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Autonomous Vehicles

All articles tagged with #autonomous vehicles

Robotaxis multiply, regulators scramble to set the rules
technology9 hours ago

Robotaxis multiply, regulators scramble to set the rules

Robotaxis are expanding across U.S. cities, but a patchwork of state and local rules, union opposition, and safety concerns are shaping how quickly fleets grow. While companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla push for clearer federal and local oversight and funding for transit and worker retraining, regulators are weighing testing requirements, first-responder coordination, and vehicle-safety standards, all amid worries about jobs, urban mobility, and the pace of deployment.

via The Verge|
#autonomous-vehicles#regulation#robotaxis
Uber Posts Solid Q2, but Q3 Guidance Falls Short of Expectations
business20 days ago

Uber Posts Solid Q2, but Q3 Guidance Falls Short of Expectations

Uber reported in-line Q2 2026 earnings (EPS $0.81) on revenue of $14.19B, with net income of $2.39B. Mobility revenue was $7.36B and delivery $5.25B, while total bookings reached $58B, beating estimates. For Q3, management guided bookings of about $59.25B (mid) and EPS of $0.84–$0.88, both below consensus. Shares fell after the print. The company is expanding into deliveries via a $14.8B deal for Delivery Hero and plans to invest over $10B to bring autonomous vehicles to market, with ongoing changes in robotaxi partnerships and regulatory milestones (e.g., London licensing with Wayve).

via CNBC|
#autonomous-vehicles#business#earnings
IIHS Finds Waymo Safer Than Humans—With Notable Data Caveats
technology29 days ago

IIHS Finds Waymo Safer Than Humans—With Notable Data Caveats

The IIHS study reports Waymo driverless taxis had a substantially lower crash involvement rate than human drivers overall (68% lower, with city variations) based on cleaned data from 2021–2024. However, the dataset is very small and selectively cleaned—only 89 Waymo crashes with automation out of 736 incidents, and mileage data is available only for Waymo—raising questions about statistical significance and underscoring the need for better data collection on L4 vehicles.

via Jalopnik|
#autonomous-vehicles#crash-data#iihs
Waymo robo-taxis safer than humans by 68% in IIHS study, but data limits temper the finding
technology1 month ago

Waymo robo-taxis safer than humans by 68% in IIHS study, but data limits temper the finding

IIHS analyzed 2021–2024 crash data and found Waymo’s autonomous taxis had 68% fewer police-reported crashes per million miles than the average human driver (1.28 vs 4.06) over about 50 million Waymo miles, with crashes typically less severe and not primarily Waymo’s fault. However, data limitations—such as miles driven not uniformly reported, exclusion of highway miles, and small-sample effects in Austin—mean the finding should be interpreted cautiously when comparing robo-taxis to an 'average' human driver.

via Electrek|
#autonomous-vehicles#iihs#robotaxi
Waymo mulls cut from Uber as robotaxi tensions surge
technology1 month ago

Waymo mulls cut from Uber as robotaxi tensions surge

Alphabet’s Waymo is exploring an exit from its Uber partnership amid a fierce robotaxi lobbying battle and mounting tensions over rollout strategies. Waymo plans to operate in Austin and Atlanta independently from January 2028 when contracts permit, while Uber says it will continue to offer Waymo services through May 2028. Waymo runs about 3,800 vehicles across ten cities and recently raised $16 billion at a $126 billion valuation to fund expansion, intensifying the split’s potential impact on Uber’s autonomous ambitions as both sides push for favorable regulation and control over co-operated markets amid disputes over service quality, routing, and costs.

via Financial Times|
#autonomous-vehicles#partnerships#robotaxis
Uber Bets on Hybrid Networks to Shape AV Regulation and Slow Robotaxi Adoption
business1 month ago

Uber Bets on Hybrid Networks to Shape AV Regulation and Slow Robotaxi Adoption

Uber is pursuing a strategy to be the platform connecting riders to both human drivers and autonomous vehicles, signing deals with multiple AV makers while pushing for 'hybrid network' rules that would keep human drivers involved for years and potentially bottleneck standalone robotaxi apps in places like New Jersey and Washington, D.C. The effort, framed as worker protection and competition control, complements Uber’s existing partnerships with firms like Waymo as it seeks to influence AV regulation and market structure.

via WIRED|
#autonomous-vehicles#business#hybrid-networks
VW’s Bold Overhaul: Half the Lineup and Up to 100,000 Jobs at Risk
business1 month ago

VW’s Bold Overhaul: Half the Lineup and Up to 100,000 Jobs at Risk

Volkswagen weighs a drastic restructuring that could cut up to half its model lineup, reduce annual production to about 9 million vehicles and lay as many as 100,000 workers amid rising costs, competition, and tariffs, with possible German plant closures and strong union opposition. The report also covers talk of ending steering-wheel mandates for driverless cars in the U.S., BMW’s luxury-sales strength in H1 2026, Tata’s plan to invest heavily in Jaguar Land Rover to reach roughly $45–$50 billion in revenue by 2031, and rising gas prices tied to geopolitical tensions.

via Jalopnik|
#auto-industry#autonomous-vehicles#business
Robotaxis Block SF Emergencies, Triggering Scrutiny
technology1 month ago

Robotaxis Block SF Emergencies, Triggering Scrutiny

Since April 2025, San Francisco firefighters have filed at least 31 internal reports accusing Waymo and other robotaxi operators of obstructing emergency operations, causing delays and forcing responders to move stalled vehicles—including several incidents during life-threatening calls and the 2025 PG&E blackout when dozens of AVs were stranded. Regulators are examining the issue: California has laws requiring AVs to answer emergency calls quickly and to allow blocking certain areas, and SF Supervisor Connie Chan plans legislation to cite companies for obstructions. Waymo says it trains for first responders, maintains a 24/7 emergency line, and uses incident reports to improve, while noting these reports reflect the agencies’ perspective and that most AV interactions with emergency vehicles are safe; critics urge standardized reporting and faster fixes.

via The San Francisco Standard|
#autonomous-vehicles#emergency-services#regulation
San Francisco to Probe Waymo's Role in Fourth of July Traffic Chaos
local1 month ago

San Francisco to Probe Waymo's Role in Fourth of July Traffic Chaos

San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood plans a two-week inquiry asking city agencies how autonomous vehicles, including Waymo, affected transit service, emergency response, and egress during the Fourth of July fireworks turnout that exceeded expectations. Residents reported a robotaxi gridlock and long delays; Waymo said some vehicles were stalled or towed, while Muni officials apologized and noted the event’s northwestern location constrained transit. The inquiry targets Emergency Management, Fire, and MTA to determine what could be done better for future large events.

via KQED|
#autonomous-vehicles#fourth-of-july#gridlock
Waymo reports teen riders to police after in-car mischief
technology1 month ago

Waymo reports teen riders to police after in-car mischief

A Waymo self-driving car in San Mateo contacted police after two 15-year-olds allegedly drank alcohol and fired toy guns inside the vehicle; officers detained the youths. Waymo says its cars have internal cameras and live support for emergencies and safety, but it does not use facial recognition. A separate incident in Santa Monica involved teens taking selfies and firing Orbeez from a Waymo, prompting police response.

via Los Angeles Times|
#autonomous-vehicles#police#safety
Tesla expands robotaxi reach to Miami, nudging TSLA higher
business1 month ago

Tesla expands robotaxi reach to Miami, nudging TSLA higher

Tesla shares rose about 1.5% after the company expanded its Full Self-Driving-powered Robotaxi service into parts of Miami, broadening its autonomous mobility network. Initial operations are limited to western/central Miami, with downtown and Miami Beach not yet served, following an earlier deployment in Austin. The move positions Tesla closer to competition with Waymo as it scales in more U.S. markets.

via Yahoo Finance|
#autonomous-vehicles#business#miami