The Curious Case of the $24 Robotaxi Door Shutters: A New Gig in LA's Autonomous Future

Daily Car

30/12/2025

In an unexpected twist to the rise of autonomous vehicles, a peculiar new service has emerged in Los Angeles: people are being paid to simply close the doors of robotaxis left ajar by passengers. This unusual gig highlights the current limitations of self-driving technology and the creative solutions being employed to overcome them.

Key Takeaways

Towing companies in Los Angeles are contracted to assist robotaxis, primarily by closing doors left open by passengers.
This service pays up to $24 per incident, though profitability is questionable due to inefficiencies.
Newer robotaxi models with automated doors may render this service obsolete.

The Robotaxi's Door Dilemma

Autonomous vehicles, like those operated by Waymo in Los Angeles, are programmed to halt their journey if a door is not properly secured. This means that a distracted passenger exiting the vehicle can inadvertently strand the robotaxi, waiting awkwardly in the street until a human intervenes. This is where local towing companies come in.

A New Gig for Towing Companies

Through apps like Honk, towing companies are dispatched to these stranded robotaxis. Their primary task is often as simple as walking up to the vehicle and closing the door. For more complex issues, such as a robotaxi running out of charge and becoming immobile, towing companies can earn between $60 and $80.

However, the job isn't always straightforward or profitable. Towing company owners report that the app doesn't always provide precise locations, leading to time spent searching for the vehicle. When factoring in fuel costs and the relatively low payment for closing a door, the profit margin can be slim.

The Future of Robotaxi Assistance

This reliance on human intervention for basic tasks like closing a door points to the current limitations of robotaxi technology. While Waymo's current fleet, primarily Jaguar I-Pace models, requires manual door closure, the landscape is set to change. Newer robotaxi models, such as those being tested by Waymo from China's Zeekr, feature automated sliding doors, similar to minivans. These advancements promise to eliminate the need for human assistance for such simple operational issues, potentially making this peculiar $24 gig a thing of the past.

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