Author: Maya Rios

U.S.-based autonomous drone delivery company Zipline said on Wednesday it will launch operations in Houston and Phoenix early this year, marking the next phase of its U.S. expansion following a $600 million funding round that values the company at $7.6 billion. The company said the new capital will support expansion into at least four U.S. states in 2026. Investors participating in the round included Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Valor Equity Partners and Tiger Global, alongside existing backers. Founded in 2014, Zipline has developed an end-to-end drone logistics ecosystem, including proprietary aircraft, launch and landing infrastructure, and logistics…

Waymo has launched its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the public in Miami, marking the company’s latest expansion as it scales commercial robotaxi operations in major U.S. cities. The service, which began on Jan. 22, covers an initial operating area of about 60 square miles spanning several of Miami’s most prominent neighborhoods, including the Design District, Wynwood, Brickell and Coral Gables. Waymo said nearly 10,000 residents have already joined the waitlist, with riders to be invited in phases as the fleet and service capacity expand. Waymo said it plans to extend coverage to Miami International Airport, although no timeline has…

John Krafcik, the former chief executive of Waymo, has intensified his criticism of Tesla’s self-driving strategy, arguing that the automaker’s reliance on cameras alone leaves its vehicles at a fundamental disadvantage compared with rivals that use multiple sensing technologies. Speaking in comments reported by Automotive News from the CES 2026 technology show, Krafcik said Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system suffers from inherent limitations because it lacks redundancy from sensors such as LiDAR and radar. John Krafcik, a longtime figure in the autonomous driving industry, said Tesla’s hardware configuration constrains what its artificial intelligence can reliably perceive. See also: Waymo Renames…

Forterra has selected Aeva Technologies to supply 4D LiDAR sensors for its AutoDrive autonomous vehicle platform, expanding the use of advanced perception technology in military ground systems operating in contested and GPS-denied environments. Under the agreement, Aeva’s 4D LiDAR will be integrated into Forterra’s AutoDrive perception suite, which is designed to support autonomous operation of ground vehicles across missions such as tactical logistics, convoy operations, combat support and forward reconnaissance. The companies said the technology is intended to improve situational awareness while reducing exposure of personnel in hazardous environments. Aeva’s sensors provide simultaneous position and velocity detection at ranges of…

McLeod Software has completed an application programming interface (API) integration with Aurora Innovation, allowing carriers to book and manage autonomous truck capacity directly within McLeod’s Transportation Management System (TMS). The integration, delivered ahead of schedule, enables McLeod customers running version 21.1 or newer to tender autonomous loads powered by Aurora Driver without leaving their existing workflows. The companies said the accelerated timeline reflected growing customer interest in accessing driverless trucking capacity as part of day-to-day operations. The embedded functionality provides dispatchers with real-time vehicle location tracking and automated status updates from Aurora Driver-equipped trucks, giving carriers continuous visibility throughout pickup…

RoboSense said its robotics-focused business delivered a breakout performance in 2025, with LiDAR shipments for robot applications reaching 303,000 units, underscoring rapid market expansion and the company’s growing position in robot perception technologies. In a statement released on Jan. 13, RoboSense said shipments in the segment rose 1,141.8% year on year, allowing the company to retain its leading market position. The company attributed the growth to rising adoption of LiDAR across a broad range of robotic applications and increased deployment of its latest solid-state and safety-focused products. See also: RoboSense Secures Near One Million-Unit LiDAR Order From Dongfeng Nissan To…

STEER Tech and Germany-based KINEXON have formed a strategic partnership to integrate autonomous navigation software with real-time location systems, aiming to improve precision, safety and coordination for industrial autonomous vehicles. The collaboration combines STEER Tech’s autonomy stack and fleet management platform with KINEXON’s real-time location and sensor technologies. The integrated solution is designed for use in depots, warehouses, factories and logistics centres, supporting autonomous vehicles (AVs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). See also: Kubota Debuts Autonomous M5 Narrow Tractor for Vineyard and Orchard Use The companies said the combined system is already operational at several sites…

Embotech said it has received TÜV SÜD EC-Type Examination certification for its Autonomous Tractor Solution, allowing the deployment of driverless terminal tractors in gated industrial environments across Europe. The certification grants CE marking approval for production use and makes Embotech the first company globally to hold two independently certified autonomous driving systems at SAE Level 4, the company said. The approval applies to operations without a human driver in controlled environments such as ports, logistics hubs and industrial yards. See also: White House Signals Push to Accelerate Autonomous Vehicle Commercialisation The TÜV SÜD certification covers functional safety, electrical safety, electromagnetic…

AEye said it has entered a strategic partnership with South Korea-based Vueron to integrate Vueron’s real-time 3D perception software into AEye’s OPTIS ecosystem, expanding the platform’s capabilities across automotive and infrastructure markets. Under the agreement, Vueron’s perception software will be combined with AEye’s Apollo lidar hardware, enabling real-time detection, classification and analysis of objects in complex environments. AEye said the integration strengthens its full-stack 3D visual awareness offering for applications including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, intelligent transportation systems, mining, rail safety and perimeter security. See also: AEye Launches Stratos Lidar With 1.5-Km Range in Compact Form Factor…

The White House is signalling a push to accelerate the commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles, with senior officials saying federal rulemaking could soon clear the way for cars without steering wheels, as lawmakers revive efforts to establish nationwide standards for the technology. Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said autonomous vehicles could be fully legalised within one to two years if regulators move faster. Speaking at a public discussion in Las Vegas on Jan. 7, Kratsios said, “Autonomous vehicles without steering wheels will be completely legalized within 1–2 years,” adding that the main…

Kubota unveiled its first commercially available autonomous tractor solution at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, marking a step toward wider use of artificial intelligence and automation in specialty crop farming. The system integrates AI and smart sensing technology into Kubota’s 105.7-horsepower diesel M5 Narrow tractor, designed for operations such as vineyards and orchards where narrow row spacing and precision work are required. The autonomous solution was developed in collaboration with Agtonomy, a U.S.-based company focused on AI and software services for agricultural automation. See also: Kubota’s KATR Autonomous Tractor Wins CES Innovation Award for Zero-Emission Farming Kubota said the autonomous…

Ford Motor said on Wednesday it plans to introduce Level 3 driver-assistance technology in 2028, enabling drivers to take their hands and eyes off the road while traveling on certain highways, as the automaker pushes deeper into software-driven features and new revenue models. The system will first be rolled out on a new electric vehicle platform being developed by a dedicated team in California, Ford said, with broader deployment planned across other models over time. The first vehicle on the platform will be a midsize electric pickup truck due to launch in 2027, targeting a starting price of about $30,000…

Chinese LiDAR manufacturer Hesai Group has been selected by U.S. chipmaker Nvidia as a LiDAR partner to support its Drive Hyperion 10 platform, a move aimed at accelerating deployment of Level 4 autonomous vehicle fleets. Hesai said on Tuesday it is among the latest partners certified to ensure sensor suite compatibility with Nvidia’s open, production-ready Drive Hyperion architecture. The platform integrates cameras, radar, LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors, allowing automakers and developers to build and validate perception systems optimized for highly automated driving. See also: Hesai Plans to Double Lidar Output in 2026 as Automotive and Robotics Demand Grows The company…

U.S.-based lidar maker AEye has unveiled Stratos, a third-generation lidar sensor capable of detecting objects at distances of up to 1.5 kilometers, as competition intensifies to deliver longer-range and higher-resolution perception systems for autonomous vehicles and other safety-critical applications. The new sensor significantly extends AEye’s range and resolution compared with its previous Apollo model, while retaining a compact form factor roughly the size of a smartphone. The company said the design allows Stratos to be mounted behind a vehicle windshield for automotive use, while still achieving detection ranges of around 500 meters in that configuration and up to 1.5 kilometers…

Nvidia on Monday announced Alpamayo, a new open-source family of artificial intelligence models, datasets and simulation tools that it says will enable autonomous vehicles to reason through complex driving situations, with the technology set to launch on U.S. roads later this year starting with the Mercedes-Benz CLA. Nvidia said Alpamayo represents what Chief Executive Jensen Huang described as the world’s first “thinking” autonomous vehicle AI, moving self-driving systems beyond perception toward structured reasoning and explainable decision-making. See also: Mercedes-Benz to Roll Out City Driving Assist System in U.S., Challenging Tesla https://twitter.com/nvidia/status/2008295422725681168 “It’s trained end-to-end — literally from camera in to…

Mercedes-Benz said on Monday it will introduce an advanced driver-assistance system in the United States later this year that allows vehicles to operate autonomously on city streets under driver supervision, expanding its software capabilities beyond highway driving. The system, branded MB.DRIVE ASSIST PRO, enables a vehicle to drive from a parking area to a destination, navigating city intersections, making turns and responding to traffic lights. The move positions Mercedes-Benz as a direct competitor to Tesla, which currently offers the only comparable system for urban driving in the U.S. through its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. See also: Mercedes-Benz Partners With Athos…

Boston-based startup Teradar made its first public showing at Consumer Electronics Show 2026 this week, presenting a flagship terahertz-based automotive sensor as it seeks to enter a market undergoing rapid technological and commercial change. The company, which emerged from stealth two months ago following a $150 million fundraising round, introduced its Summit sensor, describing it as a long-range, high-resolution system designed to operate in all weather conditions. Teradar is positioning the technology as a potential alternative to conventional radar and lidar sensors, which automakers have increasingly scrutinized over cost, performance and reliability concerns. See also: Kodiak AI Partners With Bosch…

Chinese lidar maker Hesai Technology has entered into a strategic partnership with Keeta Drone, the autonomous delivery arm of Meituan, to supply solid-state lidar sensors for next-generation urban delivery drones, the companies said. Under the agreement, Hesai will provide its second-generation FTX solid-state lidar for use in Keeta Drone’s future delivery platforms. The collaboration aims to support the expansion of low-altitude logistics networks by improving navigation accuracy, safety and reliability in dense urban environments. See also: Hesai Reaches 2 Million Lidar Deliveries, Secures Design Wins for 120-Plus Vehicle Models Keeta Drone operates autonomous delivery services across multiple Chinese cities, including…

Israeli autonomous driving software company Imagry has partnered with Toyota Tsusho Corp. to pilot a Level 4 autonomous bus system in Japan, aiming to address the country’s growing shortage of professional drivers and assess the commercial viability of self-driving public transport. The initiative will test an integrated autonomous bus solution on public roads, combining Imagry’s artificial intelligence software with Toyota Tsusho’s vehicle integration and logistics expertise. The companies said the pilot will evaluate the feasibility of deploying autonomous public transportation at scale using a standardized, production-ready platform. The project centers on a 6.9-meter electric midi-bus configured for autonomous operation. The…

Baidu will partner with U.S. ride-hailing companies Uber Technologies and Lyft to begin testing autonomous taxis in the UK, as global competition intensifies in the commercial rollout of self-driving vehicles. Uber said on Monday it will work with Baidu’s autonomous driving unit Apollo Go to launch a pilot robotaxi programme in London, with on-road testing expected to start in the first half of 2026. The announcement marks the first confirmed UK trial involving Baidu’s self-driving fleet. “We’re excited to accelerate Britain’s leadership in the future of mobility, bringing another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year,” Uber said…