The reluctance to use LiDAR boggles the mind. The rationale provided by Elon is also questionable (humans don't use it, so we shouldn't need to either).
The cars themselves are nothing special at best, and given the political shenanigans the CEO is pulling, it really will turn a lot of people off trusting anything associated with him.
Yes, the avoidance of LIDAR is some combination of stubbornness and cheapness. Couple that with the fact that the cameras used for vision-only are.. quite bad resolution wise. Like 10 year old iPhone bad, for the new HW4.. the HW3 & prior even worse. Does not inspire confidence.
Yes, plus the ever shifting deadlines make me think this is all being somewhat rushed, to finally deliver what they promised ages ago. I personally don't want to use tech like this if it has been rushed. Realistic deadlines with a smooth landing and stable narrative are what you need to inspire confidence.
Cyber truck build quality was also a red flag, suggesting that pthe company lacks rigor.
Comma.ai is doing fine just by using cameras. Waymo self driving cars won't drive in conditions that would hinder cameras. Thermal cameras are the next step imo.
The cars themselves are nothing special at best, and given the political shenanigans the CEO is pulling, it really will turn a lot of people off trusting anything associated with him.