Trump updates Biden’s robo-car crash reporting rule to benefit Tesla
(theverge.com)
In a surprise move, President Trump’s transportation department has decided to keep the Biden-era rule requiring automakers and tech companies to report crashes that involve fully or partially autonomous vehicles. But they’re making a few changes that are likely to have a big impact on one company.
In a surprise move, President Trump’s transportation department has decided to keep the Biden-era rule requiring automakers and tech companies to report crashes that involve fully or partially autonomous vehicles. But they’re making a few changes that are likely to have a big impact on one company.
Waymo reports more than 250k rides per week
(cnbc.com)
Alphabet reported Thursday that Waymo, its autonomous vehicle unit, is now delivering more than 250,000 paid robotaxi rides per week in the U.S.
Alphabet reported Thursday that Waymo, its autonomous vehicle unit, is now delivering more than 250,000 paid robotaxi rides per week in the U.S.
Waymo's Quickly Taking More Market Share Than I Expected
(cleantechnica.com)
To be honest, I hadn’t thought a lot about Waymo’s market share in the cities it operates in. I just figured it’s still fairly small and niche as it works hard to improve its software and hardware. However, it turns out Waymo is getting a lot more business than I expected.
To be honest, I hadn’t thought a lot about Waymo’s market share in the cities it operates in. I just figured it’s still fairly small and niche as it works hard to improve its software and hardware. However, it turns out Waymo is getting a lot more business than I expected.
Chinese Robotaxis Have Government Black Boxes, Approach U.S. Quality
(forbes.com)
Robotaxi development is speeding at a fast pace in China, but we don’t hear much about it in the USA, where the news focuses mostly on Waymo, with a bit about Zoox, Motional, May, trucking projects and other domestic players.
Robotaxi development is speeding at a fast pace in China, but we don’t hear much about it in the USA, where the news focuses mostly on Waymo, with a bit about Zoox, Motional, May, trucking projects and other domestic players.
Doge's job cuts at US traffic safety regulator hit self-drive experts
(ft.com)
Doge’s job cuts at US traffic safety regulator hit self-drive experts
Doge’s job cuts at US traffic safety regulator hit self-drive experts
Waymo may use interior camera data to train generative AI models, sell ads
(techcrunch.com)
Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong.
Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong.
Collectively, the Tesla fleet has driven more than 3.6B miles on FSD
(twitter.com)
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
Tesla drops 'FSD' from name of its driver-assist tech in China
(electrek.co)
After a rocky rollout of its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) system in China, Tesla is dropping “FSD” from the name of the system while it faces increased scrutiny from regulators.
After a rocky rollout of its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) system in China, Tesla is dropping “FSD” from the name of the system while it faces increased scrutiny from regulators.
Next stop for Waymo One: Washington, D.C
(waymo.com)
It’s official: Waymo One, the world’s leading fully autonomous ride-hailing service, will be ready for riders in the nation’s capital on the Waymo One app in 2026.
It’s official: Waymo One, the world’s leading fully autonomous ride-hailing service, will be ready for riders in the nation’s capital on the Waymo One app in 2026.
Tesla Autopilot Car Drove Through a Giant Photo of a Road
(petapixel.com)
Famous YouTube creator and former NASA engineer Mark Rober, who provides his 65 million subscribers with scientific entertainment videos, put Tesla’s vision-based safety features up against a LiDAR system, and the results, although arguably flawed, highlight the limitations of vision-based autonomous vehicle systems.
Famous YouTube creator and former NASA engineer Mark Rober, who provides his 65 million subscribers with scientific entertainment videos, put Tesla’s vision-based safety features up against a LiDAR system, and the results, although arguably flawed, highlight the limitations of vision-based autonomous vehicle systems.
Waymo's milestone SFO mapping permit comes with strings attached
(techcrunch.com)
Waymo has been given permission to map roadways at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) via a temporary permit — the first step in the Alphabet company’s bid to unlock a potentially lucrative use case for its robotaxis.
Waymo has been given permission to map roadways at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) via a temporary permit — the first step in the Alphabet company’s bid to unlock a potentially lucrative use case for its robotaxis.
Tesla drives into Wile E. Coyote fake road wall in camera vs. Lidar test
(electrek.co)
Tesla Autopilot drove into Wile E. Coyote-style fake road wall in the middle of the road in a camera versus lidar test.
Tesla Autopilot drove into Wile E. Coyote-style fake road wall in the middle of the road in a camera versus lidar test.
Inside Waymo's Expansion: Cars, New Depots, and What's Next
(autonomycentral.net)
A couple of months ago, Waymo content creator JJRicks uploaded a video showcasing a factory he discovered, capturing close-up ground-level footage of the site. This factory turned out to be an assembly plant from Magna, where Waymos are constructed.
A couple of months ago, Waymo content creator JJRicks uploaded a video showcasing a factory he discovered, capturing close-up ground-level footage of the site. This factory turned out to be an assembly plant from Magna, where Waymos are constructed.
VW is testing its robotaxis in snowy, icy Norway
(arstechnica.com)
A taxi service that only operates in good weather isn't a good taxi service.
A taxi service that only operates in good weather isn't a good taxi service.
Waymo's Expansion: Cars, New Depots, and What's Next
(autonomycentral.net)
A couple of months ago, Waymo content creator JJRicks uploaded a video showcasing a factory he discovered, capturing close-up ground-level footage of the site. This factory turned out to be an assembly plant from Magna, where Waymos are constructed.
A couple of months ago, Waymo content creator JJRicks uploaded a video showcasing a factory he discovered, capturing close-up ground-level footage of the site. This factory turned out to be an assembly plant from Magna, where Waymos are constructed.
Ride into the Future with Waymo on Uber in Austin
(uber.com)
Starting today, Austin riders can be matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle (AV) on the Uber app, making your next trip even more special.
Starting today, Austin riders can be matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle (AV) on the Uber app, making your next trip even more special.
Uber users in Austin are getting matched with Waymo robotaxis
(techcrunch.com)
Uber users in Austin now have a choice between a Waymo robotaxi and a human driver.
Uber users in Austin now have a choice between a Waymo robotaxi and a human driver.
Tesla 'Full Self-Driving' Isn't Called That in China
(thedrive.com)
Tesla offers an advanced driver assistance feature in many parts of the world called Full Self-Driving. As people who follow Tesla know, the system doesn’t achieve full self-driving; it’s an SAE Level 2 technology that requires, in Tesla’s own words, “that the driver pay attention to the road, their surroundings, and other road users,” with “constant monitoring” necessary.
Tesla offers an advanced driver assistance feature in many parts of the world called Full Self-Driving. As people who follow Tesla know, the system doesn’t achieve full self-driving; it’s an SAE Level 2 technology that requires, in Tesla’s own words, “that the driver pay attention to the road, their surroundings, and other road users,” with “constant monitoring” necessary.
Saronic raises $600M in Series C to mass-produce autonomous warships
(techcrunch.com)
Austin-based defense startup Saronic has raised a $600 million Series C to build an autonomous ship factory called “Port Alpha,” it announced yesterday, quadrupling its valuation to $4 billion from its last round.
Austin-based defense startup Saronic has raised a $600 million Series C to build an autonomous ship factory called “Port Alpha,” it announced yesterday, quadrupling its valuation to $4 billion from its last round.
Tesla Cybertruck Drives Itself into a Pole, Owner Says 'Thank You Tesla'
(thedrive.com)
A Tesla Cybertruck owner is praising the automaker for the performance of his electric pickup after its Full Self-Driving system drove it into a utility pole in Reno, Nevada.
A Tesla Cybertruck owner is praising the automaker for the performance of his electric pickup after its Full Self-Driving system drove it into a utility pole in Reno, Nevada.
Waymo – Driverless in Atlanta
(theverge.com)
Waymo just flipped the switch from supervised to unsupervised in Atlanta, where it aims to eventually launch a commercial robotaxi service later this year through an exclusive partnership with Uber.
Waymo just flipped the switch from supervised to unsupervised in Atlanta, where it aims to eventually launch a commercial robotaxi service later this year through an exclusive partnership with Uber.
Could self-driving buses bring vehicle autonomy home?
(ieee.org)
In the race to develop autonomous vehicle technology, some companies are steering away from robotaxis to explore a different avenue: driverless buses.
In the race to develop autonomous vehicle technology, some companies are steering away from robotaxis to explore a different avenue: driverless buses.
Two auto-braking systems can't see people in reflective garb: report
(streetsblog.org)
Pedestrians are often advised to wear reflective strips on their clothing so that car drivers can see them, but a new report says that such safety precautions are useless in the eyes of some automatic braking systems.
Pedestrians are often advised to wear reflective strips on their clothing so that car drivers can see them, but a new report says that such safety precautions are useless in the eyes of some automatic braking systems.
Musk Distorts Data: Tesla Still Years from Full Self-Driving
(electrek.co)
Elon Musk is praising data that he claims shows Tesla is on the verge of achieving unsupervised Full Self-Driving, when in fact, it shows it is still years away and he is misrepresenting it.
Elon Musk is praising data that he claims shows Tesla is on the verge of achieving unsupervised Full Self-Driving, when in fact, it shows it is still years away and he is misrepresenting it.
Man trapped inside driverless Waymo car as it spins in circles
(bbc.co.uk)
Mike Johns boarded a driverless Waymo taxi to an airport in Scottsdale, Arizona, but it began spinning in circles in a parking lot.
Mike Johns boarded a driverless Waymo taxi to an airport in Scottsdale, Arizona, but it began spinning in circles in a parking lot.
Waymo Picked Up 4M Rides in 2024, Tesla Had Zero
(mishtalk.com)
Ride-sharing companies are embracing Waymo’s autonomous vehicles. Where’s Tesla?
Ride-sharing companies are embracing Waymo’s autonomous vehicles. Where’s Tesla?
May Mobility reveals electric autonomous minibus at CES 2025
(techcrunch.com)
May Mobility, an autonomous vehicle technology startup, unveiled at CES 2025 the next vehicle in its portfolio: an electric, autonomous minibus made in partnership with European electric bus manufacturer Tecnobus.
May Mobility, an autonomous vehicle technology startup, unveiled at CES 2025 the next vehicle in its portfolio: an electric, autonomous minibus made in partnership with European electric bus manufacturer Tecnobus.