The Cybercab Has Landed In Australia — Transport Unions Gear Up To Fight
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The Cybercab is doing a lap of Australia’s big cities. The Transport Workers Union has joined forces with Uber to fight autonomous vehicles. I am sure that the Cybercab will throw petrol on the blaze.
On our last adventure day, Majella and I dropped in at the Mt Gravatt (Brisbane) Tesla showroom and had a good look at the Cybercab. It wasn’t as crowded as I expected, but the manager assured me that there has been a constant steam of curious rubberneckers all week. Tesla is touring Australia with the Cybercab, one week in each major population centre. A similar approach to what they took with the Cybertruck some years back. The Cybertruck is still not for sale two years later, so it’s anybody’s guess if and when the Cybercab will be seen on Australia’s roads.
The futuristic car was fenced off — we could look, but not touch. Look and admire, we did. I’ll leave you to check out 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 for his thoughts. He pointed out that when Uber came to Australia, the Transport Workers Union (on behalf of taxi drivers) bitterly 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 thinks Tesla’s robotaxi network will be in operation within 12 months, and his Model Y will be part of that. He will still be able to earn an income.
Another of our frequent coffee lovers shared his experience in Florida with a Model Y robotaxi. His great insight — the staggering difference in cost of using Robotaxi vs Waymo. He did the same ride with both platforms and found Robotaxi significantly cheaper. I expect Robotaxi to be even cheaper than Uber or a taxi. Have any of our readers done this test, and would they be willing to share data?
Mainstream media is discussing the issues — particularly around government regulation. Have a listen to the ABC podcast here. They expect the hurdle of 700 regulations to be cleared within the next 18 months. Chris Minns, premier of Sydney, says he would ride in one and calls it “a good thing for Sydney.” This is despite some safety concerns. My worry would be the state of some Australian roads. I expect a cautious start. It may be that Waymo paves the way for Tesla. It will be an interesting transition to watch.
Let’s get back 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 the TWU were fierce adversaries in the gig economy. However, the looming threat of Alphabet’s Waymo—which operates a purely driverless commercial model — has pushed both entities to lobby Australian state and federal lawmakers for stricter regulatory rollouts.”
The TWU has warned the prime minister of an election backlash, with 7 out 10 union members opposing driverless vehicles. Of course they are, robots don’t pay union dues. And I don’t think these people have seen the Cybercab yet! The TWU has in excess of 60,000 members.
Uber is lobbying for a hybrid network approach, where self-driving platforms operate a blend of autonomous vehicles and human drivers rather than a pure robotaxi fleet. Uber hopes to slow down autonomous rivals and remain the dominant middleman. The TWU is leveraging public anxiety and arguing for a “just transition,” which would include “mandatory human safety operators, retraining programs, and financial compensation/redundancies for human transport workers displaced by AI.”
Australian logistics company Transurban, based in Melbourne, has been pressured by the Union into suspending scheduled autonomous commercial truck trials due to a reported lack of workforce consultation and safety concerns. We will be watching with interest to see how it all plays out.
Watching with me will be Nathan Meritt, another Uber driver with a Tesla Model Y. I asked for his thoughts on the transition: “That’s great! I would still say that speaking to customers it’s still a 50/50 whether they would use autonomous vehicles or pay extra for human driver.”
For those that have driven with Full Self Driving Supervised, I’m sure they will be aware of what the vehicle is able to do. With further road data, it would be no surprise if Cybercab was legally allowed to be utilized on our roads here in Brisbane. I would estimate maybe just before the Olympics (2032) we will get the regulatory approval.
Nathan characterises the union as “loss leaders.”
The progression may well be robotaxis with human safety drivers to establish a reputation, then a blend of Cybercabs and Model Ys. I think robotaxis are inevitable, not so sure about Cybercab due to production and demand. Some of our family and friends have criticised the Cybercab for only having room for two passengers. I suggested they will be able to use Robert’s or Nathan’s Model Y robotaxis.
My thoughts on the shape of the Cybercab is that it is indeed the future looking like the future. If there are lots of these on the road, perhaps the Cybertruck will not look out of place, and Tesla might actually sell some.
Last word goes to my 12 year old granddaughter. A few years ago, we asked her what sort of car she would want when she was old enough to drive, expecting her to say a Tesla. She replied that she wouldn’t have a car, she would just call an Uber on her phone. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings! Looking at pictures of the Cybercab, she was excited about the fact there was no steering wheel and no foot pedals. Her dream future is becoming clearer. Wait till I show her the Roadster!
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