Author: Maya Rios

Collect&Go will begin testing driverless delivery vehicles in central Leuven from mid-May through August, as part of a pilot project aimed at improving last-mile logistics. The initiative is being conducted in partnership with Telenet, which will provide mobile network connectivity linking the vehicles to a remote security control centre. The pilot will use the Clevon 1, an autonomous delivery vehicle developed by Clevon and acquired in 2025 by indiGOtech. The compact electric vehicle, described by its developer as an “autonomous delivery robot,” operates without a steering wheel or pedals and is designed for urban environments, measuring 2.50 metres in length,…

Also, a company spun off from Rivian, has entered a strategic partnership with DoorDash to develop and deploy small autonomous electric vehicles for last-mile delivery in urban environments. The collaboration includes investment, joint product development, and plans for commercial deployment, focusing on purpose-built vehicles designed to operate in dense city areas such as cycle lanes, kerbsides, and road shoulders—spaces often inaccessible to conventional delivery vans. “ALSO is building purpose-built EVs that are designed to unlock new ways to meet customers and merchants where they are,” said Stanley Tang, co-founder and head of DoorDash Labs. “We’re excited to invest and partner…

Waymo said it is now providing 500,000 paid robotaxi rides per week across 10 U.S. cities, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commercial expansion of autonomous ride-hailing services. The company disclosed the figure in a social media post, highlighting a tenfold increase in weekly paid trips from around 50,000 in May 2024. The growth reflects both rising demand and an expanding operational footprint across the United States. See also: Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Four Additional U.S. Cities Over the past two years, Waymo has scaled beyond its initial markets of Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles to include…

General Motors is moving forward with the development of Level 3 automated driving technology, announcing plans to begin road testing in the United States using its flagship electric SUV, the Cadillac Escalade IQ, even as European rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz pull back from similar systems. The Detroit-based automaker said it will deploy a fleet of around 200 test vehicles equipped with the new system, each accompanied by a human safety driver. The trials mark a shift from earlier data-gathering efforts to active testing in real-world traffic conditions. Unlike GM’s existing Super Cruise, which operates at SAE Level 2 and requires…

Ride-hailing platform Uber has announced a partnership with electric vehicle maker Rivian to deploy a large-scale fleet of robotaxis, as part of its broader push into autonomous mobility. Under the agreement, Uber plans to invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian over the coming years, with the goal of bringing as many as 50,000 autonomous vehicles based on Rivian’s R2 electric SUV onto its platform. The deal includes an initial investment of $300 million, with additional funding tied to the achievement of development milestones in autonomous driving. The partnership marks Uber’s latest move in a series of collaborations aimed at…

Pony AI has partnered with Uber and Croatian startup Verne to launch what the companies describe as Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service, starting in Zagreb. The collaboration will initially deploy an autonomous vehicle fleet in Zagreb, where public road validation and testing are already underway. Pony AI will provide its autonomous driving technology, while Verne will own the fleet and oversee day-to-day operations. Uber will integrate the robotaxi offering into its global ride-hailing platform, alongside Verne’s own user-facing services. The partners plan to expand the fleet to thousands of vehicles over the coming years, with a broader rollout across additional…

Epiroc has secured a major order for autonomous and electric open-pit mining equipment in Africa, as mining companies increasingly adopt low-emission and automated solutions. The order, valued at 380 million Swedish kronor (approximately €35 million), includes a fleet of electrically powered Pit Viper 275 E rotary blast hole drill rigs. Epiroc said deliveries are set to begin shortly and are expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The company did not disclose the identity of the customer, the project location, or the specific country where the equipment will be deployed. “Epiroc is on the forefront of mining automation…

Zoox plans to make its robotaxis available for hailing through the Uber in Las Vegas later this year as part of a multi-year partnership between the two companies. The deployment depends on approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which must grant exemptions from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxis do not include traditional controls such as a steering wheel or pedals, requiring special regulatory clearance. The regulator has begun accepting public comments on Zoox’s request for exemptions. The company currently holds permission to operate its vehicles only in demonstration mode rather than for commercial…

Autonomous trucking technology developer PlusAI has released SuperDrive 6.0, the latest version of its self-driving software for commercial freight trucks, adding capabilities designed to support continuous operations including night driving and navigation through construction zones. The update marks a step toward the company’s goal of launching fully driverless commercial trucking using factory-built vehicles by 2027. SuperDrive 6.0-equipped trucks are already operating in commercial freight service in Texas, where construction zone handling has been activated while night-driving functionality is expected to be deployed in the coming weeks. See also: TRATON Group Commits Up to $25 Million to PlusAI to Speed Autonomous…

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has started ramping up pre-series production of its fully autonomous ID. Buzz AD electric van at its manufacturing plant in Hanover. The company said around 500 vehicles are expected to be produced by the end of this year for pilot projects in Europe and the United States. Full series production of the autonomous model is scheduled to begin in 2027. See also: Volkswagen Group Begins Urban Autonomous Testing of Gen.Urban Research Vehicle in Wolfsburg Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and its mobility subsidiary Moia have been developing the driverless version of the electric ID. Buzz for several years. The…

Coco Robotics has introduced its next-generation autonomous delivery robot, Coco 2, designed to expand urban logistics operations beyond sidewalks into bike lanes and roadways where local regulations permit. The Los Angeles-based company said the new robot marks a transition from partially human-guided delivery systems to fully autonomous operations, with the aim of enabling faster and more scalable last-mile delivery services. According to Coco Robotics, Coco 2 can reduce delivery times by up to 50% compared with its previous model while offering roughly three times longer operating uptime and improved performance in adverse weather conditions. The platform is powered by the…

Ryan Transportation has partnered with autonomous trucking developer Bot Auto to introduce fully driverless freight operations along a corridor connecting Houston and Dallas in the U.S. state of Texas, with commercial operations expected to begin in spring 2026. The initiative will integrate Bot Auto’s Level 4 autonomous trucks into Ryan Transportation’s brokerage network for freight runs covering the roughly 200-mile route between Houston and the southern part of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. The corridor is commonly used for overnight freight shipments that require consistent delivery schedules but can be difficult to staff because of driver fatigue and hours-of-service regulations. Robert…

Einride said it will receive an additional $113 million in funding as part of its planned merger with special purpose acquisition company Legato Merger Corp. The new capital will be raised through a private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing round involving institutional investors. The funding comes in addition to the approximately $219–220 million held in Legato’s trust account that will become available to the combined company once the merger is completed. See also: Einride Spins Off Design Unit, Sells Majority Stake to Navisalma Design Einride first announced in November that it intended to go public through a merger with…

Swedish self-driving truck startup Einride said on Tuesday it has spun off its internal design division and sold a majority stake in the newly formed entity to Navisalma Design, a studio founded by Einride co-founder Linnéa Kornehed Falck and partners. Einride will retain a minority ownership stake in the new company, according to a statement, and has entered into a three-year retainer agreement for brand, design, and marketing services. The divestment was completed through a business transfer at fair market value based on an independent third-party valuation. The company said separating the design organization — which covers product, industrial, and…

Autonomous logistics company Neolix said its Level 4 RoboVan fleet has surpassed 100 million kilometres of real-world driving, becoming the first company globally to reach that milestone in autonomous delivery vehicle operations. The company announced on Feb. 19 that more than 16,000 of its driverless vehicles are now deployed across 15 countries, marking a shift from pilot projects toward large-scale commercial use of autonomous logistics systems. “Reaching 100 million kilometers is more than a technical metric; it is a validation of our business model across diverse, complex, and unpredictable environments,” said founder and chief executive Enyuan Yu. “True autonomous capability…

Group transportation platform CharterUP has partnered with German autonomous vehicle developer Holon to incorporate self-driving shuttles into its U.S. mobility offerings, focusing on recurring services such as airport transfers and campus transport. CharterUP, which provides real-time booking, dynamic pricing and tracking for group travel across North America, said the partnership will prioritize long-term shuttle operations rather than occasional charter trips. The platform is widely used by corporations, universities and schools and has increasingly expanded into regular transport services. Holon, a startup spun off from automotive supplier Benteler in 2023, is developing the fully electric Holon Urban autonomous shuttle. The 15-seat…

EUROGATE and Embotech have begun a six-month pilot of Level-4 autonomous terminal tractors at the EUROGATE Container Terminal in Hamburg, aiming to evaluate real-world operational performance rather than technical feasibility alone. The project, which started in late January 2026, follows an earlier trial at Wilhelmshaven that confirmed the technical readiness of Embotech’s Autonomous Tractor Solution (ATS). The new phase focuses on measuring throughput, availability, and process stability under everyday terminal conditions. See also: EUROGATE, Embotech Complete Autonomous Tractor Pilot at Wilhelmshaven Terminal During the pilot, autonomous tractors will move containers between the rail terminal and the main container terminal, passing…

Waymo has started deploying the sixth generation of its autonomous driving system, marking a significant step in the Alphabet-owned company’s expansion of fully driverless ride-hailing services, while a separate report suggests Hyundai Motor may supply tens of thousands of electric vehicles for the fleet. The company said the updated “Waymo Driver,” introduced in 2024, is designed to improve operational efficiency without compromising safety. In a statement, Waymo described the system as one that “serves as the primary engine for our next era of expansion, with a streamlined configuration that drives down costs while maintaining our uncompromising safety standards.” The platform…

Aurora Innovation said its self-driving trucks can now haul freight nonstop over a 1,000-mile route between Fort Worth, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, a distance that exceeds what human drivers can legally cover without extended rest breaks. The company said the journey takes about 15 hours using driverless trucks, compared with significantly longer travel times for human operators constrained by U.S. federal hours-of-service rules. Regulations require truck drivers to take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving, limit driving time to 11 hours per shift and mandate a 10-hour rest period before resuming work. Chief Executive Chris Urmson said the…

Autonomous trucking technology company Pronto.ai has launched two new autonomous haulage system (AHS) editions, expanding its product lineup to cover operations ranging from small quarries to ultra-class deep-pit mining sites, the company said. The newly introduced Pronto AHS VLR and Pronto AHS VLR 360 systems add lidar and radar to Pronto’s existing vision-only autonomy platform, creating what the company describes as the industry’s first tiered autonomy architecture. The three systems are now offered under a unified portfolio branded as Pronto Editions. The launch follows a recent operational milestone at a quarry operated by Heidelberg Materials in Lake Bridgeport, Texas, where…