A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle technology firm under Alphabet, has secured a $5 billion loan from notable lenders including Blackstone and PIMCO. This marks Waymo's first debt financing, aimed at accelerating its commercial expansion in existing cities and entering new markets across the U.S., Europe...
Waymo has successfully increased the amount of its first debt raise to $5 billion. This move aims to secure additional funding to support the company's growth as it seeks to expand its robotaxi services on a global scale. The significance of this funding lies in Waymo's strategic push to enhance it...
Waymo, the U.S.-based robotaxi operator, has announced its intention to enter the Singapore market in 2028, marking its first venture into Southeast Asia. This move comes as the company aims to compete in a mobility landscape that is currently led by local firms such as Grab and ComfortDelGro. The...
Waymo has announced that teenagers as young as 13 can now use its robotaxi service in Nashville, marking a significant expansion strategy aimed at attracting a new demographic of riders. This initiative follows the launch of a similar program in Phoenix last year, with plans for further expansions i...
Waymo has introduced a new initiative that provides a $2.85 credit to customers using a Visa card for robotaxi rides within two hours of public transit. This program aims to encourage the use of Waymo's robotaxis as a connection to public transportation, starting in the San Francisco-Bay Area. The...
Waymo has announced its intention to introduce a fully autonomous, all-electric ride-hailing service in Singapore by 2028. This initiative marks the company's expansion into international markets, alongside planned launches in Tokyo, London, and Munich. Collaborating with Singapore’s Ministry of Tra...
Waymo has announced plans to introduce its paid robotaxi service in Singapore by 2028. This initiative marks a significant step in the company's ongoing expansion efforts, both domestically and internationally, as it seeks to broaden its footprint in the autonomous vehicle market. The introduction...
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned company, has announced its intention to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Singapore by 2028. The company will begin deploying its vehicles to Singapore in the coming months to prepare for mapping and autonomous testing, which will involve human safety drivers in 2027....
Waymo has restarted its robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, five months after a flash flood incident caused disruptions. In April, several Waymo vehicles became stuck in floodwaters, prompting the company to issue a recall in May and restrict operations in flood-prone areas. The resumption of s...
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) launched its Cybercab on September 3 in Austin, Texas, but the event fell short of expectations, leading to a quick decline in stock value. The company showcased a brief video of the two-seat, steering-wheel-free vehicle, but investors were left wanting more details on depl...
Waymo has announced plans to initiate commercial driverless taxi services in Tokyo in 2027. This move marks a significant advancement in autonomous driving technology within Japan, a market that presents unique challenges such as regulatory hurdles and established industry practices. The introducti...
Waymo has officially launched its robotaxi service for the public in Las Vegas, shortly after receiving final approval from Nevada transportation regulators. The service will initially be available to select riders, utilizing a fleet of new Ojai minivan robotaxis in a designated area of Las Vegas, i...
Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo has officially expanded its paid robotaxi service to Las Vegas, making it the 15th city in the United States to offer this innovative transportation solution. This expansion is significant as it reflects Waymo's ongoing commitment to enhancing urban mobility through autonomous...
Lyft, Inc. has initiated the offering of Waymo's fully autonomous robotaxi rides via its app in Nashville, marking a significant step in their partnership. This collaboration allows Lyft users to access Waymo vehicles without additional costs, enhancing Lyft's role in the autonomous vehicle ecosyste...
Amazon.com Inc.'s Zoox is entering the competitive robotaxi market in San Francisco, directly challenging Waymo and Tesla. The company has received a federal exemption to deploy up to 2,500 purpose-built robotaxis annually for two years, although its service operates under California's driverless pi...
In San Francisco, a Waymo robotaxi called the police on two juvenile passengers found with a loaded AR-style ghost gun. The incident led to their arrest and transfer to juvenile hall. Waymo confirmed that the vehicle detected a violation of its terms of service involving a firearm, prompting it to a...
Lyft Inc. has commenced the provision of Waymo robotaxi rides in Nashville, making it the second city in the United States to feature these driverless services. This initiative highlights Lyft's efforts to enhance its competitive edge in the autonomous vehicle market. The introduction of Waymo's ro...
Tesla has officially launched its fully autonomous Cybercab in Austin, Texas, with a fleet of approximately 50 operational vehicles. This marks a significant step towards the company's goal of revolutionizing urban transportation with robotaxis. Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew Percoco noted that Wall...
Amazon.com, Inc.'s Zoox and Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo are intensifying their efforts in the robotaxi sector, with both companies expanding their testing and commercial services across multiple U.S. cities. Zoox plans to initiate testing in Houston and San Diego, increasing its operational presence to 12...
Uber and Wayve have launched a new robotaxi service in London, aiming to compete with Waymo's autonomous vehicle offerings. This initiative addresses the unique challenges posed by London's centuries-old road infrastructure, which differs significantly from the environments in Los Angeles and San Fr...
Uber has successfully launched the first commercial robotaxi service in London, surpassing Waymo in this milestone. The service utilizes autonomous driving technology developed by Wayve, a UK startup, and will initially include human safety drivers in the vehicles. This launch marks a significant st...
Waymo is nearing the completion of negotiations to secure debt financing for the first time, aiming to raise over $3 billion. The company is collaborating with lenders such as Pacific Investment Management Co. as part of this initiative. This financing is significant as it marks Waymo's first ventu...
Waymo recently asserted that fully autonomous vehicles require a combination of sensors, criticizing Tesla's reliance on end-to-end AI systems. This statement came just before Tesla's anticipated launch of its Cybercab on September 3, which is part of its expanding robotaxi fleet. Waymo's claims spa...
Waymo has launched its robotaxi service in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, marking the company's expansion to 14 U.S. cities. The rollout will occur gradually, inviting riders over time while increasing the fleet of self-driving vehicles, which now exceeds 4,000 units, including Jaguar I-Pace hatchbac...
Waymo has commenced paid driverless rides in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, marking its first commercial operations in Colorado. This expansion adds to Waymo's existing fleet of over 4,000 vehicles across 14 U.S. cities, which includes the new Ojai model featuring advanced driverless technology. The...
Waymo is set to introduce paid robotaxi rides in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, Florida. This expansion increases the total number of U.S. cities with access to its driverless ride-hail service to 14. The move is significant as it demonstrates Waymo's commitment to scaling its autonomous vehicle tec...
Former Lyft drivers in Nashville are finding new opportunities in the autonomous vehicle sector by working with Waymo's robotaxi fleet. Jonathan Baines, a former Lyft driver, now oversees operations at a facility run by Lyft's Flexdrive subsidiary, ensuring the robotaxis are ready for passengers. Th...
The scaling of robotaxis by Waymo and Zoox has resulted in over two dozen injuries among test drivers in 2024 and 2025, primarily due to sudden braking and movements. According to data reviewed by TechCrunch, these incidents include sprains, strains, and whiplash, with some drivers sidelined for ext...
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, announced its intention to introduce robotaxi rides in Germany by 2027, marking its third international market and first in the European Union. The company will begin phased testing in Munich in the coming weeks, aiming to adapt its technology to the city's unique dr...
Waymo announced its intention to introduce a robotaxi service in Munich, following the establishment of a local entity in Germany. The company must navigate mapping, testing, and regulatory challenges before commencing commercial operations. Initially, Waymo will manually drive vehicles to map Munic...
Waymo has made significant strides in its robotaxi expansion, recently launching its sixth-generation Ojai robotaxi for riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This next-gen vehicle is designed to be more cost-effective in terms of production, operation, and maintenance, which is essentia...
Waymo has submitted initial documents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding a January incident where a robotaxi struck a child in Santa Monica, California. The documents, which were redacted due to confidential business information, indicate that the investigation i...
Waymo has disclosed new technical specifications of its onboard computing system that powers its autonomous driving technology. This system features a custom-built 5 nm ASIC that delivers over 1,000 TOPS of machine learning performance, designed to operate under challenging conditions encountered by...
The Nevada Transportation Authority has granted permits to Tesla, Uber, and Waymo to operate commercial robotaxi services in Clark County, allowing for the deployment of up to 8,000 robotaxis over the next year. Tesla can deploy 5,000 vehicles, while Waymo and Uber are each permitted to operate 1,00...
Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo has announced the development of a custom chip aimed at enhancing the performance of its robotaxis. This initiative marks a significant step for Waymo as it seeks to reduce reliance on third-party chip suppliers, notably Nvidia Corp. The introduction of this custom chip is cru...
Waymo has officially opened its next-generation robotaxi, the Ojai, to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This marks a significant step for the Alphabet company as it aims to expand its fleet with vehicles that are more cost-effective to build, operate, and maintain. Currently, W...
Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to significantly expand its driverless ride-hailing services across the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, while also introducing services in Sacramento and San Diego. This expansion is set to be...
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated that the partnership with Waymo remains strong, despite speculation of a rift following the end of their Phoenix collaboration. Khosrowshahi emphasized ongoing operations in Atlanta and Austin, asserting that Waymo is a crucial partner for Uber's robotaxi services....
Waymo has eliminated the waitlist for its robotaxi service in Dallas, allowing all residents and visitors to access the service. This development marks a significant step in the company's efforts to expand its self-driving technology across the United States and beyond. The opening of the service t...
Waymo is gradually reintroducing freeway routes to its robotaxi service, starting in Phoenix, after a two-month pause due to safety concerns near construction zones. The company announced this development on X, indicating that more cities, including Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, will f...
Waymo and other robotaxi operators are facing heightened scrutiny regarding their autonomous vehicles' interactions with emergency responders. This follows incidents where autonomous vehicles obstructed ambulances and failed to recognize safety signals, prompting Rep. Kevin Mullin to propose new fed...
Waymo has announced the resumption of its robotaxi service in San Francisco after a one-hour pause due to a power outage affecting approximately 7,000 PG&E customers. The company made temporary adjustments to its operations while assessing the situation and coordinating with local officials. A spoke...
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has requested state regulators to enhance rules governing autonomous vehicles following a significant traffic jam caused by Waymo robotaxis on July 4. The incident, which left thousands stranded, highlighted the inadequacies of California's current regulatory framewo...
Zipline is enhancing its drone delivery services in the U.S. by hiring former executives from Tesla, Uber, and Waymo to support its expansion. The company has achieved over 2.5 million commercial deliveries and is currently making one delivery every 20 seconds. With a factory capable of producing 24...
A proposed bill in Washington, D.C. aims to permit autonomous vehicles, becoming a focal point for Uber's robotaxi strategy. Uber opposes the bill, claiming it would favor Waymo and threaten human drivers' jobs. The company advocates for a hybrid model that integrates human drivers with robotaxis, e...
Kleiner Perkins partner Ilya Fushman emphasized that artificial intelligence is in its nascent phase of transforming the economy. He noted that opportunities span from advanced models like Anthropic to consumer agents, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Fushman believes that physical AI could lead...
Waymo reported a firearm detection during a ride, leading to the arrest of two teenagers. This incident highlights significant privacy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles. The company stated that it detected a violation of its terms of service and contacted law enforcement, raising questions abou...
Lyft has achieved a significant milestone by integrating Waymo robotaxis into its app in Nashville. This partnership allows Lyft to manage fleet services, vehicle maintenance, and depot operations through its subsidiary Flexdrive, enabling customers to hail Waymo robotaxis via both the Waymo and Lyf...
Recent investigations reveal that test drivers for Waymo and Zoox sustained over two dozen injuries in 2024 and 2025 due to sudden movements of autonomous vehicles. Injuries included whiplash, leading to extended recovery times for affected workers. This raises concerns about the safety of test driv...
Uber and Waymo are currently in opposition regarding a proposed bill in Washington, D.C. that would allow autonomous vehicles to operate. Uber argues that the bill would displace human drivers and grant Waymo a monopoly, advocating instead for a hybrid model that includes human drivers alongside rob...
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