Author: Maya Rios

Norway is set to introduce Europe’s first autonomous public bus service operating without a safety driver on board, following regulatory approval for deployment in the city of Stavanger. The approval was granted by Statens Vegvesen to transport operator Vy Buss, allowing the company to place an autonomous electric bus into regular service within the Kolumbus network. See also: Bertrandt Tests BumbleB Autonomous Shuttle in Stuttgart Mobility Project The project has been under development since 2022 and uses the autonomous Karsan e-ATAK bus manufactured by Karsan and equipped with autonomous driving technology from Adastec. The vehicle operates with Level 4 autonomy,…

An autonomous electric shuttle developed by Bertrandt has entered real-world testing in Stuttgart as part of a research initiative aimed at transforming corporate mobility and reducing reliance on private cars. The shuttle, named BumbleB, is being deployed within the IZSMO (Institutszentrum Stuttgart Mobility) project, led by Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in collaboration with Esslingen University. The project focuses on improving commuting options for employees at the Fraunhofer IZS campus by integrating multiple transport modes into a more sustainable system. See also: Bertrandt Unveils ‘BumbleB’ Autonomous Shuttle for Rural Mobility As part of the initiative, approximately 700 parking spaces…

Volkswagen Group’s mobility brand Moia is partnering with Beep, an Orlando-based operator of autonomous transport systems, to deploy large-scale shared autonomous shuttle services across the United States. The companies say their long-term ambition is to build a fleet of up to 5,000 vehicles, aimed primarily at public transportation use cases rather than private robotaxi rides. If realized, the deployment would rival the scale of Moia’s separate collaboration with Uber, which is targeting “thousands of vehicles” for robotaxi services. However, the Beep partnership diverges in its approach: instead of focusing on individual ride-hailing, the companies are prioritizing multi-passenger autonomous shuttles designed…

Waymo and Waze have launched a pilot program to provide pothole detection data gathered by autonomous vehicles to city transportation authorities across five U.S. metropolitan areas, in a move aimed at helping municipalities identify and repair road damage more quickly. The initiative integrates Waymo’s road condition detection data into the Waze for Cities platform, adding autonomous vehicle-generated information to the platform’s existing pool of user-submitted traffic and road reports. Waymo said its autonomous vehicles use perception systems and physical feedback sensors to detect potholes while operating on public roads. The data will be shared free of charge with participating municipal…

Turkish electric bus maker Karsan said its autonomous e-ATAK electric bus has received nationwide testing approval in France following a six-month pilot program in Paris. The approval was granted by France’s Directorate-General for Energy and Climate, the agency within the Ministry of Transport responsible for autonomous mobility authorization, Karsan said. The Level 4 autonomous electric bus completed testing with RATP Group on Paris Route 393, covering around 3,000 kilometers in real-world urban traffic conditions. Karsan said the vehicle achieved a 98% autonomous driving success rate without driver intervention during the trial. The project was carried out in partnership with autonomous…

Volkswagen subsidiary MOIA America and Uber have started testing autonomous microbuses in Los Angeles, as part of preparations to launch a commercial robotaxi service by late 2026. The companies said initial testing will begin in the coming weeks with around 10 autonomous versions of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. The production-ready vehicle is designed to carry up to four passengers. The Los Angeles rollout is the first phase of a broader plan announced last year to deploy autonomous ID. Buzz-based robotaxis across multiple U.S. cities over the next decade. https://twitter.com/Uber/status/2041960274375192686 “Los Angeles is a natural market to introduce our autonomous vehicles…

A major European research initiative led by Volkswagen AG has found that automated driving could significantly reduce road fatalities while improving energy efficiency, according to results from the Hi-Drive EU Flagship project. The study, conducted over 53 months using simulations based on real-world driving data, indicates that a 30% penetration of automated vehicles could reduce fatal motorway accidents by around 20%. In urban environments, fatalities could fall by approximately 22%, alongside even greater reductions in minor injury incidents. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland played a central role in assessing the broader impacts of automation on traffic systems, including safety,…

Waymo has launched its fully driverless ride-hailing service in Nashville, marking its 11th active market in the United States as the company continues to expand its commercial footprint. Starting April 7, selected users in the city can begin booking rides without a human driver via the Waymo app. Access will initially be limited, with invitations issued gradually to ensure what the company described as a “consistent, comfortable, and especially safe rider experience from day one.” https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/2041502503850619119 The service covers an area of approximately 60 square miles, including key districts such as Downtown, Midtown, Music Row and East Nashville. Waymo said…

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…