Author: Brandon Mitchell

German semiconductor maker Infineon Technologies said it has expanded its collaboration with Lenovo to integrate its AURIX™ microcontrollers into Lenovo’s autonomous driving domain controllers, a move aimed at accelerating the development of software-defined vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Under the partnership, Lenovo’s AD1 and AH1 autonomous driving domain controller platforms will use Infineon’s AURIX microcontroller family to support high-speed data processing and functional safety requirements for vehicle automation ranging from Level 2 to Level 4, the companies said. See also: Infineon Power Modules Support Electreon’s In-Road EV Charging Tests Across Multiple Countries The integration is intended to provide a…

Luminar Technologies, a U.S. lidar maker, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saying it plans to sell its core lidar business after a year marked by layoffs, executive departures and a legal dispute with its largest customer, Volvo. The bankruptcy filing, made on Monday in the Southern District of Texas, follows months of financial strain at the company, which was valued at more than $3 billion when it went public via a reverse merger in 2020. Luminar said it will continue operating during the court-supervised process to limit disruption to customers and suppliers, but expects to cease operating as…

Only three companies in China currently meet the operational standard for Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving, according to Tony Xu Han, founder and chief executive of WeRide, underscoring the challenges facing firms seeking to commercialise robotaxi services. Speaking at the MEET 2026 Smart Future Conference, Han said the companies that meet the threshold are WeRide, Baidu’s Apollo, and Pony.ai. He outlined a strict definition for L4 operations, arguing that they require fleets of at least 20 to 30 vehicles operating continuously for six months without safety drivers, while generating stable commercial orders. See also: China Approves First Level 3 Autonomous…

Autonomous driving startup Helm.ai said it has introduced a new architectural framework, called Factored Embodied AI, aimed at overcoming what it describes as the industry’s “Data Wall” by significantly reducing the amount of real-world data required to develop advanced self-driving systems. The company said the framework enables production-grade autonomous steering in complex urban environments using about 1,000 hours of real-world driving data, a fraction of the datasets typically required by end-to-end autonomous driving models. Helm.ai demonstrated the system’s capabilities in a zero-shot test drive on public roads in Torrance, California, where the vehicle handled lane keeping, lane changes, turns and…

Zevo said it has partnered with artificial intelligence developer Tensor to deploy up to 100 Level-4 autonomous-capable vehicles on its peer-to-peer sharing network, as both companies seek to validate autonomous driving technology outside controlled pilot programmes. Under the agreement, Zevo will acquire as many as 100 vehicles from Tensor for initial deployment across major U.S. markets. The vehicles will operate on Zevo’s platform, which the company said currently logs around five million electric miles each month, providing a high-utilisation environment for testing autonomous systems. See also: Zevo Partners with Faraday Future to Deploy 1,000 FX Super One Electric Vehicles The…

Zoox and T-Mobile Arena have entered into a multi-year partnership to incorporate autonomous ride-hailing into venue transportation operations beginning in early 2026. Facilitated by AEG Global Partnerships, the agreement marks the arena’s first autonomous mobility sponsorship and formalizes Zoox as an Official Venue Partner. As part of the operational plan, the venue will construct a dedicated pickup and drop-off lane at its West VIP entrance to support robotaxi access during events. Wayfinding signage will guide attendees to the loading area, integrating autonomous rides into standard visitor logistics. See also: Panasonic Energy to Supply 2170 Battery Cells to Zoox From 2026…

Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.) has taken a major step in scaling its autonomous mining truck program by completing the first factory-assembled Volvo FH Autonomous at the Volvo Buses facility in Säffle, Sweden. The milestone signifies a transition from small-batch prototype construction to standardized factory production, supporting broader commercial deployment. The Säffle plant has integrated V.A.S.’s autonomous technologies directly into the Volvo FH Autonomous platform, which is purpose-built for autonomous haulage rather than general transportation. Cecilia Ekström, Head of Autonomy Enabled Vehicles and Machines at V.A.S., said the shift is crucial for reliability in industrial operations. “Moving from R&D builds to…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissed Waymo’s advancements in autonomous driving on Wednesday, arguing on social platform X that the Alphabet subsidiary “never really had a chance against Tesla,” a claim he said would appear “obvious in hindsight.” His comments followed renewed scrutiny of Tesla’s progress after Waymo released one of the most detailed safety data sets ever published for a self-driving fleet. The exchange began after Jeff Dean, Chief Scientist at Google DeepMind, highlighted the gap in validated rider-only autonomous mileage between the two companies. Dean noted Tesla has logged “nowhere near” Waymo’s 100 million rider-only miles — a milestone…

Volkswagen’s mobility subsidiary Moia will expand its operations to Norway through a new partnership with public transport authority Ruter and autonomous vehicle operator Holo, marking the deployment of autonomous ID. Buzz AD shuttles in Oslo from spring 2026. The programme represents the next phase of the city’s shared, on-demand autonomous transport strategy. Moia’s entry into Norway follows a strategic shift from operating ridepooling services toward providing technology and turnkey systems for autonomous mobility. The company said it now aims to supply public and private transport operators with integrated solutions, including software ecosystems, app platforms and operational support. The transition builds…

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…