Author: Brandon Mitchell

Autonomous taxis operated by Waymo, the self-driving technology division of Alphabet, have adopted a significantly more assertive driving style, departing from their initially cautious and strictly rule-following approach. This change, confirmed by Waymo, is intended to enhance traffic integration but has generated a mixed reaction from the public and observers. For years, Waymo vehicles were characterized by their highly defensive behavior, often prompting criticism from passengers and other road users for “getting stuck” or hesitating excessively when merging or at intersections. This style, while minimizing risky maneuvers, was seen as disrupting the overall flow of traffic. See also: Waymo to…

Stellantis and Bolt, Europe’s ride-hailing and mobility platform, announced a strategic partnership to jointly explore the development and deployment of Level 4 (driverless) autonomous vehicles (AVs) for commercial operations across the continent. The collaboration will combine Stellantis’ purpose-built AV-Ready Platforms™—specifically the eK0 medium size van and the STLA Small architectures—with Bolt’s extensive mobility network, which spans more than 50 countries. Bolt aims to integrate these autonomous vehicles into its shared mobility platform to offer fully autonomous, driverless ride-hailing services. The phased deployment plan anticipates the start of test vehicle trials in European countries beginning in 2026, with an initial production…