Articles tagged with "robotaxis"
Stellantis teams up with Pony.ai to develop robotaxis in Europe
Automaker Stellantis and Chinese autonomous vehicle firm Pony.ai have entered a non-binding agreement to develop robotaxis for the European market. The partnership will integrate Pony.ai’s self-driving software into Stellantis’s electric medium-size van platform, specifically starting with the Peugeot e-Traveller model equipped with advanced sensors for autonomous driving. Initial testing is set to begin soon in Luxembourg, which serves as Pony.ai’s European headquarters, with plans to expand deployment to other European cities by 2026. This collaboration follows Pony.ai’s recent partnership with Uber to deploy autonomous vehicles in international markets, including Europe and the Middle East, and comes shortly after Pony.ai received an autonomous vehicle testing permit from Luxembourg in April. As Pony.ai aims to grow beyond its established presence in China and increase its footprint in Europe, the company is also pursuing a secondary IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, complementing its existing Nasdaq listing.
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisself-driving-softwareelectric-vehiclessensorsmobility-technologyLucid Motors sets record as Gravity sales pick up and tax credit expires
Lucid Motors reported a record delivery of 4,078 vehicles in the third quarter of 2025, driven by increased sales of its Gravity SUVs and a surge in customers seeking to benefit from the expiring federal EV tax credit. This marks the seventh consecutive quarter of rising deliveries for the Saudi-owned luxury electric vehicle maker, although it remains behind the ambitious targets set during its 2021 public offering, which raised $4 billion. The company’s growth mirrors a broader industry trend, with Tesla, Ford, General Motors, and even Rivian experiencing significant third-quarter sales increases. Despite these gains, Lucid’s reliance on leased vehicles for tax credit eligibility complicates the assessment of the credit’s impact, and detailed breakdowns of Gravity versus Air sedan deliveries have not been disclosed. The company continues to expand its market presence, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it has produced over 1,000 vehicles and plans to establish a full manufacturing facility. Additionally, Lucid secured a notable partnership with Uber,
energyelectric-vehiclesautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisLucid-MotorsEV-tax-creditautomotive-technologyWaymo to test robotaxis with safety drivers in NYC
Waymo has received a permit from the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to test up to eight autonomous robotaxis with safety drivers in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn until late September 2025. This marks the first time NYC has authorized testing of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the city. Waymo must coordinate closely with the DOT, including regular meetings and data reporting, and certify adherence to cybersecurity best practices. The company has also secured necessary permits from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. However, current New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) regulations prohibit the use of AVs for for-hire services without a TLC license, meaning Waymo faces regulatory hurdles before launching a paid robotaxi service. Waymo, a leader in the robotaxi industry, has surpassed 100 million fully autonomous miles and provided over 10 million fully autonomous rides across cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. The company is expanding into new terrains with plans to launch
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisWaymoself-driving-carsurban-mobilitytransportation-technologyFederal regulators give Zoox an exemption for its custom-built robotaxis
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted Zoox, an Amazon-owned company, an exemption to demonstrate its custom-built robotaxis on public roads, resolving a prior investigation into whether Zoox had circumvented federal motor vehicle safety standards. These standards typically require vehicles to have manual controls such as steering wheels and pedals, which Zoox’s autonomous vehicles lack. Zoox had self-certified compliance in 2022, but NHTSA questioned this and launched an investigation in March 2023. Despite the probe, Zoox continued testing its vehicles—without traditional controls—near its Fremont, California headquarters and expanded testing to other locations, including limited rides for employees and early public riders in Las Vegas. The exemption allows Zoox to demonstrate but not yet commercially operate its robotaxis. This decision aligns with NHTSA’s new national framework, the ADS-Equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency and Evaluation Program, designed to streamline the approval process for autonomous vehicles lacking manual controls. The framework facilitates
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisZooxNHTSA-exemptionvehicle-safety-standardsself-driving-technologyLyft and China’s Baidu look to bring robotaxis to Europe next year
Lyft has announced a strategic partnership with Chinese tech giant Baidu to bring Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles to several European markets, targeting launches in Germany and the United Kingdom in 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Baidu’s RT6 robotaxis, equipped with its Apollo Go self-driving system, will be integrated into Lyft’s ride-hailing app, exemplifying Lyft’s “hybrid network approach” that combines autonomous vehicles (AVs) with human drivers to enhance rider options. This move marks a significant expansion for Lyft, which has historically focused on the U.S. market. Earlier in 2025, Lyft entered the European market by acquiring the German multi-mobility app FREENOW from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility, enabling its expansion beyond the U.S. and Canada. Lyft and Uber, both having discontinued their internal autonomous vehicle programs, are now competing to form partnerships with AV technology companies like Baidu. While Uber has partnered with over 18 companies to develop its robot
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisLyftBaiduself-driving-technologytransportation-innovationTechCrunch Mobility: Uber makes a bet on premium robotaxis
The article from TechCrunch Mobility highlights Uber’s significant investment and strategic focus on autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, particularly in premium robotaxi services. Over the past two years, Uber has formed partnerships across various AV sectors, including delivery and trucking. Recently, Uber invested $300 million in EV maker Lucid and reportedly over $400 million in AV startup Nuro, signaling a strong commitment to expanding its presence in the autonomous mobility market. This move underscores Uber’s ambition to secure a substantial share of the emerging robotaxi industry. Additionally, the article touches on other notable developments in the AV and mobility space. Boris Sofman, formerly of Waymo’s self-driving trucks program, co-founded Bedrock Robotics, a startup focused on autonomous heavy equipment for construction, backed by investors like Eclipse and 8VC. Other funding news includes Amogy’s $80 million raise for ammonia-to-power technology applicable to shipping, and Gridserve’s $134 million funding round for mobile EV charging in the U.K. The
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiselectric-vehiclesself-driving-trucksmobility-technologytransportation-innovationUber, Lucid, & Nuro Join Forces To Create Robotaxis - CleanTechnica
Uber has announced a new partnership with electric vehicle maker Lucid and autonomous driving technology company Nuro to develop and deploy robotaxis in major U.S. cities starting in 2026. The collaboration aims to introduce up to 20,000 Lucid Gravity electric vehicles equipped with Nuro’s Level 4 self-driving system into Uber’s ride-hailing fleet over the next six years. These vehicles will be owned and operated by Uber or third-party fleet partners and exclusively accessible through the Uber platform. This initiative marks Uber’s renewed commitment to robotaxis after a fatal accident involving one of its prototypes in 2018, with the company planning to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into the partnership. The Lucid Gravity is particularly suited for robotaxi service due to its 450-mile range, which reduces downtime for charging and increases operational efficiency. Nuro’s AI-first autonomous system, proven through years of driverless deployments, will be integrated with Lucid’s advanced vehicle architecture, which features fully redundant zonal
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiselectric-carsself-driving-technologyUberLucid-MotorsReader Responses to Critique of Tesla Market Cap - CleanTechnica
The article critiques Tesla's market capitalization, arguing it is excessively inflated and disconnected from the company's recent performance. Despite Tesla's historically strong market position and rapid growth, the author notes that sales have been declining for the past year and a half, contradicting CEO Elon Musk's predictions and undermining the narrative of Tesla as a hypergrowth company. The inflated market cap is attributed to investor greed—hoping for a resurgence in stock value—and fantasy-driven expectations around futuristic products like humanoid robots and robotaxis. The author emphasizes that recent financial results do not support the high valuation. Reader responses to the critique highlight deeper psychological and cultural factors behind Tesla's valuation. One commenter suggests that many investors have developed a fixed belief in Tesla as a technological and environmental savior, despite evidence to the contrary, and that this belief has become a kind of personal "truth" that is defended even when challenged. This mindset makes it difficult for investors to reassess Tesla's actual performance and competitive position. Another response points out
robotTeslahumanoid-robotsrobotaxistechnologymarket-capelectric-vehiclesTesla’s robotaxis have already caught the attention of federal safety regulators
Federal safety regulators, specifically the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), have contacted Tesla following the launch of its branded robotaxi service in South Austin. This outreach came after numerous online videos appeared to show Tesla robotaxis violating traffic laws, including speeding and sudden, unexplained braking near police vehicles. NHTSA confirmed it is gathering additional information and emphasized its role in enforcing vehicle safety laws through a data-driven, risk-based investigative process, noting that it does not pre-approve new vehicle technologies but investigates potential safety defects after incidents are reported. Tesla’s robotaxi service, which began rides for invited customers, represents the first real-world test of the company’s autonomous vehicle technology. Unlike Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software sold to vehicle owners—which requires driver supervision—the robotaxis use an unsupervised version of FSD, although Tesla has not disclosed specific software details. Despite the autonomous operation, a human safety monitor is present in the front passenger seat during rides
robotautonomous-vehiclesTeslarobotaxistransportation-technologyvehicle-safetydriver-assistance-systemsWeRide Partners with Uber to Provide Robotaxis in Dubai - CleanTechnica
WeRide, a company developing autonomous vehicle technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Uber to advance robotaxi services in Dubai. This partnership aims to support Dubai’s ambitious goal of making 25% of all transportation trips autonomous by 2030, aligning with the city’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy. The initial phase will involve pilot operations with safety drivers onboard, with plans to launch autonomous vehicle services in Dubai by 2025, starting with WeRide as Uber’s first technology partner in the region. The collaboration highlights Dubai’s commitment to becoming a global leader in smart, sustainable mobility by embracing cutting-edge technologies. WeRide, which already holds autonomous driving permits in China, the USA, the UAE, Singapore, and France, is accelerating its international expansion with the Middle East as a strategic priority. While WeRide’s autonomous vehicle operations remain relatively small compared to competitors like Waymo in the US and several Chinese companies
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxissmart-transportationDubaiUbermobility-innovationWaymo robotaxis are pushing into even more California cities
Waymo is significantly expanding its robotaxi service area across California, adding 80 square miles in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Silicon Valley. This growth brings the total commercial service area to over 250 square miles, introducing driverless Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to new neighborhoods in three major metro regions. Despite recent setbacks—including vandalism and arson of Waymo vehicles during immigration-related protests in Los Angeles, which led to temporary service reductions—the company continues to push forward with its expansion plans. Waymo is still limiting service in some parts of Los Angeles, such as downtown, but plans to monitor conditions and gradually restore full operations. The expansion includes new service availability in Bay Area communities like Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, and Silicon Valley towns Palo Alto and Menlo Park. In Los Angeles, the service now covers Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the full stretch of Sunset Boulevard, connecting
robotautonomous-vehiclesWaymorobotaxisdriverless-technologyurban-mobilitytransportation-innovationShould We Be Afraid Of Driverless Vehicles On Our Roads? - CleanTechnica
robotautonomous-vehiclesdriverless-technologyTeslarobotaxisAItransportationIf Tesla Falls, Would That Hurt The EV Revolution? - CleanTechnica
robotEVTeslarobotaxisenergyclean-technologyautomotiveWaymo recalls 1,200 robotaxis following low-speed collisions with gates and chains
robotautonomous-vehiclesWaymorobotaxissoftware-updatetransportationsafetySurging Solar Power, Booming EV Sales, & Robotaxi Safety — Top 12 Stories of the Week
robotIoTenergysolar-powerelectric-vehiclesrobotaxisclean-technologyWaymo Robotaxis Are Much Safer — Part Deux
robotWaymorobotaxisautonomous-vehiclestraffic-safetycrash-reductionpedestrian-safetyMay Mobility to launch robotaxis on Uber platform this year in Texas
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisMay-MobilityUberself-driving-technologytransportation