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✕ In early August, the Florida Dept. of Transportation quietly extended—for the second time in two years—the expected completion date for the now $866-million Miami Signature Bridge project to 2029. The schedule is now five years past the original 2024 target that the Archer Western-de Moya Joint Venture was aiming for in 2019, when it started construction on the one-of-a-kind, six-arch bridge and surrounding interstate highway reconstruction project. The project team has found that erecting the structure is a singular construction challenge. Unlike more standard precast segmental bridges, the vast majority of the arches’ 345 precast segments are so different from each other that it was next to impossible for precaster Rizzani de Eccher to standardize their construction. “This is the most complex design-build segmental bridge, honestly, in the world,” says Riccardo Castracani, business development director with the firm. “We’ve never encountered something of this magnitude,” he adds, referencing his firm’s global experience. “As complex as it looks from afar, you can multiply that by ten” when scrutinized closely. A view of Arch 5 as Archer Western-de Moya Joint Venture nears final erection in August.Photo courtesy Florida Dept. of Transportation For the overall project, and especially the Signature Bridge, Oscar Gonzalez, senior community outreach specialist for FDOT, notes that the team makes extensive efforts to keep the community apprised of the project’s progress on current and future activities via its project website and weekly emails to roughly 4,000 subscribers, says Gonzales. Monthly stakeholder meetings, open to the public, attract representatives of local venues—such as the nearby performing arts center—and elected officials, he adds. With three of the bridge’s six arches now erected in the heart of Miami, the complex design remains in the spotlight for the builders. Architect Donald MacDonald drew inspiration from the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona, SpainPhoto courtesy Getty Images Some additional materials quantities help illustrate the bridge’s broader scope: 288,646 cu yd of cast-in-place concrete; 95.1 million lb of rebar; 10.9 million lb of post-tensioning; 1,187 square piles; more than 583,000 cu yd of earthwork; and 136 stay cables. Building More Than a Bridge In addition to the bridge, the Archer Western-de Moya Group joint venture is also reconstructing portions of Interstate 395 (left), and segments of Interstate 95 (right).Photos courtesy Florida Dept. of Transportation In addition to the bridge, the overall I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build project will reconstruct 1.4 miles of I-395, from the SR 836/I-95/I-395 Midtown Interchange to the MacArthur Causeway, expanding capacity on I-395 via three through lanes in each direction and providing separate connector ramps for traffic to and from I-95. The project will also modernize the SR 836 corridor from NW 17 Avenue to the Midtown Interchange by double-decking SR 836, providing a direct connection to the MacArthur Causeway. This structure will begin east of NW 17 Avenue, rising above and along the center of SR 836, then ending at I-395, east of the I-95 interchange, according to FDOT. The direct connection to the MacArthur Causeway will be free of local entry and exit traffic, with the existing SR 836 roadway and bridges serving as a collector-distributor system enabling drivers to enter and exit from the local roads and I-95. According to FDOT, this system will reduce existing weaving movements, enhancing safety. On the nearby I 95, from NW 8 Street to NW 29 Street, crews are replacing concrete pavement for the north- and southbound travel lanes, and adding an auxiliary lane along northbound I-95 from north of NW 17 Street to NW 29 Street to handle additional traffic from the eastbound SR 836 ramp to northbound I-95. Additionally, the City of Miami has plans to build a mile-long I-395 Underdeck and Heritage Trail, a public landscape “that weaves below the elevated I-395 roadway, creating a 33-acre urban open space and streetscapes that will reunite the urban fabric of Overtown, a historically Black neighborhood that was disconnected during highway construction in the 1960s,” according to the city. The City of Miami had secured a $60-million U.S. Dept. of Transportation grant for the estimated $82.7-million project, but the Trump administration in August rescinded that funding. While calling the loss a significant setback, Miami city officials told media that the city remains committed to building the project. Designing, Engineering ‘The Fountain’ The six-arch bridge structure, named The Fountain, will span 1,025 ft, with the tallest arch, Arch 5, rising up 325 ft, with a width of 650 ft. The roadway will be supported by twin cast-in-place box girders suspended from each arch. HDR, the engineer of record for the bridge and the I-395 work, describes the bridge project on its website as showcasing “the essence of Miami as the center for the arts, with this structure as its nexus,” adding that it “is inspired by Miami’s world status as the center of the Americas, and the fountain-like arches are symbolic of Miami as a place where people from all backgrounds come together and live as a community.” Visualization illustrates the positioning of all six arches and the west- and eastbound superstructures; rendering shows layout of segmental bridges and typical roadway segments.Bridge Rendering courtesy HDR; Bottom Image courtesy FDOT The precise vision for the centerpiece arches came from the titular principal of San Francisco-based Donald MacDonald Architects LLC, who told ENR he viewed the assignment as “a wonderful opportunity to do something … that needed to be done.” MacDonald—who credits HDR for the two parties’ “close working relationship” during the design phase—says he drew particular inspiration from two disparate elements: the logo of the former Miami-based Pan American Airways, and the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona, Spain. “I used to fly Pan Am a lot, and they had logos that had these arches coming out from South America and North America and ending up in Miami,” he says. “That started me thinking. And then I wanted to get something that was the center for a city, and I found that Magic Fountain in Barcelona [had] these huge fountains in the middle of

JCB backhoe loader production line JCB says that the new tariffs will cost it hundreds of million of pounds and is pushing for special treatment while the Construction Equipment Association, which represents machinery manufacturers, says that it is in “urgent discussions” with the Department for Business & Trade. This week US president Donald Trump declared that the previously announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium components being exported to the USA from Britain would now include all finished goods. JCB chief executive Graeme Macdonald told The Times that the new tariffs were “punitive” and unexpected. He said that the expanded Section 232 tariffs would hit all 30,000 of the diggers and construction machines that JCB exports to the US each year, including the $45m consignment of backhoe loaders just recently ordered by the US Marine Corp. “The tariffs as they now stand are hugely punitive and they catch every machine that we ship to the US,” Macdonald said. “It will make us have to reconsider how we trade with North America.” JCB has already switched gear once in response to Trump’s tariffs. In April it announced that the new factory that has under construction in San Antonion, Texas was gong to be double its original size to make even more machines in the USA.   The new $500m, one million sq ft plant is due to start production of Loadall telehandlers next year. Back in April Macdonald said: “In the short term, the imposition of tariffs will have a significant impact on our business. However, in the medium term, our planned factory in San Antonio will help to mitigate the impact. We are thankful that the tariff is only 10% and we can only hope that the UK government will conclude negotiations on a trade deal in the coming days and weeks.” Now that the tariff rate is 25% rather than 10%, he is altogether less phlegmatic. Viki Bell, chief executive of the Construction Equipment Association, said: “The USA is one of the UK sector’s most important export markets, worth over £1.5bn in 2023. By the first half of 2025, shipments were already down by around 40% in value compared with the same period in 2024. With these new tariffs now applying from mid-August, there is a clear risk of further sharp declines if workable solutions are not found.  “The CEA is already in urgent discussions with the Department for Business & Trade and working closely with Make UK and other partners to ensure government hears a clear and united message from industry. We are pressing for clarity on the UK position, for practical compliance routes that reflect the realities of complex machinery, and for exemptions where appropriate. Our immediate focus is to protect UK manufacturers by minimising disruption and additional costs.” Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk Read More

Some of Murphy’s new Cats Murphy has spent £6.5m with Cat dealer Finning UK & Ireland on 33 excavators, ranging from the 13-tonne Cat 313 GC to the 35-tonne 336, alongside a Cat D6 XE dozer, the first of its kind in the Murphy fleet. Phillip Collier, asset & billing manager at Murphy, said: “Over the past two years, we have worked closely with Finning on several large-scale infrastructure projects and benefited from their support with fleet planning and technical expertise. “This is our first investment in Cat machines since 2017. It was driven by wanting to improve operational efficiency and sustainability across the fleet. The D6 XE is expected to reduce fuel costs by around £110 per day, as it uses on average 23% less fuel than other machines of its type, with 35% better fuel efficiency on average. As a result, it will support our ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency and sustainability across the fleet.” Ryan Trafford, territory account manager at Finning, said: “We recommended the Cat 313 GC excavator for Murphy as it uses smart mode to match engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions. Additionally, the auxiliary hydraulic options give versatility to use a wide range of Cat attachments. “As Murphy wanted to prioritise reducing the environmental impact of its fleet, we also recommended the Cat 336 excavator. This machine is designed to comply with the latest global emissions regulations and similarly to the Cat 313 GC, is highly fuel efficient thanks to its C13 engine and electric-hydraulic system. “This significant investment will continue to enhance operations, cut costs and maximise sustainability for Murphy for years to come, and is an indication of what happens when machine quality and long-term support come together.” Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk Read More

Reds10 broke ground at RAF Cosford last month [Crown Copyright] Nearly 1,800 new bedspaces are being built for military personnel under the Ministry of Defence’s new approach to building single living accommodation (SLA). The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has put together an alliance of contractors – ‘the programmatic approach framework alliance’ – that will use a common design for new MoD buildings. [See previous report here.] The projects that have been allocated to alliance members so far are: Bowmer & Kirkland: Infantry Training Centre, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire (144 bedspaces) Combermere Barracks, Berkshire (74 bedspaces) RM Condor, Angus (348 bedspaces) RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset (123 bedspaces) Reds10: Baker Barracks, Hampshire (315 bedspaces) RAF Cosford, Shropshire (50 bedspaces) Kier Metek: RM Bickleigh, Devon (166 bedspaces) Laing O’Rourke: RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire (228 bedspaces) Albermarle Barracks, Northumberland (266 bedspaces) RAF Honington, Suffolk (80 bedspaces) The companies, which also include Kier McAvoy, form the SLA Alliance, which will run initially for six years. The programmatic approach is expected to see 16,000 new bedspaces built by 2034 as part of a wider MoD plan to build or refurbish 40,000 SLA bedspaces over 10 years. These initial sites have been identified as the first priorities to replace aging and poor-quality existing SLA, but during the course of the 10-year programme, other sites will benefit from new or refurbished accommodation, the MoD says.  The contractors are expected to work collaboratively, sharing best practice for the benefit of the companies, the MOD and service personnel. While the SLA design catalogue allows for different construction methods depending on what is most suitable for each site, the SLA programmatic approach focuses on modern methods of construction (MMC) to reduce the time spent on site. DIO programme director Warren Webster said: “The programmatic approach is already proving successful, with a number of projects underway and others allocated.  Our new Alliance is demonstrating excellent collaborative behaviours and focuses on continued improvement. Beyond that, we have plans for many more new SLA blocks at sites across the country, benefitting thousands of our service personnel for years to come.” Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk Read More

Nationwide Platforms has entered into a multi-year partnership with WS Specialist Logistics to oversee its haulage operations in north of England and Scotland. Effective from October 2025, the agreement will see Nationwide Platforms’ existing HGV fleet and drivers from nine depots across the two regions transfer to WS Specialist Logistics, a business owned by William Stobart and his son Edward Stobart of the famous trucking family. These vehicles will be dedicated solely to Nationwide Platforms’ operations, operating under dual branding and continuing to run from existing Nationwide Platforms locations to smooth the transition. Nationwide Platforms’ haulage operation in the remaining regions will continue to be managed internally, as they currently are. As part of the partnership with WS, Nationwide Platforms will continue to oversee the full end-to-end order management process internally. WS Specialist Logistics, headquartered in Runcorn, will provide dedicated fleet management and driver support, working with Nationwide Platforms to maintain safety and reliability standards. Dan Smith, UK chief operating officer for Nationwide Platforms, explained: “This new partnership with WS Specialist Logistics is a logical step for Nationwide Platforms. It allows us to invest more in our core business and prioritise customer needs as we enter a period of anticipated growth. WS Specialist Logistics’ experience, infrastructure and track record in our sector make them an ideal logistics partner for this next phase of our development.” WS Specialist Group chief executive Nigel McMullan added: “Our team is excited to bring our expertise in specialist haulage to support Nationwide Platforms‘ operations in the north and Scotland. We look forward to building a successful long-term relationship, delivering great service and supporting their future growth.” Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk Read More

CGI of the new primary school being built in Glyn-coch Designed by architect Stride Treglown, the new school will be built to Passivhaus standards as well as be net zero in operation, with environmental standards set to exceed current Welsh government carbon reduction targets. Willmott Dixon was appointed via the SEWSCAP framework. When completed by autumn 2026, the new building will welcome pupils from Cefn Primary and Craig yr Hesg Primary as a new English language primary school serving the Glyn-coch area. The facility will include a two-storey replacement school building on the current Craig yr Hesg Primary School site and adjoining land, along with two multi use games areas, a grass sports pitch, playgrounds and car park. The development will also feature three rooms set aside for community use and a Welsh language Meithrin (playgroup/nursery). This is the latest Passivhaus project for Willmott Dixon. It recently built 12 new one-bedroom apartments and six houses to Passivhaus standards in nearby Caerphilly and also completed facilities for Spelthorne Borough Council and Exeter University targeting the same standard. It is on site in Bridgend building a new net zero in operation town centre campus for Bridgend College and was behind the first two schools in Leicestershire County Council’s roll-out programme of net-zero schools. Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk Read More

Warnings about Apple’s new iPhone 12 range are beginning to snowball. Following concerns about display irregularities and widespread signal drops, owners are now reporting serious battery problems.  Significant problems with battery drain are being reported with Apple’s iPhone 12 range Apple ForbesApple Reveals New AirPods Design In New iOS 14.3 ReleaseBy Gordon Kelly | Paid Program Picked up by AppleInsider, thousands of users are speaking out about dramatic battery drain when their new iPhones are in standby. While the actual discharge rate varies (from 4-15% per hour), based on comments across Apple Support Communities, Reddit and Twitter, the issue can affect all iPhone 12 models and there is currently no fix.  “I’m an engineer working in the mobile telecom industry and the discharge rate currently seen on my iPhone 12 is a faulty curve,” states one affected user who notes he has collaborated with Apple on bug reports in the past. Illustrating his point in two graphs (see below), the engineer explains: “Please check both curves, on the top you can see a drain, regardless of any handset usage during day OR night AND despite low-power mode. Any engineer can tell you this is abnormal behaviour. On the bottom you will see a ‘normal’ discharge curve, where you can clearly see it’s not a straight line down the hill but is depending on usage etc.” Battery drain in standby for iPhone 12 Pro (top) versus iPhone 11 Pro (bottom) Odiebla Users are reporting that battery drain can be so high that an iPhone 12 Pro can lose 50% charge overnight while an iPhone 12 Mini can discharge completely. More commonly, affected users see a 20-30% drop overnight.  So far attempts to isolate the problem have come up short, with users disabling mobile data, GPS, WiFi, push email and even factory resetting their phones without success. Interestingly, one user reports that simply having a SIM installed causes his iPhone 12 Pro battery to drop dramatically and removing it stopped the drain.  This suggests a potential problem with the modem, but the sample size is too small to know for sure. It is also unknown at this stage whether this is a problem which can be fixed via a software update or whether faulty iPhones need to be returned. While thousands of users have confirmed they are suffering from the issue, it also remains to be seen how widespread this is when iPhone 12 models have already sold in the millions. Either way, however, it’s clearly a significant problem.  At the time of publishing, Apple has not responded to my request for comment. I will update this post if/when that changes.  As it stands, there’s no denying that the iPhone 12 range is hugely impressive and performance in particular is ballistic. That said, there are clearly teething problems out the gate, so if you are rushing to upgrade to an iPhone 12, it might be a smart move to hold off for now and give Apple time to smooth things out.  ___ Follow Gordon on Facebook More On Forbes Apple Insider Reveals Major iPhone 13 Display Upgrade Apple Internal Document Reveals iPhone 12 Display Problems Read More

Topline Conservatives have raged against restaurant chain Cracker Barrel on social media after the brand unveiled a new text-only logo that drops the man and the barrel, with some accusing the company of going “woke” and abandoning its country roots. Cracker Barrel is replacing a logo that included a man and a barrel with a text-only version. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) Getty Images Key Facts Cracker Barrel announced its brand redesign on Monday, stating in a press release the new logo is “rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all,” referring to Cracker Barrel’s original text-only logo in 1969. The new logo arrives about a year after the company embarked on a brand refresh, through which it has reportedly redesigned dozens of restaurants to give them a brighter and more modern feel to attempt to attract new customers. But some conservative social media users had strong reactions to the new logo, including Donald Trump Jr., who posted on X Wednesday night: “WTF is wrong with @CrackerBarrel??!” Trump made his post in response to another user who blamed Cracker Barrel’s CEO Julie Felss Masino, stating she “scrapped a beloved American aesthetic and replaced it with sterile, soulless branding” while also criticizing the company for its diversity, equity and inclusion commitments. Cracker Barrel shares fell more than 11% on Thursday as of 10 a.m. EDT. Cracker Barrel defended the new logo in a statement to Forbes as a “call-back to the original,” adding the “heart and soul of Cracker Barrel haven’t changed” and that Uncle Herschel, the man on the previous logo, “remains front and center in our restaurants and on our menu.” Cracker Barrel’s new logo. Cracker Barrel Chief Critics Many popular right-wing X accounts united against Cracker Barrel, including End Wokeness, an account with nearly 4 million followers that frequently torches brands for going “woke.” “Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino should face charges for this crime against humanity,” End Wokeness posted Wednesday night, garnering 50,000 likes. Country singer John Rich, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, said on X Wednesday night: “Will you go to Cracker Barrel now that it’s going woke? This could be a ‘Bud Light’ moment in the making…” referencing the 2023 conservative-led boycott against beer company Bud Light after it briefly collaborated with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Benny Johnson, a conservative political commentator who has 5.5 million subscribers on YouTube, posted a video Wednesday night alleging Cracker Barrel has gone “woke,” slamming Masino as an “insufferable left-wing elitist” and calling the revamp the “destruction of a great American brand.” Why Is Cracker Barrel Revamping Its Look? Cracker Barrel announced plans for a brand refresh last year in response to some diners being slow to return to the restaurant after the Covid-19 pandemic. The Wall Street Journal reported the restaurant had struggled to regain its 65-plus diners, among its most loyal customers, and hoped to also attract a younger crowd. Masino, who stepped in as CEO in August 2023, said in a call with investors in May 2024 the brand is “just not as relevant as we once were.” Masino said the chain would roll out new menu items and remodel restaurants to feature a “different color palette, updating lighting, offering more comfortable seating and simplifying decor and fixtures.” The Journal reported in May Cracker Barrel had remodeled four restaurants, with plans to remodel an additional 25 to 30 of its 660 locations by the end of this summer. Masino claimed in an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday she has received positive feedback on the remodelings from customers and store managers. In the announcement of its new logo Monday, Cracker Barrel announced new fall menu options and a collaboration with country singer Jordan Davis, who will host an event in New York City on Thursday. “Our story hasn’t changed. Our values haven’t changed,” Cracker Barrel’s chief marketing officer Sarah Moore said, adding the company is “honoring our legacy while bringing fresh energy, thoughtful craftsmanship and heartfelt hospitality to our guests this fall.” Key Background This isn’t the first time Cracker Barrel has faced right-wing outrage. In 2023, the restaurant chain faced backlash during Pride Month after it made posts on social media celebrating its LGBTQ customers. The Texas Family Project, a conservative organization, said in a post on X: “We take no pleasure in reporting that @CrackerBarrel has fallen,” which became a widely memed phrase. The company had openly supported Pride Month for several years, and still maintains a commitment to LGBTQ customers on its website, though the company faced controversy in the 1990s for urging locations in a company memo to not hire people “whose sexual preference fails to demonstrate normal heterosexual values.” Further Reading Cracker Barrel CEO announces ‘All the More’ campaign with Jordan Davis, hints at menu innovation (ABC News) Read More

Topline Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down in February, the retailer announced Wednesday, as its latest earnings show a drop in sales for the third consecutive quarter amid backlash over its reversal of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down from the role in February. Getty Images Key Facts In a press release, the company said Cornell will step down as CEO and “transition to the role of executive chair of the Board of Directors” starting February 1, 2026. The retailer said its Board of Directors unanimously picked COO Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year veteran at Target, as Cornell’s successor. The announcement was made alongside Target’s Q2 2025 earnings release, where the company reported a 0.9% drop in sales compared to the same three-month period last year. After the announcement and earnings report, the company’s shares slid more than 10.5% to $94.2 in premarket trading Wednesday. What Did The Company Say In Its Earnings Release? The company reported net sales of $25.2 billion for the three month period ending on August 2, 2025. Despite reporting a drop compared to Q2 2024, the company managed to beat Wall Street’s earnings and sales expectations and said it outlook for the year remains unchanged. The company claimed its “expense management and efficiency gains,” helped offset “continued tariff-related and other cost pressures.” The company also reaffirmed its earlier stance that price increases due to tariffs would only be undertaken as a last resort. Big Number 23.20%. That is how much Target’s shares have fallen since the start of the year, excluding Wednesday’s premarket slide. In comparison, shares of rivals Walmart and Costco are up 12.54% and 7.81% since the start of 2025. Key Background Earlier this year, Target announced it was rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining several other companies which have scaled back such efforts amid pressure from the Trump administration and several conservative groups. However, this rollback triggered a backlash and a boycott against Target and criticism from civil rights activists. The boycott appears to have had an impact, as RetailBrew reported that foot traffic at Target was down 3.1% in Q2 2025. While announcing the previous quarter’s earnings report in May, Cornell acknowledged the backlash to company’s DEI rollback was one of the factors behind a revenue decline. Further Reading Target names insider Fiddelke as CEO to guide turnaround (Reuters) Target retreated on DEI. Then came the backlash (CNN) Read More

Elon Musk arrives at Donald Trump’s inauguration as President in January. Getty Images A federal judge in San Francisco just greenlit a class action lawsuit by Tesla owners to sue the carmaker for exaggerated claims by CEO Elon Musk and the company about the self-driving capability of its electric vehicles that stretch all the way back to 2016. It’s the latest blow to plans by the world’s richest person to reposition Tesla as a leader in artificial intelligence and autonomous driving amid a dramatic slowdown in its EV sales. Nine years ago, Elon Musk told reporters that Tesla was taking a bold leap into the future by equipping its electric lineup with all the tech it would ever need to one day operate as truly autonomous vehicles. “The full autonomy hardware suite will be standard on all vehicles Tesla makes from here on out,” Musk said. When fully utilized at some later date, as the AI-enabled software was refined, an array of digital cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar would give Teslas full “Level 5” autonomy – a designation indicating a robotic ability to drive under all conditions. It wasn’t true then and still isn’t. From hyperloops to solar roofs to trillion-dollar savings from federal budget cuts by DOGE, Musk has developed a reputation for excessive boasts and telling outright whoppers. For years, that habit hasn’t been a big problem for his companies, his image or wealth, but it’s shaping up to be one for Tesla, already stung by a 13% drop in its global EV sales in the first half of 2025. For the latest in cleantech and sustainability news, sign up here for our Current Climate newsletter. The class-action suit comes on the heels of a separate federal case in Miami this month in which a jury determined that Tesla bore some responsibility for a fatal 2019 crash that occurred while its Autopilot feature was engaged, and ordered the company to pay $243 million in damages. Meanwhile, the company could temporarily lose its ability to sell cars in California, its top U.S. market, if a judge in a case brought by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles determines it misled consumers by overstating the self-driving ability of its vehicles. “The overarching thing is none of this is new. This has all been a long time coming,” said Phil Koopman, an autonomous vehicle tech researcher and professor emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University. “We’re sort of seeing the pieces fall into place now, but it’s not out of the blue by any stretch.” Neither Musk nor Tesla responded to a request for comment. “Right now, there are real robotaxis carrying real people on real roads. None of them is a Tesla.” The legal setbacks aren’t a huge financial problem, at least so far, but a reputational one as they undercut Musk’s continued rhetoric about Tesla being a leader in autonomous driving, despite hard evidence to support it. Alphabet’s Waymo, which operates commercial robotaxis in five major U.S. cities and is testing in 10 more, has solidified its position as the dominant player in that space. Musk said on Tesla’s results call that the company will ultimately overtake Waymo because its system is much cheaper, though a robotaxi pilot Tesla launched in Austin in June, with human safety drivers in the front seat, suggests it has a long way to go to catch up. “Right now, there are real robotaxis carrying real people on real roads,” said Bryant Walker Smith, an AV researcher and professor at the University of South Carolina. In July, Smith served as an expert witness for the California DMV in its case against Tesla. “None of them is a Tesla.” Prior to the start of its test program in Austin, where Tesla is based, the company’s engineers had told regulators that, despite the names Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, its system is technically classified as Level 2 autonomy, providing driver assistance but requiring humans at the wheel to be ready to take over at any time. In its current robotaxi pilot, in addition to a safety tech sitting in the front of the vehicle, Tesla is also relying on remote operators to monitor its fleet and provide driving assistance when problems arise–like almost running into an oncoming train. Smith, who recently published a study comparing the performance of robotaxis operated by Waymo in the U.S. to those of tech giant Baidu in China, noted that the persistence of Musk’s unrealized self-driving targets is somewhat unique. “There were lots of overly optimistic claims in the early 2010s,” he said. “But other companies have either delivered on or tempered their claims.” A man steps out of a Tesla Robotaxi in Austin on June 27. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images In 2019, at Tesla’s “Autonomy Day,” Musk famously boasted the company would have a million robotaxis on the road by 2020. That didn’t happen, nor did his claim at the same event that Teslas with FSD would become more valuable over time, generating as much as $30,000 in extra income a year for owners who put their cars in a Tesla-run robotaxi network. In its latest monthly pricing reports, the car-buying site iSeeCars notes that used Teslas have lost the most value as a brand this year, falling 5.3% in July. Musk also touted the Dojo supercomputer chip at the 2019 autonomous tech briefing that he said would give Tesla a big advantage over competitors for its processing power. This month Musk said the company has abandoned that effort. Puffery In court cases, attorneys for Tesla have argued that comments by Musk are “puffery,” boastful exaggerations that aren’t meant to be taken literally. Yet that’s not something typically ever seen with auto companies, given that improper concern for customer safety can result in massively expensive liability lawsuits and legal repercussions. Tesla has largely avoided both until recently, despite the fact that an estimated 59 fatalities have been linked to the use of Autopilot and FSD, according to data compiled on Tesladeaths.com.