Uber Backup Driver Admits Guilt In 1st-Ever Autonomous Car Death — But Defense Feels Blame Should Be Shared
Portfolio Pulse from Anan Ashraf
Rafaela Vasquez, the backup driver of an Uber self-driving vehicle involved in a fatal collision in 2018, has pled guilty to endangerment. The case marked the first fatality with a fully autonomous car. The incident led Uber to withdraw self-driving cars from Arizona and sell its self-driving unit to Aurora Innovation in 2020. In May 2023, Waymo announced a partnership with Uber to allow users to hail an autonomous Waymo ride via the Uber app in Phoenix.

July 31, 2023 | 8:26 am
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Uber's backup driver has pled guilty in the first-ever autonomous car death. The incident led to Uber withdrawing self-driving cars from Arizona and selling its self-driving unit. However, a recent partnership with Waymo may revive Uber's involvement in autonomous vehicles.
The news is directly related to Uber and its autonomous vehicle operations. The guilty plea could potentially impact Uber's reputation and future autonomous vehicle operations. However, the recent partnership with Waymo indicates a potential revival of Uber's involvement in autonomous vehicles, which could offset any negative impact.
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