.

Uber is pushing for a hybrid network approach, where self-driving platforms operate a mix of autonomous vehicles and human drivers rather than a pure robotaxi fleet. Uber hopes to hold off its autonomous rivals and remain the dominant intermediary. The TWU is tapping into public anxiety and advocating for a “just transition,” which would include “mandatory human safety operators, retraining programs, and financial compensation/layoffs for human transportation workers displaced by AI.”

Australian logistics company Transurban, based in Melbourne, has been pressured by the union to suspend scheduled trials of autonomous commercial trucks due to a lack of consultation with the workforce and safety concerns. We’ll be watching with interest as it all unfolds.

I’ll be joined by Nathan Meritt, another Uber driver with a Tesla Model Y. I asked him his opinion on the transition: “That’s great! I would still say that talking to customers it’s still a 50/50 whether they would use autonomous vehicles or pay more for a human driver.”

For those who have driven with supervised full autonomous driving, I am sure you will know what the vehicle is capable of. With more road data, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Cybercab is legally allowed to be used on our roads here in Brisbane. I estimate that maybe just before the Olympics (2032) we will get regulatory approval.
Nathan characterizes the union as “loss leaders.”

The progression could well be robotaxis with human safety drivers to establish a reputation, and then a combination of Cybercabs and Model Y. I think robotaxis are inevitable, not so sure about Cybercab due to production and demand. Some of our family and friends have criticized the Cybercab for only having space for two passengers. I suggested that they will be able to use Robert or Nathan’s Model Y robotaxis.

My take on the shape of the Cybercab is that it is, in fact, the future that looks like the future. If there are a lot of these on the road, maybe the Cybertruck won’t look out of place and Tesla could sell some.

The last word is for my 12 year old granddaughter. A few years ago, we asked him what kind of car he’d like when he was old enough to drive, expecting him to say a Tesla. She responded that she wouldn’t have a car, she would just call an Uber on her phone. From the mouths of children and infants! Looking at pictures of the Cybercab, he was excited by the fact that it had no steering wheel or pedals. The future of your dreams is becoming clearer. Wait till I show him the Roadster!