The news: Robotaxi deployments are moving from pilots to broader rollouts as companies try to cash in on advancements in autonomous driving.

• Lyft began testing an autonomous robotaxi service in Atlanta last week, partnering with May Mobility. The minivans it’s using include a human operator who can take control if needed.
• Amazon’s Zoox began a robotaxi service in Las Vegas, offering rides in its custom-built vehicles that have no steering wheels or pedals.
• Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet, began tests of its robotaxis in Seattle and Denver this month with humans on hand to supervise. It already operates self-driving cars in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta.

Market revs up: These developments show commercialization and competition are heating up as companies vie with the likes of Uber and Tesla. The robotaxi market is expected to soar to $188.91 billion by 2034 from $4.43 billion this year, according to Precedence Research.

What’s ahead: The path isn’t without obstacles. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, said last week he plans to introduce legislation to ban fully autonomous vehicles in the US, calling them unsafe and a threat to professions that employ drivers. He insists that only people should drive cars and trucks.

Still, for companies investing in robotaxis, the opportunity extends beyond passenger rides. These fleets could eventually serve as a backbone for cost-saving delivery services, expanding the commercial applications of the technology. With Uber and DoorDash testing delivery robots, robotaxis could be the next move in on-demand logistics, moving beyond transporting passengers to carrying packages, meals, and groceries.

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