Autonomous cars, often referred to as self-driving cars, are being tested in several cities across the U.S. Despite the fact that there have been issues, the technology itself is something that will continue to progress until the day when the vehicles will likely become commonplace. Self-driving technology may one day affect every component of our lives—from city design to commute times, the job economy, and the legal world—but how will it affect rideshare companies and those who depend on these services?

The first thing to consider is that self-driving vehicle technology is almost ideal for rideshare systems and communities that are built and operate with rideshare services in mind. This is one reason that major rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have both spearheaded self-driving vehicle testing projects. Uber maintains its own project while Lyft is working with General Motors.