Autonomous Trucks
Alphabet Inc’s Waymo Via autonomous trucking unit has indefinitely delayed most of its work on self-driving trucks to concentrate on developing robot-driven passenger cars for ride-hailing services. This move positions Waymo Via among the shrinking number of players in the autonomous trucking industry. Speculations about Waymo’s future in autonomous trucking had been circulating since the company laid off 12,000 employees in January. Despite the shift in focus, Waymo will still continue its collaboration with Daimler Truck to develop a redundant chassis for the Waymo Driver system. Overall, Waymo’s strategic shift reflects the evolving landscape of autonomous driving technology, where the focus is increasingly shifting towards passenger vehicles for ride-hailing services rather than long-haul trucking.