Tag

Autonomous Vehicles

All articles tagged with #autonomous vehicles

business2 hours ago•11 min saved

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

technology19 hours ago•8 min saved

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

local2 days ago•5 min saved

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

technology3 days ago•4 min saved

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

business4 days ago•15 min saved

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

technology5 days ago•3 min saved

Waymo’s driverless fleet stranded in SF as July Fourth gridlock drains batteries

Waymo’s driverless cars in San Francisco were left stranded and several had to be towed after batteries drained in heavy Fourth of July traffic and fireworks-related congestion; one vehicle even caught fire after driving over fireworks, though no injuries were reported. The company said roadside assistance cleared the vehicles and that it’s evaluating ways to strengthen resilience in major disruptions.

via NBC News|

#autonomous-vehicles #fourth-of-july #san-francisco

technology5 days ago•7 min saved

Waymo Robotaxis Grounded by Fourth of July Gridlock in San Francisco

During San Francisco’s Fourth of July celebrations, some Waymo robotaxis stalled, ran out of charge while idling, or were towed amid severe gridlock, prompting the company’s roadside assistance to respond; Waymo said the disruptions were due to traffic and coordination with authorities, with no injuries reported. The company operates about 2,500 robotaxis across several US cities and relies on a multisensor system (29 cameras, five lidars, six radars) to drive autonomously.

via Business Insider|

#autonomous-vehicles #gridlock #robotaxi

business13 days ago•5 min saved

2040 Outlook: U.S. car market to shrink as demographics and prices bite

Bain & Company warns the U.S. auto market could decline by more than 2 million vehicles by 2040 due to slowing population growth, lower birth rates, high car prices, and shifting mobility preferences, with younger buyers delaying or forgoing new car purchases, longer vehicle lifespans, and potential delays in autonomous-vehicle adoption fueling intensified competition and industry consolidation.

via CNBC|

#auto-industry #autonomous-vehicles #business

technology14 days ago•13 min saved

DOT narrows brake-pedal rules for autonomous-only vehicles while keeping safety tests

Under the Automated Vehicle Framework, the NHTSA launched rulemaking to remove the manual brake-pedal mandate for ADS-only vehicles while preserving stopping-distance performance standards; vehicles with human controls remain subject to existing FMVSS 135 rules, and the agency will continue safety testing, enforcement, and recalls as it modernizes regulations to accelerate AV innovation.

via NHTSA | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (.gov)|

#autonomous-vehicles #av-framework #brake-pedal

technology21 days ago•2 min saved

Waymo recalls nearly 3,900 robotaxis over construction-zone software issue

Waymo is voluntarily recalling about 3,900 robotaxis in the U.S. to fix a software issue after multiple incidents of driving into closed freeway construction zones; it’s the second recall in a month, with freeway operations restricted while a remedy is developed, and service continues on surface streets as Waymo pursues international expansion and updates to its subscription model.

via CNBC|

#autonomous-vehicles #nhtsa #recall

technology22 days ago•5 min saved

Waymo Recalls 3,871 Robotaxis Over Risk of Driving Through Closed Construction Zones

Waymo is recalling 3,871 vehicles with its 5th Generation ADS due to a defect that can cause autonomous cars to enter or drive at highway speeds through freeway construction zones, caused by misprioritizing other hazards or failing to recognize closures. The recall is voluntary and followed incidents in Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area; Waymo has temporarily restricted freeway operations while a software remedy is developed, with a permanent fix to be delivered via an over-the-air update. This is Waymo’s fourth recall in around 28 months; no crashes or injuries have been reported, and the 6th Generation vehicles are not affected.

via WIRED|

#autonomous-vehicles #freeway-construction-zones #nhtsa

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

Nvidia Unveils Cosmos 3: An Open World Model to Train Real-World Robots

Nvidia launches Cosmos 3, an open AI world model trained on about 20 trillion multimodal tokens to simulate real-world actions for robots and autonomous vehicles, generating action data such as joint angles and trajectories to train systems to navigate and manipulate the physical world. Offered in a super version for high-physics tasks, a nano version for fast results, with an edge model coming later; Nvidia is building a coalition of partners to position Cosmos as a customizable platform for physical AI and real-world deployment.

via Axios|

#ai-models #autonomous-vehicles #cosmos-3

technology1 month ago•1 min saved

Inside Tesla's Self-Driving Doubts: Insiders Question FSD Safety

Reuters interviews with nine former data labelers and a former self-driving engineer who say Tesla’s Full Self-Driving is unreliable and potentially unsafe, with seven insiders saying they wouldn’t ride in a FSD-equipped car; they report speeding and other edge-case issues, and point to on-road incidents that challenge Elon Musk’s claim of 'safe unsupervised' rides.

via Futurism|

#artificial-intelligence #autonomous-vehicles #safety

technology1 month ago•11 min saved

Tesla Bets on Level 4 Robotaxi Autonomy in Texas

Texas enables commercial driverless transport; Tesla self-certified its robotaxi FSD as Level 4, taking on liability for autonomous operation in defined conditions, while consumer Teslas remain at Level 2; in Austin, the robotaxis are geofenced and receive extra training, marking a milestone without altering rules for consumer vehicles.

via Not a Tesla App|

#autonomous-vehicles #level-4 #robotaxi

technology1 month ago•6 min saved

Independence in a Driverless Car: Blind Riders Cheer Waymo's Solo Rides

Visually impaired riders in California describe Waymo’s driverless taxis as a rare source of solitude and control—being able to ride alone, choose music, and avoid human drivers—though higher costs, limited vehicle availability, and ongoing safety debates accompany the service as Waymo expands and partners with disability groups.

via The New York Times|

#autonomous-vehicles #disability #independence