Smart Driving Cars Podcast

Smart Driving Cars episode 414- new laws for driverless mobility?

Driverless mobility needs the right laws for the rightreasons. That’s the focus of the latestMobility Industry Insights. Publisher,author and consultant Michael Sena joins Princeton’s Alain Kornhauser andco-host Fred Fishkin for episode 414 of Smart Driving Cars. Plus, Alain takes part in the fifth annualAutonomous Vehicle Conference in Boca Raton. And so does Assistant Transportation Secretary for Research and Technology Seval Oz. We bring you herremarks from the conference and some analysis. Tune in and subnscribe!

Jun 01, 2026 60 min 44 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 413- SpaceX, Waymo, NVIDIA, May Mobility & more

SpaceX files for an IPO, Waymo pauses for flooding, Seval Oz to keynote an AV Conference plus NVIDIA, Uber, May Mobility and more. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 413 of Smart Driving Cars!

May 22, 2026 45 min 14 annotations

Smart Driving Cars-episode 412- a look at the Beijing Auto Show & more

What is it like at the 2026 Auto Show in Beijing? On episode 412 of Smart Driving Cars, we get a look at the show floor, courtesy of CCNY Professor Camille Kamga, Director of the University Transportation Research Center. EVs, automation and more! Plus robotaxis, long haul trucking, Tesla, Waymo and more. Tune in and subscribe.

Apr 30, 2026 26 min 50 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 411: Aurora, LeCun, Uber, AI & more

It's episode 411 of Smart Driving Cars with Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin. In this edition, Aurora's Chris Urmson fields questions at the MIT Mobility Forum, AMI's Yann LeCun on campus in Princeton, Uber commits 10 billion to robotaxis, Axios reports mobility's new big three and more. Join Alain and Fred for the latest and subscribe!

Apr 18, 2026 36 min 39 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 410- MIT Karl Iagnemma Forum, Artemis II, Waymo, Subaru, Tesla & more

An MIT interview on the Full Arc of Autonomy, Artemis II, progress at Waymo, Subaru Outback goes hands free and a warm reception for the Tesla Semi. All that and more on episode 410 of Smart Driving Cars with Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin. Tune in and subscribe!

Apr 05, 2026 35 min 35 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 409- National AV Safety Forum and what comes next

With all of the major players on hand, the Department of Transporation held a National AV Safety Forum in D.C.. And Princeton's Alain Kornhauser says the focus on empowering AV innovators is opening doors. Join Alain and co-host Fred Fishkin for that plus an AARP podcast on mobility featuring ITN America's Katherine Freund, reports on impact of AVs on vehicle miles traveled and the hidden costs of Waymo robotaxis on SF streets. And concerns about what the U.S.-Israeli reported disruptions of traffic signals and such in Iran may mean. Tune in and subscribe!

Mar 15, 2026 47 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 408- AV Regs, Waymo and More

More responses arrive to NHTSA's request for comments on Global AV Regulation. Waymo validation of business model. Why are American passenger trains slow and the future of long haul. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 408 of Smart Driving Cars and remember to subscribe! And catch us on The Transportation Channel.

Mar 03, 2026 38 min 10 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 407- New Automated Driving Regs

Princeton's Alain Kornhauser is responding to NHTSA request for comment on proposed UN Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems. Consultant and author Michael Sena joins Alain and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 407 of Smart Driving Cars. What's missing in the proposal? Plus AI, Cybercab production and more.Tune in and subscribe.

Feb 21, 2026 70 min 8 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 406- driverless safety hearing in DC

Tesla, Waymo and safety experts appear before a Senate committee on self driving safety. And Princeton's Alain Kornhauser is impressed. Plus an AOL-Insider piece by Bryant Walker Smith and Sven Beiker on riding robotaxis in China. And SpaceX aims for AI data centers in space. Join Alain and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 406 of Smart Driving Cars!

Feb 05, 2026 32 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 405: Addressing the Opposition to Driverless Riding & more

When it comes to the opposition to driverless riding, there are varied arguments. But on episode 405 of Smart Driving Cars, guest Michael Sena contends the ability to provide mobility that is more affordable is key. Sena joins Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for that plus some promising developments at this week's annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board in Washington D.C.. Tune in and subscribe!

Jan 15, 2026 65 min 2 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 404 with special guests from ITN America

ITN America has been providing mobility to older adults who need rides for thirty years. How? Founder and CEO Katherine Freund and volunteer Marian Sturtevant join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for that plus the latest on Tesla, Waymo, Handy Rides and more.

Dec 18, 2025 42 min 4 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 403

A ride sharing mobility service in Florence, Italy, the continued expansion of Waymo and a neurosurgeon says self driving cars save lives. On episode 403 of Smart Driving Cars, Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin are joined by University of Florence professor and researcher Adriano Alessandrini. Tune in and subscribe!

Dec 02, 2025 55 min 2 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 402 with guest Alex Roy

0:00 Open and welcome to Alex Roy2:40 Alex Roy presentation on the Past, Present & Futureof Self Driving4:54 Alex presents The True History of Self Driving from DaVinci to today10:47 Could in vehicle humanoid robots be helpful19:50 from DARPA on31:30 In 2025 Waymo scales operations and Tesla robotaxislaunch34:00 Roy’s Razor -the test of what really is self-driving40:30 SAE Levels should be done away with44:55 A focus onaffordability?48:20 Tesla owners could be paid for use of vehicle computepower for AI50:25 Elon Musk issaying drivers using FSD may soon be able to text and drive54:55 Congratulations on ITN America’s 30 years of providingrides

Nov 13, 2025 56 min 23 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 399: Waymo crashes examined by Understanding AI's Kai Williams

An examination of Waymo's crash reports, Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas talks about AI, Robotaxis as public transit, a Tesla may have saved a life and more. From Understanding AI, writer Kai Williams joins Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 399 of Smart Driving Cars. Tune in, subscribe and also find us on The Transportation Channel.

Sep 20, 2025 60 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 398-Musk changes Tesla narrative

Elon Musk changes Tesla narrative. And it isn't a first in the automotive world according to Michael Sena. The consultant and co-author of The Real Case for Driverless Mobility joins Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 398 of Smart Driving Cars. Plus ..Tesla's latest master plan, Zoox in Las Vegas, the humans vs. self driving safety debate and more. Tune in and subscribe.

Sep 14, 2025 62 min 2 annotations

Smart Driving Cars episode 397-Space X, Transportation governance, Waymo, Tesla and more

SpaceX success with Starship Flight Ten! ASU's Dr. Steven Polzin reports that As Travel Changes so Must Transportation Governance. Plus the latest developments on Waymo, Tesla and more. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 397 of Smart Driving Cars!

Aug 28, 2025 34 min 1 annotation

Smart Driving Cars episode 396- Revel folds Model Y ride Hailing, Tesla Robotaxis, Waymo & more

Revel shuts down Model Y ride hailing service in NYC, while Tesla and Waymo aim to start services in the city. A move for Adam Jonas at Morgan Stanley, GM wants to sell self driving cars to consumers and more! Tune into episode 396 of Smart Driving Cars with Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin.

Aug 14, 2025 39 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 395-Trains, Teslas and Robotaxis

With a big rail merger in the headlines, Alain talks trains. Plus...AI policy vision in Washington, Waymo's woes in Boston, the Model Y is a top safety pick again and the latest on Lyft, Uber and more. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 395 of Smart Driving Cars.

Jul 30, 2025 27 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 394 The Tesla-Waymo robotaxi battle and more

The battle between Waymo and Tesla in the robotaxi arena as both plan expanded service areas. Autonomous heavy machinery. Tesla's Dojo 2 Supercomputer. Plus Uber, May Mobility, VW and more on Smart Driving Cars episode 394 with Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin. Tune in and subscribe.

Jul 18, 2025 34 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 393- Is Elon Musk the Henry Ford of our day?

Is Elon Musk the Henry Ford of our day? In which ways? Some surprises, perhaps, in a Mobility Musings essay from Michael Sena who joins Alain and Fred for episode 393 of Smart Driving Cars. Plus- the Tesla robotaxi rollout and the coverage of it, Waymo, VW, driverless systems in China, Malcolm Gladwell and more.

Jul 07, 2025 43 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 392-Tesla, Ford, Waymo and more

What is the significance of a Tesla Model Y delivering itself to a consumer? What happened when Reuters and Business Insider reached out to Princeton's Alain Kornhauser for comment on Tesla's robotaxi launch issues in Austin? Join Alain and co-host Fred Fishkin for that plus Ford, Waymo and more on episode 392 of Smart Driving Cars. Tune in and subscribe!

Jul 01, 2025 32 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 391- Robotaxis from VW-Waymo-Tesla

VW ID.Buzz Robotaxis coming? Waymo expands. Tesla robotaxis launching. All that and more on epsidoe 391 of Smart Driving Cars. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin and subscribe!

Jun 20, 2025 41 min

Smart Driving Cars episode 390-Gov't. roles-Musk-Waymo-Uber & more

What should governments be doing for robotic vehicles? What did they do for human driven vehicles? Mobility Industry Insights publisher Michael Sena joins Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin to explore that plus the latest on Elon Musk as robotaxis are readied, Waymo, Uber, TRB and more. Tune in and subscribe.

Jun 06, 2025 70 min

Smart Driving Cars-episode 389-Tesla, Aurora, Waymo and more

We're back with episode 389 of Smart Driving Cars as Alain Kornhauser wraps up his 53rd year teaching at Princeton University. Today, Alain and co-host Fred Fishkin look at the coming launch of Tesla's robotaxis, Musks departurre from Washington and the company's safety report. Plus Aurora bring back human drivers, a battle over autonomous farm equipment in California, Waymo continues to grow and more. Plus...a tip of the cap to some great senior thesis work by Alain's students. Tune in and subscribe

May 29, 2025 34 min

Smart Driving Cars (episode 388): Aurora, Waymo, NHTSA & more

Commercial driverless trucks are on the road in Texas. A big accomplishment for Aurora! Plus.. a DOT research grant gets terminated, Waymo's safety study and partnership with Toyota and NHTSA amends ADAS reporting rules. Join Princeton's Alain Kornhauser and co-host Fred Fishkin for episode 388 of Smart Driving Cars.

May 05, 2025 23 min