Analysis-Driverless vehicles on limited routes bump along despite US robotaxi scrutiny

FILE PHOTO: A driverless Gatik delivery box truck operates in Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S. in this picture taken in October 2021 and obtained by Reuters on May 18, 2022. Gatik/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A quest for lower costs and efficiently moving goods and groups of people is pushing demand for driverless technology in trucks and shuttles, even as robotaxis battle renewed doubts after an October accident involving a General Motors Cruise car.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Aurora and California startup Gatik are among companies developing self-driving technology for vehicles that operate on set routes and have largely managed to avoid the public ire robotaxis have faced on busy city streets.