Robotaxi

Waymo, an alphabet-owned company, is increasing its spending on lobbying as part of a robotaxi battle with Uber. The company aims to persuade US regulators to clear a path for fully autonomous taxi services.

Uber has pledged $10 billion to advance its robotaxi development. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted strong bookings and record cash flow as the company aims to fund its costly autonomous vehicle (AV) initiative.

Federal regulators approved Amazon's Zoox robotaxis to charge customers for rides in cities like Las Vegas and San Francisco after securing state and local approval. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed rules allowing autonomous vehicles to operate without brake pedals, while safety advocates raised concerns about Zoox's lack of detailed evidence for its safety claims.

Amazon's Zoox, a steering wheel-free robotaxi, has received regulatory approval from the NHTSA to offer paid rides, making it the first autonomous vehicle without manual controls to achieve this milestone.

Amazon's Zoox has received federal clearance from NHTSA to deploy up to 2,500 steering-wheel-less robotaxis annually for two years, enabling commercial service in Las Vegas.

Robotaxi emergency scenes challenge driverless cars as NHTSA warns they may misread smoke, cones, flashing lights, and first responders. These issues reveal problems hidden in ordinary city driving, where driverless vehicles handle predictable elements but struggle with emergency scenarios.

Waymo is considering a split from Uber as their partnership deteriorates due to a lobbying battle over autonomous vehicle deployment. The tension highlights conflicts in advancing robotaxi technology.

A Tesla robotaxi was observed traveling the wrong way down a one-way street in Tampa a day after the company launched its driverless taxi service. The incident occurred shortly after the service's debut.

A Tesla robotaxi was observed driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Tampa a day after the company launched its driverless taxi service. The incident occurred shortly after the service's rollout.

A Tesla robotaxi was observed driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Tampa a day after the company launched its driverless taxi service. The incident occurred shortly after the service's rollout.

Tesla's Robotaxi service now operates in seven US markets, with six offering unsupervised rides. The company reported 2.5 million cumulative paid miles, over 380,000 unsupervised miles, and weekly mileage growth exceeding 10%.

Tesla's significant investments in AI, robotics, and self-driving technology are reducing operating profits despite record vehicle deliveries. The company plans to spend over $25 billion on capital investments this year and borrow up to $30 billion for projects like robotaxis and Optimus robots, with CEO Elon Musk expressing confidence in long-term returns.

Tesla's second-quarter profits fell to $1.11 billion due to increased research spending, despite a 26% revenue rise to $28.24 billion and a 25% increase in vehicle deliveries. The stock dropped 2.7% after reporting results below Wall Street forecasts, while European sales rebounded after earlier political controversies.

Tesla announced its Robotaxi service now extends to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The announcement was made via X by the Tesla AI account and reshared by Elon Musk, who highlighted the effort required to secure approval.

Tesla is set to report earnings as investors focus on whether the company can meet expectations for its robotaxi and Optimus initiatives. Wall Street is closely watching to determine if Tesla can deliver on these ambitious plans.

Zoox voluntarily recalled its entire robotaxi fleet after one of its driverless cars entered an active emergency scene obscured by heavy smoke, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. The recall addresses a software issue that may fail to handle certain situations.

An unoccupied Zoox robotaxi drove into an active emergency fire scene filled with smoke last month, prompting a software recall. The incident occurred during an emergency situation, according to the company.

Passengers in robotaxis are falling asleep, leading to incidents such as spilled drinks, food drops, vomiting, medical emergencies, and two reported births. These events have prompted frantic 911 calls.

Uber's robotaxi lobbying efforts have created tension with Waymo, as both companies compete in Washington D.C. over their differing approaches to autonomous vehicle regulations.

The article discusses TechCrunch Mobility's focus on the future of transportation and the increasing role of AI in this domain. It highlights the platform's role as a hub for updates on AI-driven mobility innovations.

Aseon Labs is developing modular 'reset pods' to service robotaxis near riders, reducing deadhead miles by cleaning, charging, and inspecting vehicles closer to demand areas. The pods aim to cut wasted miles and keep autonomous cars operational, though their placement in cities raises logistical challenges.

A delay from a state agency in California has resulted in free robotaxi rides using Waymo's new Ojai vehicle for a few more months.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes that while new driver-assist and self-driving technologies show promise in preventing crashes, there are still concerns about driver reliance and insufficient safety data compared to human drivers. IIHS president David Harkey highlights automatic emergency braking as an effective feature but emphasizes the need for more real-world data to assess the long-term safety of autonomous systems.

Teens joyriding in a robotaxi fired Orbeez water beads from the vehicle while consuming alcohol, leading to a police stop. The incident occurred in a California city and involved a high-tech vehicle takedown.

Tesla has expanded its robotaxi service to a small section of Miami, with future plans to extend the service to Orlando and Tampa as outlined in the company's roadmap.

Zoox has redesigned its robotaxi with comfort and usability upgrades, including improved seating, materials, and features like fluted wireless charging pads and larger cupholders. The updates aim to make the rider experience more relaxing and practical as the service scales beyond early testers.

Uber is expanding its robotaxi initiative to Europe through a testing program. The company is collaborating with Israeli AI startup Autobrains and chipmaker Nvidia to deploy autonomous vehicles in Germany, pending regulatory approval.

Amazon's robotaxi service has updated its seating, screens, and exterior reflectors based on rider feedback. The company is awaiting federal approval to begin charging for rides.

Uber is investing $500 million to secure robotaxis as Waymo risks leaving it behind in the race for autonomous vehicle dominance. Tesla and Waymo are competing in the robotaxi space, but Uber is the company spending heavily despite not manufacturing vehicles.

Waymo’s rapid expansion of robotaxis is accelerating the shift to autonomous vehicles, which is squeezing Uber and Lyft drivers. The development highlights increasing competition in the autonomous vehicle sector.

Lucid Motors eliminated the COO role and cut 18% of its workforce to focus on profitability. The ex-COO emphasized a capital-efficient robotaxi strategy through partnerships with Uber and Nuro, targeting a 2026 San Francisco launch with 35,000 vehicles.

Uber is collaborating with Israeli AI startup Autobrains for a robotaxi test run in Munich, aiming to scale its service using low-cost, vehicle-ready AI technology. The developers claim their AI agents outperform competitors by working in concert.

A new robotaxi scorecard highlights China's dominance in the mobility sector. The analysis appears in TechCrunch Mobility, a platform focused on transportation innovation.

Waymo is introducing a $29.99-a-month robotaxi loyalty subscription called Waymo Premier, offering 10% cash back, priority pickups, and early access to new cities. The program is invite-only and targets frequent riders.

Residents of the Soma Grand building in San Francisco are frustrated with Waymo robotaxis causing traffic backups at garage entrances and creating general nuisances.

A thief used a Waymo robotaxi to steal yoga clothing, and this is not the first instance of such a theft involving autonomous vehicles.

Waymo has partnered with B2U Storage Solutions to repurpose used robotaxi batteries as grid storage. The agreement involves reusing battery packs after they are removed from Waymo's vehicles.

Tesla has registered 42 automated vehicles in its driverless Robotaxi service in Texas, placing it far behind Waymo's fleet size in the state. The filings reveal Tesla's Robotaxi fleet is less than one-tenth the size of Waymo's.

Waymo has introduced Ojai, its first purpose-built robotaxi. Ojai is a new driverless vehicle designed for ride-hailing services.

Waymo has launched the Ojai minivan robotaxi, a Chinese-made vehicle designed for profitability and now accepting riders. The launch follows years of development and testing but occurs during a challenging period for the company.