*By Justin Chermol*
Uber is laying off more than 100 test drivers in its autonomous car division in Pittsburgh and San Francisco, replacing them with 55 highly-trained drivers known as "mission specialists".
It's an attempt by the ride-hailing company to prove it's serious about safety in its self-driving division after a fatal crash in Tempe, Ariz., last March.
But whether real progress has been made is another story.
"There's the public messaging and there is what is actually happening," said Mark Rechtin, Executive Editor at Motor Trend. "Uber is saying all the right things publicly, but the accident in Arizona has really set them back."
Uber initially suspended all testing of its autonomous driving program after a pedestrian was struck and killed on March 18, but restarted some tests earlier this month.
Former self-driving car operators are eligible to apply for the new roles, which must operate cars on both public roads and private tracks and are expected to give technical feedback to developers.
Rechtin is optimistic about the effort, but still raised concerns.
"We need to make sure whatever Uber does is something that is functional."
Be Well: Products to Keep You Fresh During Sweltering Summer Heat
Amazon could be the largest retailer in 2024, according to a report while FTX is suing former disgraced CEO Sam Bankman-Fried to retrieve funds. And the Directors Guild of America members voted in favor of a new contract.
Stocks are drifting Monday in their first trading since a big rally for Wall Street hit its first roadblock in six weeks.
The final week of trading in June kicked off as stocks were mixed following the rebellion in Russia.
The Week's Top Stories is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street.
Another drop for stocks on Friday has Wall Street on track to close out its first losing week in the last six.
Workers at 150 Starbucks locations will strike in the coming week over what their union says is a clash over decor supporting LBGTQ+ causes, but the company denies it's banned any such displays and accused the union of using misinformation as a tactic in labor talks.
About 7.5 million singing and swimming “Baby Shark” bath toys are being recalled after multiple lacerations and puncture wounds were reported in children playing with them.
Bud Light has rolled out a new ad campaign, weeks after protests over the company's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
3M Co. reached a $10.3 billion agreement to settle lawsuits that claimed toxic chemicals had contaminated drinking water across the country.
