Author: Maya Rios
Maya Rios
Maya Rios reports on autonomous vehicle development, with an emphasis on data-driven validation, safety assurance, and real-world deployment. She closely follows partnerships between automakers, AI startups, and simulation platforms, analyzing their impact on urban mobility, logistics, and public transportation.
Waymo is reportedly preparing to begin testing its robotaxis in Berlin before the end of 2026, according to German media reports, as the autonomous driving company expands its planned European operations. Berlin’s city administration says discussions with Waymo are already well advanced, although the company has not publicly confirmed a Berlin launch. Waymo, which originated from Google’s autonomous driving project, recently expanded its robotaxi service to Denver, San Diego and Tampa, bringing its operations to 14 US cities. The company is also preparing to enter Europe, with London and Munich among its planned markets. Waymo Reportedly Plans Berlin Testing A…
Zurich Airport has begun operating two fully automated electric shuttles without onboard drivers or security personnel as part of a pilot project with Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide. The vehicles transport airport employees on a defined route and are monitored remotely from a control center. The project makes Zurich Airport one of the first airports in Europe to test automated driving at Level 4, in which vehicles can perform driving tasks independently within defined operating conditions. Automated Employee Shuttles Begin Operations Zurich Airport said preparations for the project with WeRide began in March 2025, with the first fully automated journeys…
Wayve and Uber have launched their autonomous ride service in London, allowing passengers to book vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI driving technology through the Uber app. The service is initially operating with safety drivers onboard as the companies continue preparations for fully driverless operations. London passengers can book Wayve autonomous vehicles through UberX, Uber Electric and Uber Comfort at no additional cost. The service covers the London urban area, excluding airports. Electric Vehicles Equipped With Wayve AI The initial fleet consists of battery-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver, cameras and additional environmental sensors. https://twitter.com/wayve_ai/status/2095406780364787937 Passengers can…
U.S. autonomous trucking startup Gatik has raised $200 million in a funding round led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with participation from Koch Disruptive Technologies, Millennium Management, ARK Invest, Intact Private Capital and other investors. The Santa Clara-based company is using its autonomous driving technology to operate fully driverless freight trucks on commercial routes in the United States and Canada. Gatik Expands Commercial Autonomous Freight Gatik operates 41 fully driverless box trucks for PepsiCo across Dallas, Phoenix and Northwest Arkansas. The company also operates autonomous trucks for Fortune 50 retailers, grocery companies and consumer packaged goods businesses across Texas, Arizona,…
Waymo has outlined its approach to autonomous driving after accumulating more than 200 million autonomous miles, emphasizing the importance of combining multiple sensors, detailed maps and autonomous operation. In a new blog post, Waymo Vice President of Onboard Software Srikanth Thirumalai presented 10 lessons from the company’s autonomous driving experience without directly naming competitors such as Tesla. Waymo Emphasizes Multimodal Sensors A central part of Waymo’s approach is the use of multiple sensor types. Its latest system in the Ojai van uses 13 cameras, four lidar units, six radars and microphones. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/2092643649892884725 Thirumalai argues that no individual sensor can provide…
Waymo is preparing to launch its autonomous ride-hailing service in Germany, with vehicles expected to begin operating in Munich in the coming weeks before commercial driverless operations are targeted for the end of 2027. Waymo Prepares Munich Launch The initial vehicles will operate with trained personnel behind the wheel as Waymo collects data and prepares for autonomous operation in the Bavarian capital. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/2092251942781149525 The company plans to use the initial phase to create high-resolution maps of Munich’s road network and analyse local traffic conditions before adapting its Waymo Driver autonomous driving system for the city. Waymo is targeting the end…
Waymo has begun offering paid rides in its next-generation robotaxis, putting its Zeekr-built electric vans into regular passenger service for the first time. The vehicles, known as Ojai, are initially operating in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix and use Waymo’s sixth-generation autonomous driving system. Ojai Enters Regular Passenger Service The transition to paid rides follows a limited testing period in which Waymo offered free trips in the new vehicles. https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/2090142263099773046 Customers booking rides through Waymo’s service in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix will initially be assigned either an Ojai robotaxi or one of the Jaguar I-Pace vehicles already…
Nevada’s transportation regulator has approved Tesla, Uber and Waymo to operate large-scale robotaxi services in Clark County, including Las Vegas, clearing the way for up to 8,000 autonomous vehicles to be deployed across the county over the next 12 months. Tesla received authorization for up to 5,000 vehicles, while Uber and Waymo were each approved for as many as 1,000. Nevada Grants Robotaxi Operating Permits The Nevada Transportation Authority unanimously approved three commercial autonomous-vehicle service permits on Thursday, covering Tesla, Uber and Waymo. The permits apply across Clark County, which includes Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip. The combined…
Voltempo is developing a 15.6-metre cabless electric truck designed for autonomous freight operations, with the company targeting higher cargo volume and payload capacity than conventional electric articulated lorries. The UK company plans to complete an initial prototype by September 2027 and begin testing on a designated autonomous-vehicle route in South Wales. Cabless Design Targets Higher Payload Voltempo refers to the vehicle as a “Smart Trailer”. Its continuous rigid structure will measure 15.6 metres, exceeding the current UK maximum length of 12 metres for lorries with a fixed chassis. https://evmagz.com/atlas-energy-expands-autonomous-truck-fleet-with-kodiak-ai-in-permian-basin/ According to Autocar, the vehicle is being designed with five axles…
Tesla has received approval to operate fully autonomous robotaxis in Nevada for the first time, with the initial deployment restricted to 10 vehicles in a defined area of Las Vegas. The approval, granted by Nevada regulators on July 27, comes with several operating conditions. The vehicles must remain within a regulator-approved geofenced area, are limited to 45 mph and must have an appropriate human supervisor present. Airport service is also excluded from the approval. Nevada Limits Initial Robotaxi Deployment Tesla’s approved operating area is restricted to a defined section of the Las Vegas Strip. The company had reportedly applied to…
ÖBB Postbus and Turkish bus manufacturer Otokar have launched a pilot project in Austria involving a fully electric bus equipped with automated driving technology capable of SAE Level 4 operation. The autonomous e-CENTRO C will initially operate on a predefined route during the European Forum Alpbach before moving to Campus Wolfurt, where it is planned to provide a connection between the industrial park and the local suburban rail network. The Level 4 system is designed to perform driving tasks independently within a defined operational area without requiring continuous human control. Austrian regulations currently require a trained safety attendant to remain…
Software specialist Imagry and Spanish bus manufacturer UNVI are developing an autonomous electric bus that is scheduled to enter operation in Germany in the third quarter of 2026. The jointly developed vehicle is a 10.3-metre battery-electric bus in the M3 class, with UNVI integrating Imagry’s autonomous driving technology. According to the companies, the bus is already being transported to its deployment location in Germany. Imagry provides the software covering perception, motion planning and vehicle control. Its system does not rely on high-definition maps, instead using onboard sensors to understand the vehicle’s surroundings and navigate its environment. The companies say this…
Mobility company Moove has raised $250 million in a Series C funding round as it prepares to expand its autonomous vehicle fleets and develop charging and depot infrastructure to support their operations. The financing values Moove at $2.1 billion and was led by Mubadala Investment Company, with participation from Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, and Ion Pacific. BlueCrest Capital Management, Sona Asset Management and The Raptor Group also took part in the round. Moove said the capital will primarily fund the expansion of its autonomous vehicle business, including the deployment of company-operated fleets and construction of dedicated facilities known as…
Uber and Wayve have cleared a key regulatory hurdle for their planned robotaxi service in London after Transport for London (TfL) issued Private Hire Vehicle licences for a number of Wayve’s autonomous electric vehicles. The licensed fleet consists of fully electric Ford Mustang Mach-E models modified with Wayve’s AI Driver autonomous driving system, surround-view cameras and radar. TfL has inspected the vehicles to verify that they meet its required standards. Licensing Moves Robotaxi Service Closer To London Launch The vehicle licences satisfy one part of the “triple lock” requirement for private hire journeys in London, under which the operator, driver…
Amazon subsidiary Zoox has received approval from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to begin offering paid rides using its purpose-built autonomous robotaxis, marking a regulatory milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry. The exemption allows Zoox to commercially operate vehicles designed without traditional driving controls such as steering wheels or pedals. First Approval for Purpose-Built Robotaxis According to the NHTSA, Zoox is the first company in the United States to receive an exemption permitting commercial passenger service with a purpose-built autonomous vehicle lacking conventional manual controls. https://evmagz.com/zoox-recalls-robotaxi-software-after-smoke-filled-fire-scene-incident/ The exemption allows the company to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles…
Baidu has launched autonomous vehicle testing in London through its partnership with Lyft and Freenow, becoming the latest technology company to advance robotaxi development in the United Kingdom ahead of planned commercial services. The testing program, which began with human safety operators behind the wheel, follows the strategic partnership announced by Baidu and Lyft in 2025 to introduce Baidu’s purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis to major European markets. The autonomous vehicles will eventually be available through Freenow, the mobility platform acquired by Lyft in 2025. https://evmagz.com/baidus-apollo-go-expands-to-central-asia-through-kazakhstan-partnership/ London Becomes Key Robotaxi Testing Hub The initial fleet is operating within the London…
Mobileye reported largely stable second-quarter 2026 revenue while improving profitability, supported by higher operating income, continued progress in autonomous driving technologies and an increase in its full-year financial outlook. Profitability Improves as Guidance Raised The autonomous driving technology company reported second-quarter revenue of US$508 million, broadly unchanged from the same period last year. https://evmagz.com/mobileye-to-launch-own-robotaxi-service-with-plans-for-17000-autonomous-vehicles/ Adjusted operating income increased 46% year over year to US$155 million, supported primarily by a research and development incentive under Israeli law that was enacted during the quarter and applied retroactively to the beginning of 2026. On a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis, Mobileye reduced…
Aurora Innovation has introduced its second-generation driverless trucks, expanding its autonomous freight platform as the company prepares to increase commercial deployments across the United States. The new fleet will be deployed on Aurora’s commercial network, which currently includes 10 driverless freight routes across the U.S. Sun Belt, supporting additional customers as demand for autonomous trucking grows. https://evmagz.com/avi-spl-launches-autonomous-freight-operations-between-dallas-and-houston-with-volvo-and-aurora/ New Platform Designed for Scale Aurora said the second-generation trucks are based on the International LT Series Class 8 platform and incorporate the company’s latest self-driving hardware. https://twitter.com/aurora_inno/status/2079914638230032564 According to the company, the upgraded hardware is designed for an operational lifespan of up…
Zoox has issued a software recall for its robotaxi fleet after one of its autonomous vehicles encountered difficulties navigating a smoke-filled emergency fire scene during an incident in June. The Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company said it has deployed a software update across its fleet of 105 robotaxis to improve the vehicles’ ability to recognize and respond to emergency scenes obscured by heavy smoke. https://evmagz.com/zoox-redesigns-robotaxi-ahead-of-commercial-production-ramp-up/ Software Updated Following Investigation According to a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the incident occurred on June 20 when a Zoox robotaxi approached an active fire scene where dense smoke reduced…
MOIA has launched public trials of its autonomous ridepooling service in Hamburg, allowing selected residents to book rides in self-driving ID. Buzz electric vehicles as part of a pilot project designed to support the future deployment of autonomous public transport. The initiative is being carried out under the ALIKE project, which is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and aims to demonstrate how autonomous on-demand mobility services can complement existing public transport networks. Pilot begins with autonomous ID. Buzz fleet The initial service area covers parts of Winterhude, Barmbek and Wandsbek in Hamburg, where selected participants can…