Author: Elliot Harrison

Germany’s STADT:up research initiative has concluded after bringing together 20 automotive companies, technology suppliers, universities, and research institutions to develop artificial intelligence technologies for automated driving in urban environments. Supported by €62.2 million in funding, the project culminated with a two-day demonstration event at the Aldenhoven Testing Centre, where participants showcased the automated driving technologies and research outcomes developed during the programme. AI Developed for Complex Urban Traffic The STADT:up project—short for Solutions and Technologies for Automated Driving in Town—was established to address one of the most difficult challenges facing autonomous vehicles: navigating busy city streets. While automated driving functions…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed removing the requirement for manual brake pedals in vehicles designed to operate exclusively with automated driving systems (ADS), marking the agency’s fifth update to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) under its Automated Vehicle Framework. The proposed rule would amend FMVSS No. 135 by eliminating the requirement for hand- and foot-operated brake controls in vehicles that are never intended to be driven by a human. Vehicles equipped with automated driving systems that continue to include manual driving controls would remain subject to the existing requirements. Performance Standards Would Remain…

Autonomous logistics company Neolix has stepped up its expansion in Europe, highlighting its Level 4 autonomous delivery technology at the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit 2026 in Vienna and EUROBIKE 2026 in Frankfurt. The company is targeting retailers and logistics operators seeking autonomous last-mile delivery solutions, building on a fleet of approximately 21,000 autonomous delivery vehicles operating across more than 15 countries. According to Neolix, its autonomous fleet has accumulated more than 170 million kilometres of driving, while its largest deployment in a single city exceeds 2,000 vehicles. European Expansion Gains Momentum Neolix said its vehicles have obtained TÜV Rheinland…

ZF has unveiled a software-defined commercial vehicle demonstrator capable of connecting directly with logistics yard infrastructure, allowing operators to remotely control vehicle safety functions such as the parking brake from outside the cab. The proof-of-concept vehicle was presented during ZF’s CV Tech Day 2026 near Hanover, Germany, as part of the company’s efforts to prepare its chassis technologies for the next generation of software-defined commercial vehicles (SdCVs). Vehicle Connects Directly to Yard Infrastructure The demonstrator uses a service-oriented architecture, middleware, and standardized vehicle application programming interfaces (APIs) to enable vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. According to ZF, the system automatically connects to…

Waymo has issued a voluntary recall affecting nearly 4,000 robotaxis after identifying incidents in which its autonomous vehicles entered highway sections closed for construction. The Alphabet-owned autonomous driving company said it has temporarily restricted freeway operations across its fleet while developing software improvements to address the issue. According to filings submitted to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Waymo identified 13 incidents involving robotaxis driving into highway construction zones between April and May. Incidents Occurred in Arizona and California The company reported six incidents in Phoenix, Arizona, during April and seven incidents in the San Francisco Bay Area…

Cyngn said its autonomous vehicle commercial pipeline now spans nine industry verticals, 35 U.S. states, and international markets, reflecting growing interest from industrial operators seeking to deploy autonomous vehicles at scale rather than through limited pilot programs. The company, which develops autonomous driving technology for industrial vehicles, reported increased engagement during the second quarter from large industrial organizations evaluating broader adoption of autonomous systems across manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and outdoor industrial operations. Cyngn’s DriveMod platform enables industrial vehicles to operate autonomously in environments such as manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers, and industrial facilities. Shift Toward Large-Scale Deployments According to Cyngn,…

Waymo has acquired a 5,500-acre automotive proving ground in Arizona for $220 million, significantly expanding its autonomous vehicle testing capabilities as the company accelerates the growth of its robotaxi operations across the United States, TechCrunch reported. According to property records filed with Maricopa County, the Alphabet-owned autonomous driving company purchased the facility from Route 14 Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware-based entity associated with Apple. The transaction was recorded on June 5. Major Expansion of Testing Infrastructure Located in Wittmann, Arizona, the proving ground is one of the largest dedicated vehicle testing facilities in the United States and substantially increases Waymo’s…

Karsan has launched passenger operations of its Autonomous e-JEST electric minibus in Atlanta, Georgia, marking the company’s first autonomous public transport deployment in North America. The vehicles are operating as part of the ATL Spoke pilot project, an autonomous transit initiative designed to improve connectivity between public transportation hubs and local destinations. The service provides free passenger transportation between MARTA’s West End Station and the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail. The launch represents a significant milestone for Karsan as it expands its autonomous mobility activities beyond Europe into the United States. First Autonomous Public Transit Pilot in Atlanta The ATL Spoke…

Avride has completed more than 60,000 autonomous passenger trips for Uber riders in Dallas, marking a new milestone for the company’s commercial robotaxi operations. The autonomous mobility developer disclosed the figure as part of a broader operational update that highlighted rapid fleet expansion, increased service coverage, and growing autonomous mileage. The company also announced that it has doubled its original service area in Dallas and plans to expand the operating zone further in the coming months as it continues scaling its commercial robotaxi network. More Than 60,000 Autonomous Uber Trips Avride operates its autonomous ride-hailing service through Uber’s platform, allowing…

Nvidia has announced a series of partnerships aimed at expanding the deployment of Level 4-ready robotaxi fleets built on its Drive Hyperion autonomous driving platform, extending the technology’s reach across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The agreements involve collaborations with Foxconn, VinFast, Autobrains, Humain and Uber, reflecting growing industry adoption of Nvidia’s autonomous vehicle architecture for commercial ride-hailing services. Taiwan Deployment Planned With Foxconn Foxconn will use Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion platform to develop Level 4-capable electric robotaxis for deployment in Taiwan. The first rollout is planned in the city of Kaohsiung, with commercial services targeted to begin in 2028.…

Waymo plans to begin offering free rides in its newly unveiled Ojai autonomous vehicle to selected riders in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, marking the first public deployment of the company’s purpose-built robotaxi platform. The Ojai is the first vehicle designed specifically for Waymo’s ride-hailing service and the first to feature the company’s sixth-generation Waymo Driver autonomous driving system. According to Waymo, employees have already been using the vehicle in fully autonomous operations for several months as part of internal testing. The rollout will initially be limited to select users before expanding more broadly over time. Waymo said riders…

Torc Robotics has entered a strategic research partnership with Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, strengthening its efforts to develop next-generation artificial intelligence technologies for autonomous trucking. The collaboration makes Torc the only autonomous trucking company with a dedicated presence inside Mila’s research ecosystem, providing the company with on-site research space and direct access to the institute’s network of researchers, faculty members and students. Mila, founded by renowned AI researcher Yoshua Bengio, is one of the world’s largest academic centers focused on deep learning and artificial intelligence. The organization operates as a non-profit institute through a partnership between Université de…