transportation - Tech News from Simmons Systems

Tech News from Simmons Systems

transportation

A collection of 138 posts

Waymo Prepares Robotaxi Expansion to Four Additional U.S. Cities

Waymo announces plans to bring its robotaxi service to Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis as it rapidly scales its autonomous vehicle network. The Alphabet unit starts manual testing this week but does not provide exact launch timelines for these new markets.

Waymo Expands U.S. Robotaxi Fleet to 2,500 Vehicles Across Five Cities

Waymo currently operates 2,500 driverless robotaxis in five major U.S. cities, providing 250,000 paid trips weekly. The rapid expansion highlights the shift from experimental testing to commercial autonomous transportation.

California Regulators Clear Robotaxi Expansion in San Francisco

California regulators approve around-the-clock robotaxi services from Cruise and Waymo in San Francisco, making it the first major U.S. city with two competing driverless fleets despite ongoing safety concerns.

Transportation Sector Faces Strategic Whiplash as EV and Robotaxi Plans Shift

Legacy automakers and startups change course dramatically in 2024, scaling back EV ambitions and pivoting autonomous vehicle strategies to survive shifting consumer demands.

Investor Consortium Rescues Bankrupt Electric Air Taxi Startup Lilium

A new investor group agrees to acquire Lilium's operating assets, aiming to rehire laid-off workers and restart the business early next year.

Wing and DoorDash Expand Drone Delivery to Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Alphabet's Wing and DoorDash are bringing fast drone delivery to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, allowing customers to receive meals from 50 local merchants in as little as 15 minutes.

Waymo Expands Robotaxi Testing Outside US for First Time With Tokyo Debut

Waymo prepares to test its autonomous vehicles on Tokyo's public roads in early 2025, marking its first international expansion. The company partners with local taxi firms to navigate left-hand traffic and dense urban streets.

Waymo Robotaxi Caught Circling Roundabout in Viral Video Loop

A Waymo robotaxi goes viral after video shows it stuck circling a roundabout repeatedly with no passengers inside. The company resolves the strange looping behavior by quickly deploying a new software update to its entire fleet.

Pony AI Debuts on Nasdaq With $5.25 Billion Valuation

Chinese autonomous driving company Pony AI starts trading on the Nasdaq, raising significant capital despite ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China.

May Mobility Launches Driverless Shuttle Testing in Ann Arbor

May Mobility begins testing autonomous shuttles without human safety drivers in Ann Arbor, marking its second driverless city. The startup also plans to expand driverless operations to Georgia and integrate its vehicles into the Lyft app in Atlanta next year.

Chinese Self-Driving Firm Pony AI Lowers Fundraising Target Ahead of US IPO

Pony AI seeks to raise up to $224 million in a US IPO, significantly down from its original goal. The company operates a growing fleet of robotaxis and robotrucks across major Chinese cities.

Amazon-Backed Zoox Launches Custom Robotaxis in Two Major Cities

Zoox is testing its custom-built, steering-wheel-free robotaxis on public roads in San Francisco and Las Vegas. The company currently transports only employees but plans to invite early public riders in 2025.

Waymo Reaches $45B Valuation After Securing $5.6B Funding Round

Waymo closes a massive $5.6 billion Series C round led by Alphabet, pushing its valuation to $45 billion. The company plans to use the capital to expand its successful robotaxi ride-hailing service into new cities.

Zoox CTO Doubts Tesla Robotaxi Plans Over Safety and Hardware Gaps

Zoox co-founder Jesse Levinson dismisses Tesla's 2025 robotaxi ambitions, arguing the company lacks reliable technology and adequate hardware. He makes these claims as Zoox prepares to launch its own custom robotaxi in San Francisco and Las Vegas.