Autonomy’s Second Act: Nissan’s 2028 Bet, Robotaxi Reality, and Why Driverless Trucks Are Winning First

For this episode, autonomous driving is back in the spotlight—but the comeback isn’t evenly distributed. We examine autonomy’s second act and explain why the hype now looks very different from the first wave.

We begin with Nissan, once a pioneer with the Leaf and now promising a hands-off, eyes-on autonomous system by 2028. But can a bold software roadmap overcome aging core products and an Infiniti brand still searching for relevance? We unpack why advanced driver-assistance systems can’t compensate for weak product cycles—and why execution matters more than ambition.

Then we explore the legal gray zones still surrounding consumer autonomy, from liability questions to weather limitations that continue to constrain robotaxis in dense urban environments.

Finally, we follow the money to where autonomy is gaining real traction: long-haul trucking across the Sun Belt. Predictable highway routes, favorable weather, and labor economics are accelerating deployment in freight long before fully driverless passenger cars become mainstream.

Autonomy isn’t dead. It’s evolving. The real question is who benefits first—and who gets left behind.