Author: Maya Rios

Kodiak AI and Charger USA have begun a collaboration to transport refrigerated and dry freight using trucks equipped with Kodiak’s autonomous driving system, the Kodiak Driver, on a 435-mile route between the companies’ terminals in Dallas and Laredo, Texas. The service carries freight for consumer packaged goods and food and beverage customers. The companies completed their first delivery on September 8, 2026, and are currently operating with a safety driver behind the wheel. Kodiak and Charger intend to transition the route to driverless operations once Kodiak completes its safety case, a structured, evidence-based assessment intended to demonstrate that its autonomous…

German public transport technology provider INIT has acquired a 67.74% stake in Norwegian technology company Applied Autonomy, expanding its capabilities in the management and monitoring of autonomous vehicle fleets. The acquisition was completed on October 1, 2026. Applied Autonomy, headquartered in Kongsberg, Norway, develops software for operating, monitoring and coordinating autonomous vehicles in public transport, airport operations and logistics. The company will become part of INIT’s Integrated Systems business unit. The transaction gives INIT access to Applied Autonomy’s xFlow platform, which connects autonomous vehicles with transport operations and control systems. The software does not develop or control the underlying autonomous…

BYD’s premium brand Denza plans to introduce its God’s Eye City Navigation Driving Assistant (CNOA) system in Europe in 2027, with the Z9 GT station wagon set to become the first model from the automaker to receive the technology in the region. The company disclosed the plan at the Paris Motor Show 2026. The software is expected to reach the Z9 GT through an over-the-air update, subject to the required European type approval. Denza markets the system under the God’s Eye name. Although designed to assist with urban navigation, it is a Level 2 driver-assistance system, meaning drivers must continue…

General Motors (GM) remains on track to introduce a next-generation driving system designed to allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and their eyes off the road under certain conditions by 2028, CEO Mary Barra told CNBC on Monday. GM announced in October 2025 that the technology would debut in the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028 before expanding to other models. The planned system would extend beyond the capabilities of the company’s existing Super Cruise driver-assistance technology, which permits hands-free driving on supported roads but requires drivers to remain attentive. Speaking to CNBC’s Jim Cramer on…

Uber and Pony.ai plan to begin testing autonomous vehicles in London in the coming weeks, extending their partnership into the UK and expanding their presence in the robotaxi market. The tests are expected to use Pony.ai’s Gen-7 robotaxis. The companies have not disclosed who will own or operate the London fleet, although the arrangement is expected to follow a model similar to their existing service in Zagreb, Croatia. https://twitter.com/PonyAI_tech/status/2108120218912342290 London Testing to Use Pony.ai Technology Under the anticipated operating model, Pony.ai would provide the autonomous-driving technology, while Uber would connect the service to its ride-hailing platform. Details of the London…

Volkswagen has reportedly selected British artificial intelligence startup Wayve as a technology partner for future autonomous driving systems, following an internal evaluation involving several technology providers. According to a report by Der Spiegel citing three people familiar with the process, Wayve emerged ahead of Nvidia and other candidates after Volkswagen tested competing systems in a major city in southern Germany. The British startup reportedly performed strongly on both technical and financial considerations. Wayve Reportedly Wins Internal Evaluation The reported evaluation comes as Volkswagen seeks to strengthen its autonomous driving technology and improve its position in an increasingly competitive market for…

South Korean autonomous driving AI software company RideFlux has signed a memorandum of understanding with KG Mobility (KGM), Hyundai Mobis, and several industry and government-affiliated organisations to advance software-defined vehicle (SDV) technology and autonomous driving systems for KGM vehicles. The agreement was signed as part of activities under the M.AX Alliance, led by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Other participating organisations include the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology, Korea Automobile Testing and Research Institute, and Korea Intelligent Automotive Parts Promotion Institute. KGM to Adopt SDV…

Kodiak AI plans to launch unsupervised long-haul driverless service between Dallas and Houston by the end of 2026, following a series of intervention-free freight deliveries on the route using its driverless-ready hardware and software platform. Final Testing Underway for Driverless Launch Kodiak AI began its driverless long-haul launch program in August and now consistently completes deliveries between its Lancaster, Texas, hub and Houston without human intervention. The company said safety observers have not touched the steering wheel during these end-to-end deliveries, including while the trucks operate on surface streets. The program is intended to complete the testing and validation required…

Autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora expects to have more than 30,000 self-driving trucks on U.S. roads generating $5 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2030, a substantial expansion from its expected 200 driverless trucks and $80 million revenue run rate at the end of 2026, according to TechCrunch. Aurora Chief Financial Officer David Maday said the target represents a relatively small share of the overall heavy-truck market. The company expects the number of driverless trucks on the road to increase to more than 1,000 by the end of 2027. Aurora Plans to Shift Business Model Aurora currently operates…

The European Union’s approval process for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) driver assistance system is facing further delays, with the next meeting of the responsible EU committee scheduled to continue discussions rather than hold a vote. A Europe-wide decision would therefore be possible at the earliest in December. Tesla received its first European approval for FSD Supervised in April from the Dutch road authority RDW. The authorization is not a standard EU type approval but a provisional approval under Article 39 of EU Regulation 2018/858, which provides a route for new technologies or technical concepts not fully covered by existing EU…

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…