Articles tagged with "mobility"
Zoox chooses Washington DC as its next autonomous vehicle testbed
Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has selected Washington D.C. as its next testing ground for self-driving technology, beginning with mapping the city’s streets using manually driven Toyota Highlanders equipped with its sensors and software. The company plans to start autonomous vehicle testing with human safety operators later this year, marking Washington D.C. as its eighth test site after expanding beyond its original Silicon Valley base to cities including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle. Zoox intends to grow its testing fleet gradually but has not disclosed specific numbers. Zoox is developing a commercial robotaxi service using custom-built autonomous vehicles that lack traditional controls like steering wheels or pedals. The company recently launched testing of these vehicles in Las Vegas, a key market where it has maintained a presence. Regulatory progress includes a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration exemption granted in August allowing Zoox to demonstrate its robotaxis on public roads for research purposes. Zoox has filed additional applications to expand this authorization, aiming
robotautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-carsrobotaxitransportation-technologyAImobilityToyota Woven City Officially Launches as a Test Course for the Future of Mobility - CleanTechnica
Toyota Motor Corporation and Woven by Toyota, Inc. have officially launched Woven City, a real-world test course for future mobility located in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Initially unveiled at CES 2020, Woven City is designed as a living laboratory where innovation in mobility and related technologies can be developed and tested. The project centers around two key participant groups: Inventors and Weavers. Inventors include enterprises, startups, entrepreneurs, and research institutions collaborating to create new products and services through a concept called Kakezan, meaning “multiplication,” which emphasizes innovation through the convergence of diverse ideas and capabilities. Among the 20 Inventors is singer-songwriter Naoto Inti Raymi, who contributes a creative dimension by producing the city’s anthem and audio logo. The Weavers are the residents and visitors who live in and experience Woven City firsthand, providing essential feedback to shape ongoing innovations. Since September 2025, Toyota Group employees and their families have begun
robotIoTsmart-citymobilityinnovationToyotaurban-technologyVia raises $492.9M in IPO, and German automakers go on the offensive
The article highlights key developments in the transportation and automotive sectors, focusing on the recent IAA Mobility conference in Munich where German automakers Volkswagen Group, Mercedes, and BMW showcased new electric and technologically advanced vehicles. This event underscored Germany's intent to remain competitive against rising Chinese automakers like BYD, which have nearly doubled their market share in Europe. Notable vehicle launches include the all-electric Mercedes GLC, BMW iX3 equipped with advanced computing systems, and Volkswagen’s ID Polo and ID Cross concept. Additionally, Rimac Technology announced plans to release high-capacity batteries capable of rapid charging by late 2027, signaling ongoing innovation in electric vehicle components. In corporate news, Hyundai is reaffirming its commitment to the autonomous vehicle joint venture Motional after Aptiv’s early 2024 withdrawal. Hyundai is injecting significant capital—starting with approximately $452 million this year and additional funding next year—to sustain and expand Motional’s operations, while also maintaining a strategic relationship with Waymo.
energyelectric-vehiclesautomotive-technologybatteriesEV-chargingmobilityGerman-automakersZoox opens its Las Vegas robotaxi service to the public
Zoox, a company developing custom-built, all-electric autonomous robotaxis without steering wheels or pedals, has opened its Las Vegas robotaxi service to the public. While rides remain free for now, anyone over 18 can hail a Zoox vehicle via the company’s app at five designated pickup and drop-off points, including notable Las Vegas landmarks such as Resorts World, AREA15, Topgolf, New York New York, and Luxor. The service initially started as a limited pilot program earlier in 2023 and has since expanded its operational area along the Las Vegas Strip and nearby streets. Zoox plans to add more destinations in the coming months but must obtain regulatory approval before charging fares. The regulatory hurdle relates to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) decision allowing Zoox to demonstrate its unique vehicles on public roads despite lacking traditional vehicle controls like steering wheels. However, this exemption currently only permits demonstrations, not commercial operations. Zoox is also preparing for a similar public launch
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxielectric-vehiclestransportation-technologymobilityZooxLyft and May Mobility launch robotaxis in Atlanta
Lyft and May Mobility have launched a pilot robotaxi service in Atlanta, allowing riders to hail autonomous vehicles via the Lyft app. This marks the first commercial deployment in their partnership and represents Lyft’s latest effort to establish a foothold in the competitive robotaxi market, where rivals like Uber and Waymo have already introduced fully driverless rides in the city. The initial rollout features a small fleet of hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles operating during weekday daytime hours in Midtown Atlanta, with human safety operators present who may take control if necessary. Lyft and May Mobility plan to gradually expand the service to more vehicles, extended hours, and additional markets over time. The Atlanta launch follows Lyft’s recent announcement to introduce robotaxis in Europe next year and plans for a Dallas deployment in 2026, signaling a broader strategy to scale autonomous vehicle services. However, Lyft’s robotaxi ventures have faced challenges, including a previous partnership in Las Vegas that ended when the partner company folded. Meanwhile, May
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaximobilitytransportation-technologyself-driving-carsLyftNvidia is latest investor to back AV startup Nuro in $203M funding round
Nvidia has joined a group of new investors backing autonomous vehicle startup Nuro in a $203 million Series E funding round. The round includes $97 million from new investors such as Icehouse Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Nvidia, and Pledge Ventures, alongside existing backer Baillie Gifford. Uber also participated, contributing a “multi-hundred-million dollar” investment as part of a broader partnership involving electric car maker Lucid. Nvidia’s involvement follows years of technical collaboration, with Nuro utilizing Nvidia GPUs and the Drive AGX Thor platform for its self-driving software development. The total Series E funding includes an earlier $106 million tranche announced in April, bringing Nuro’s total raised capital to $2.3 billion with a post-money valuation of $6 billion—a 30% decrease from its $8.6 billion valuation in 2021. Nuro has undergone significant strategic shifts amid challenging economic conditions and industry consolidation. After layoffs in 2022 and 2023,
robotautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-technologyNvidiaelectric-vehiclesAImobilityLyft to add autonomous shuttles in 2026 as Uber inks more self-driving deals
Lyft announced it will introduce autonomous shuttles manufactured by the Austrian company Benteler Group under its Holon brand to its network in late 2026. These shuttles, designed without steering wheels or pedals, will accommodate up to nine seated and six standing passengers with inward-facing seats. Initially, the deployment will focus on partnerships with U.S. cities and airports, with potential expansion depending on the program's success. The shuttles utilize Mobileye’s autonomous driving technology, although this collaboration is separate from Lyft’s other ongoing partnerships with autonomy providers. Meanwhile, Lyft’s main competitor, Uber, is aggressively expanding its autonomous vehicle offerings by incorporating robotaxis from multiple companies such as Waymo, WeRide, Baidu, Pony AI, and others across various global cities. Uber recently secured deals with Nuro and Lucid Motors as well. Despite years of testing, Lyft has yet to fully integrate autonomous vehicles into its fleet but plans to launch AV services using May Mobility vehicles in Atlanta later this
robotautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-technologymobilitytransportation-innovationAIelectric-vehiclesLucid, Nuro, Uber team up on global robotaxi fleet
Lucid Group, Nuro, and Uber have partnered to launch a global robotaxi program exclusively available through the Uber app, with plans to debut the first service in a major U.S. city by next year. Uber intends to deploy over 20,000 Lucid electric Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro’s SAE Level 4 autonomous driving system, the Nuro Driver, over six years across dozens of markets worldwide. These vehicles will be owned and operated by Uber or its third-party fleet partners. Uber is investing several hundred million dollars into both Lucid and Nuro as part of the collaboration. This partnership reflects Uber’s strategic shift from developing its own autonomous vehicle division to collaborating with third-party developers, allowing it to leverage its large user base while mitigating technical risks. Nuro, valued at $6 billion following a recent $106 million Series E funding round, provides advanced autonomous driving technology combining automotive-grade hardware and self-driving software. The company is currently focusing on expanding operations in Mountain View, California
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxielectric-vehiclesself-driving-technologymobilitytransportation-innovationTechCrunch Mobility: The cost of Waymo
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced plans to streamline the Part 555 exemption process, aiming to expedite approvals for automakers deploying fully self-driving vehicles without traditional human controls such as steering wheels or pedals. While manufacturers must still prove these vehicles meet equivalent safety standards and serve the public interest, the current exemption process is viewed as lengthy and ill-suited for automated driving systems. This move reflects a broader federal interest in accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment, alongside related regulatory actions on drones and supersonic travel. In industry news, JetZero, a zero-emissions jet startup backed by venture capital and major airlines, revealed plans to invest $4.7 billion over the next decade to build a factory in Greensboro, North Carolina, with construction starting in 2026 and deliveries expected in the early 2030s. The deal includes over $1.1 billion in state incentives tied to job creation. Meanwhile, an analysis by the app Obi found that Waymo’s self-driving rides consistently
robotautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-carstransportation-technologymobilityautomotive-innovationNHTSA-regulationsPony.ai partners with Xihu to deploy 1k robotaxis in Shenzhen - The Robot Report
robotrobotaxiautonomous-drivingmobilityAItransportationfleet-managementTRON 1: China’s robot balances like Messi during moving truck test
robotroboticsbipedalbalancemobilitysensorscontrol-algorithmsRide Into Summer: Heybike’s 4th Anniversary Sale Offers Massive E-Bike Savings - CleanTechnica
energye-bikeelectric-vehiclesustainable-transportcommutingbattery-technologymobilityHumanoid robots evolve with 360° wheels, flexible controls from Korea
robothumanoid-robotsroboticsautomationmobilitytechnologyinnovationWaymo and Uber are giving some riders early access to Atlanta robotaxi service
robotrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclesWaymoUbertransportationmobilityNVIDIA accepts Ekso Bionics into its Connect program - The Robot Report
robotexoskeletonmobilityartificial-intelligencerehabilitationhuman-enhancementmedical-technologyRobot tự hành hai chân nhỏ nhất thế giới
robotroboticsautonomousCarnegie-Mellonmini-robotmobilitytechnologyUber investing $100M into WeRide to bring robotaxis to 15 cities
robotrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclesWeRideUbermobilitytransportationMeet The Lectric XP4: A Folding E-Bike That Doesn’t Compromise
energye-bikeelectric-vehiclesustainable-transportationbattery-technologyclean-energymobilityUber’s latest autonomous vehicle partner? Chinese startup Momenta
robotautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-technologyride-hailingpartnershipstransportationmobilityAmpersand Leads The Charge As Electric Motorcycle Market Share Surges In Kigali, Rwanda
electric-vehicleselectric-motorcyclesmobilityclean-energyRwandasustainable-transportationelectric-mobilityToyota & Waymo Outline Strategic Partnership to Advance Autonomous Driving Deployment
robotautonomous-drivingmobilitypartnershiptechnologyinnovationvehicle