Lyft has finally been approved to test its self-driving technology on California state public roads. Have you noticed how an industry moves uniformly with the news?
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved the testing. The company announced early this year that its development center was working on its own autonomous vehicle (AV) technology with automakers and other partners.
While Uber takes to the sky, Lyft has been more or less kept away from the negative image the former received. Lyft has become the underdog fighting for the shared-riding industry as many have vowed to not use Uber anymore.
We can’t help but wonder how Lyft and Uber drivers feel about this turn of event. They must know by now they are working themselves out of a job. AV will replace their moonshining for many. Perhaps, individuals will be able to buy AVs and offer their service to Lyft and Uber, trickling down profits to the owners. But if the current disgruntled state is anything to judge from, drivers of either company wholeheartedly admit that it is tough making a living off of those companies.
Lyft Gets Ready To Test Its EV Technology on Public Roads
Obviously, the gist of the news is that Lyft sounds like is ready to start testing its AV technology on public roads soon. The company previously announced partnerships and pilot projects.
Lyft is not alone here. Uber also plans to do the same 
as well as rival Waymo, and a few automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and Ford are hot on the pursuit.
With autonomous cars trickling out of automakers and Tesla having taken the lead years ago, it will be interesting to see how Lyft plans on differentiating itself from others. Uber already ordered AV cars from Volvo but Waymo made a $1B investment in Lyft — something that is surely turning a few gray hair in Uber’s boardrooms. In the meantime, Ford is also partnering with Lyft and its IPO is set to raise another record in this industry.
OK, you get the gist. Lyft is riding the Uber scandal stormy waters well and we wonder if we can still call it an underdog.
Overall, Lyft is playing its cards well and pragmatically. The California DMV giving the company its OK for autonomous cars on its road is yet another step in the right direction.
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