Tags: autonomous vehicles

Waymo is partnering with transit‑technology firm Via to embed its driverless robotaxis into Chandler, Arizona’s Flex microtransit service. Riders will book rides through the Chandler Flex app and may be matched with Waymo’s autonomous vehicles, which will operate on a fixed schedule and flat‑fee structure. The collaboration builds on Waymo’s earlier experiments linking robotaxis to public‑transit hubs in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and follows similar microtransit pilots by other autonomous‑driving startups. Officials view the partnership as a way to broaden access to driverless mobility while complementing existing bus routes. Lire la suite

Waymo is rapidly extending its driverless ride‑hailing service to a growing list of U.S. markets and its first overseas location. New partnerships with Lyft, Avis Budget Group, Moove and Japanese taxi firms are set to bring autonomous vehicles to additional urban centers, while the company continues to develop its next‑generation self‑driving technology. The rollout includes both fully autonomous operations in several cities and mixed fleets that combine driver‑less and manually operated vehicles as Waymo refines its capabilities for diverse weather and road conditions. Lire la suite

Waymo announced a partnership with Lyft to bring a robotaxi service to Nashville, planning to test a fleet of all‑electric Jaguar I‑Pace vehicles before opening the service to the public. Lyft will handle fleet services through its Flexdrive subsidiary and invest in a dedicated autonomous‑vehicle facility. Riders will initially hail rides via the Waymo app, with future integration into the Lyft app. The arrangement mirrors Waymo’s earlier collaborations but differs from its Uber partnership, where customers must use the Uber app for robotaxi rides. Lire la suite

Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle firm, announced plans to introduce a robotaxi service in Nashville in 2026. The rollout will initially use the Waymo One app for ride requests, later expanding to Lyft’s platform. Lyft will manage fleet operations through its Flexdrive system, handling maintenance, cleaning and electric‑vehicle charging. The partnership follows earlier collaborations in Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta, and marks a significant step toward broader commercial deployments across multiple U.S. cities. Lire la suite

Waymo is preparing to bring its autonomous robotaxis to Nashville, with initial testing slated for the coming months and full public service expected by 2026. Riders will be able to request rides through the Waymo app, and Lyft will eventually match its users with Waymo vehicles in the city. The company already operates driverless fleets in five U.S. markets and is expanding its footprint to include Denver, Seattle, Miami and Washington, D.C., while also securing test permissions in New York City and conducting early trials in Tokyo with human‑driven cars. Lire la suite

Waymo has obtained a Testing and Operations Pilot Permit from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), allowing the autonomous‑vehicle company to begin a three‑phase testing program at the airport. The agreement follows years of negotiations and follows recent clearance to test at nearby San Jose Mineta International Airport. The permit will let Waymo initially operate its driver‑less cars with a trained specialist onboard, later expand to employee passenger trials, and eventually offer paid rides in the airport’s Kiss & Fly area. Waymo sees SFO as a key step toward broader commercial service and further expansion in the Silicon Valley region. Lire la suite

Uber has partnered with Chinese autonomous‑vehicle firm Momenta to launch a robotaxi pilot in Munich, Germany. The service, slated for 2026, will use Momenta's Level 4 self‑driving technology integrated with Uber’s ride‑sharing platform. Safety drivers will initially be on board while the companies seek German certification for geofenced operations. The move follows a wave of autonomous‑vehicle testing across Europe and reflects Uber’s shift toward partnerships after ending its own self‑driving car program. Lire la suite

Ride‑hailing giant Uber and Chinese autonomous‑vehicle startup Momenta announced plans to launch robotaxi testing in Munich, Germany, beginning in 2026. The partnership will initially involve human safety operators on board while the vehicles operate in geo‑fenced zones, marking Momenta’s first‑ever deployment in Europe. Uber aims to expand the service to other markets, positioning the collaboration against competing AV initiatives from other ride‑hailing firms. Both companies will need to satisfy German regulators before commercial rollout. Lire la suite

Uber has partnered with Shanghai‑based autonomous‑driving firm Momenta to conduct Level 4 driverless robotaxi trials in Munich. The collaboration will see Momenta’s self‑driving vehicles operating without safety drivers within a defined geographic area, marking a significant step for Europe’s nascent robotaxi market. Momenta, backed by investors such as SAIC Motor, GM, Toyota, Mercedes‑Benz and Bosch, currently supplies driver‑assist software to several automakers. The test is slated to begin in the coming years, with the aim of expanding the service to other European cities if successful. Lire la suite

Tesla has made its Robotaxi smartphone app available to anyone with an iPhone in the United States, allowing users to join a waitlist for the autonomous ride‑hailing service. Android support is slated for later, and the company has shifted its safety monitor from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat as it expands its geofenced operating area in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. Lire la suite

Waymo has received clearance to begin testing robotaxi (autonomous) rides at San Jose Mineta International Airport, marking its first airport service in California. The company plans to move from testing to commercial rides later this year. Waymo previously opened curbside service at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport and expanded to 24/7 operation, reporting hundreds of thousands of trips. Its fleet now exceeds 2,000 vehicles across multiple U.S. markets, and the firm continues to announce expansion to additional cities including Denver, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Lire la suite

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous‑driving unit, is rapidly extending its robotaxi service across the United States and abroad. The company announced upcoming operations in Denver and Seattle, early testing in Dallas, and a renewed presence in New York City with autonomous pilots in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn. Waymo also outlined plans for Washington, DC, and Miami in 2026, while continuing its Tokyo pilot with local taxi partners. New vehicle partnerships—including Jaguar I‑Pace, Zeekr RT, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and a sixth‑generation driver system—are set to broaden the fleet’s capabilities, especially in challenging weather and freeway environments. Lire la suite

Waymo announced that it will introduce its Jaguar I-Pace SUV and Zeekr‑made van to Denver and Seattle this week, initially operating the vehicles manually before commencing autonomous testing. The company aims to launch robotaxi trips in Denver next year and in Seattle as soon as regulatory approval is granted. The move adds two extreme‑weather cities to Waym o’s growing U.S. footprint, which already includes more than 2,000 robotaxis nationwide and plans for further commercial launches in Dallas, Miami and Washington, D.C. Lire la suite

Tesla unveiled its fourth “Master Plan,” outlining ambitions to lead in humanoid robots, sustainable energy and autonomous services. Critics say the document lacks concrete details, repeating broad language without measurable targets. The plan follows earlier master plans that promised specific products such as a solar‑roof‑with‑battery, compact SUVs, a semi‑truck, a pickup and an electric bus, many of which remain unrealized or in limited testing. Observers note that while Tesla is experimenting with an invite‑only robotaxi service, safety monitors still ride in the passenger seat, highlighting the gap between the vision and current capabilities. Lire la suite

Runway, the New York‑based AI visual‑generation company, is expanding beyond entertainment into robotics and self‑driving car markets. After seven years developing world‑model video and photo generators, the company has attracted interest from robotics firms seeking cost‑effective training simulations. Co‑founder and CTO Anastasis Germanidis says Runway will fine‑tune its existing models for these industries and build a dedicated robotics team, while investors such as Nvidia, Google and General Atlantic back the effort. Lire la suite