https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/852580027178696704 This is amazing - I wonder what this will do to the economy? Will diesel prices drop, making diesel cars more attractive to the avg. US buyer? Will the average trucker even take this seriously? I hope so, but time will tell.
@RaySir There will be very few human truck drivers in 20 years, maybe 15
@rateldajer I doubt the unions would allow this to come to pass that soon - we're looking at 40+ years out.
@rateldajer I'd love to see that and the resulting boost to the economy, but I'm thinking the existing unions will throw enough money at politicians to pass laws against fully autonomous vehicles.
err autonomous large vehicles.
@RaySir You might have the unions on one side but you'd have everyone else on the other side. Reducing trucking costs, increased utilization of trucks (they drive all night), etc would lead to everything shipped by trucks (ie. everything) getting cheaper.
@RaySir We'll see. Once the technology exists, someone will just start a new trucking company without unions or drivers and they will have to compete. Not saying it's good or bad, but it seems unavoidable and people and the economy need to prepare for it.