While there is a lot of investor BS money behind Lyft and Uber, there is no doubt that it is real money. Yes, it is based on speculation of a future. The automakers want some of that investor money. It was a huge shift when Tesla became valued more than GM. A company that has only existed for a few years, never made a profit, and had basically a single model was worth more than General Motors. Almost over night, the auto industry changed. Huge effort was put on advertising an electric future. Ford went from being a car company to being a mobility company. Products were axed. New products teased. The goal is to get a piece of that speculation investing. It is real money.
Talking to a few people in the industry, not only is the money a huge factor, but so is the aging baby boomers and anti-driving millennial. The two biggest cohorts are out there to be sold to. As the boomers get older, they won't be able to drive but don't want to give up their freedom. The answer, ride hailing, ride sharing, and autonomous. Millenials don't value the car as a status symbol, or a symbol of freedom, or a hobby, or even as a method of transportation. They see it as a nuisance. Car ownership is a hassle. Why own a car when your phone can snag one for you? Why drive a car when a computer can do it for you? Distracted driving is a major issue and it is killing people, but drivers won't get off of their phones. The solution, a computer driven car that will allow drivers to play on their phones. As much as the future sucks, you would be silly not to realize it will happen. The only question is the speed in which it happens. Consumers want the products. Automakers want to make the products. Investors want to invest in the products. There is way too much alignment for it not to happen and for companies not to works towards it.