Everyone in this self-driving car would probably need a barf bag after this roundabout orbit
An Instagram video showed a white self-driving car spinning round and round in a parking lot. The SUV, a Waymo One autonomous vehicle, couldn’t seem to shake the appeal of a small sandy planter with a few wind-swept palm trees. It continuously orbited the roundabout until the short video ended.
The Waymo One fleet consists of fully-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs. As you might imagine, an autonomous Jaguar I-PACE isn’t a cheap affair. You won’t likely get a straight answer from Waymo regarding exactly how much it costs to purchase, prep, and field one of these smart taxis. However, popular estimates put each autonomous vehicle at between $100,000 and $200,000.
Mind you, the video is clearly sped up. If you doubt that, part of a blue Dodge Journey enters the frame as it reverses out of a parking spot. Frankly, the Waymo SUV and the Journey look like part of a dated British comedy. You only need to pipe in the silly music to complete the look.
According to Neo Niche, there weren’t any passengers on board as the self-driving car performed its continuous trek around a small parking lot roundabout. Still, the lack of riders didn’t keep commenters from rejecting the autonomous taxi cab. One vocal critic responded with “Another reason I wouldn’t bother getting into this trap.” Another viewer commented, “This happens to bugs sometimes.”
