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Aug 31, 2026 · via mining-technology.com
Five decades behind Bangladesh’s commercial wheels A commercial vehicle company’s history can also be read as a timeline of the economy it serves. As Bangladesh’s garment industry, construction activity and nationwide logistics expanded, Uttara Motors Limited moved from vehicle distribution towards local assembly and manufacturing. Now preparing for electric mobility, the company’s five-decade journey mirrors many of the changes that have reshaped the country’s transport sector. A portfolio built over time Founded in 1973 under Chairman and Managing Director Matiur Rahman, Uttara Motors secured the distributorship of Isuzu in 1981. Its trucks, buses and pickups subsequently became part of the country’s growing transport network. In 1993, the company added Swaraj Mazda Limited—later SML Isuzu and now SML Mahindra—to its portfolio, widening its range to include pickups, trucks, tippers and buses for different operating needs. Distribution was followed by a move into domestic production. Uttara Automobile Manufacturers Ltd was established in 2001 and began operating the following year. Its 83,000-square-foot facility has an annual capacity of approximately 1,100 units and includes local cabin-painting operations. The group says more than 7,000 SML and Isuzu commercial vehicles have been delivered across Bangladesh, while its manufacturing activities have supported employment and technical skills. More than 7,000 SML and Isuzu commercial vehicles have been delivered across Bangladesh, according to Uttara Motors. The economics changed The market surrounding those vehicles has become considerably harder. The post-pandemic slowdown, currency depreciation, higher fuel prices and import restrictions affected sales, particularly in the heavy-truck segment. Inflation, elevated interest rates and high import costs continued to squeeze buyers through 2024 and 2025, while repayment difficulties increased pressure on distributors and credit providers. Fleet renewal is another unresolved issue. Citing BRTA data, the company says more than 38,000 trucks, tankers and related vehicles are over 25 years old. Replacing these vehicles
Aug 31, 2026 · via thedailystar.net
Caterpillar’s mining automation playbook is now shaping its broader AI strategy Share: BitcoinWorld Caterpillar’s mining automation playbook is now shaping its broader AI strategy Caterpillar is applying lessons from its autonomous mining operations to deploy artificial intelligence across its broader business, from field service tools to enterprise software, according to its chief technology officer, Jaime Mineart. From mining to the broader industrial world Caterpillar’s journey into autonomy began in mining, where labor shortages and hazardous conditions made automation particularly valuable. The company now sells autonomous haul trucks, drilling systems, underground loaders, dozers, and remote-controlled construction equipment, along with software for fleet management and remote terrain intelligence. “Now we’re in this super exciting time where we can take all of that learning from mining and bring it into much more dynamic environments, jobsites, quarries, and construction sites,” Mineart told Bitcoin World on the sidelines of the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas earlier this month. AI in action: Cat AI Assistant and beyond One of the company’s flagship AI tools is the Cat AI Assistant, which allows field technicians to use voice commands to pull up repair procedures, troubleshoot issues, and identify needed parts before starting a repair. Mineart said the tool is now used by customers, operators, and technicians. The assistant draws on Caterpillar’s proprietary data, which includes information from its connected machines. The company reports about 1.6 million connected assets globally and more than 16 petabytes of structured data. Caterpillar is also using AI to power site scanning, digital twins in manufacturing, and software development, where AI agents help modernize legacy code and identify defects earlier. Workforce transformation and training investment Mineart emphasized that deploying autonomous machines is not just a technology challenge; it requires rethinking workflows and how people work alongside AI. The company relies on experienced operators to
Aug 30, 2026 · via cryptorank.io
Uber and Lyft drivers in Atlanta are fed up with Waymo robotaxis. The Atlanta Rideshare Drivers Union is claiming that drivers have reported lower pay, longer waits between rides, and fewer fares since Waymo began offering its service in the city last June, Axios reports. As such, the union is calling on city and state leaders to curb Waymo’s expansion — and to consider some measures to easen its disruptive effects on their livelihoods. Liza Ramsey of the ARDU proposed a particularly bold measure to Atlanta City Council members on Wednesday. Rideshare drivers, Ramsey claimed, wanted to create a robotaxi impact fee of between $0.50 to $1.00 that would be added to each ride. The money from this would go into a “driver transition fund” to help drivers find a new calling with job training and other assistive programs. “If corporations profit from replacing human workers with automation, they should contribute to helping those workers transition to the next opportunity,” Ramsey said, per Axios. The union also wants to ban robotaxis from picking up people from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Airports, historically, have always been a reliable place to pick up passengers. Ramsey said that the union hasn’t collected any hard data proving the decline in income, but cited widespread complaints from drivers who share screenshots of their earnings in a group chat. Since launching in June 2025, Waymo’s Atlanta service has logged more than 5.4 million miles of fully autonomous rides. (It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, with residents complaining about the vehicles’ strange habit of congregating in suburban neighborhoods and repeatedly plunging into flooded stretches of road.) It also hasn’t had an antagonistic relationship with Uber: to help it get a foothold in the area, Waymo partnered with the rideshare app, allowing passengers to hail a robotaxi
Aug 30, 2026 · via futurism.com
How technology is reshaping freight Artificial intelligence, telematics, electric drivetrains and digital freight platforms are turning trucks into connected operating systems. For Bangladesh, the opportunity is not merely to adopt new vehicles, but to build safer, more efficient logistics around the data they generate. For generations, freight transport was defined by heavy steel, manual labour and paper schedules. In 2026, vehicles, drivers, cargo, roads and customers are increasingly linked through a continuous flow of data. Technology already in operation Predictive artificial intelligence and machine learning are among the most consequential changes. Modern dispatch and transportation management systems combine live traffic, historical route performance, fuel prices and customer requirements to recommend better routes and schedules, improving fleet utilisation, fuel use and delivery predictability. Internet of Things sensors and telematics make fleets more transparent by monitoring engines, brakes, tyres, fuel use and, where necessary, cargo temperature and shock. The resulting data supports predictive maintenance, helping operators address potential failures before breakdowns cause costly repairs, lost time or missed deliveries. Battery-electric trucks are moving beyond the experimental stage. Better batteries, charging infrastructure and reliability are making them practical for urban and regional freight, where predictable routes allow vehicles to return to a depot for charging. The next frontier Several technologies are approaching commercial maturity but remain outside the mainstream. Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous trucks, capable of handling most or all driving tasks, are being tested in controlled settings and selected freight corridors. Regulatory differences, safety standards, infrastructure and public acceptance mean widespread use will take time. Megawatt charging is another critical part of the electric-truck puzzle. In January 2026, the International Electrotechnical Commission published its specification for connectors supporting currents of up to 3,000 amperes. The goal is to give heavy trucks enough energy during driver rest periods to make long-distance
Aug 30, 2026 · via thedailystar.net
Caterpillar's AI story is not really about chatbots or office software. It's about engines, turbines, autonomous trucks and the hard industrial work needed to keep data centers running. Caterpillar just gave investors a blunt reminder that the AI boom has a physical supply chain. The Irving, Texas-based equipment maker reported second-quarter sales and revenue of $20.5 billion on August 4, up 24% from $16.6 billion a year earlier, according to the company's earnings release filed with the SEC. It was the first quarter in Caterpillar's history above $20 billion. That's not a small milestone. Caterpillar was formed in 1925, and for most of that century you would have described it through dozers, excavators, mining trucks and engines. Now the company's growth story runs straight through data centers. Power & Energy sales rose 17% to $8.2 billion, while segment profit climbed 30% to $2 billion. Power generation retail sales grew 72%, driven by strong demand for large generator sets and turbines used in data center applications, CEO Joseph Creed told analysts on the earnings call. Look at what that means for you if you follow AI infrastructure. The bottleneck is no longer only chips. It's power, delivery schedules, field service and equipment that can sit behind a fence and carry a load when a training cluster asks for more electricity. Caterpillar knows that kind of work better than most companies now trying to sell themselves as AI infrastructure. That's the edge. TechCrunch reported on August 30 that Caterpillar is applying lessons from its mining automation business to broader AI deployment. CTO Jaime Mineart told the outlet the hard part wasn't the technology. "The hard part about autonomy and about physical AI is incorporating that technology into the customer jobsite and into the workflows," she said. That's the point. The algorithm is
Aug 30, 2026 · via startupfortune.com
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Proponents of autonomous vehicle technology have long argued that robotaxis and other self-driving vehicles will reduce crash incidents and make roads safer. And there is some evidence of that. But that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a cost to those who are working (or have worked) for the companies developing that tech. Sean O’Kane, senior reporter, special projects, dug into data submitted to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and found that test drivers for Waymo and Zoox sustained more than two dozen injuries in 2024 and 2025 from hard braking or other sudden movements made by the autonomous vehicles. In some cases, these workers were sidelined for months after sustaining injuries like whiplash when the AVs stopped abruptly, and hard. Check out his full story, which includes interviews with former and current workers. There is one important item to consider. You might ask yourself, well what about the other AV developers? Surely, this isn’t a problem isolated to Waymo and Zoox? And you’re probably right. It’s likely that test drivers for other AV developers are also getting injured, but the companies they work for may be exempt from OSHA’s reporting requirements. Got a tip for us on this story or others? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Signal at kkorosec.07, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com. Deals! I’ve been writing about Gatik, the autonomous vehicle startup known for its self-driving box trucks, since 2019 when it came out of “stealth.” At the time, I wasn’t sure if the startup would survive. The hype cycle was already chewing up and spitting
Aug 30, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Rostec announced the creation of a new AC 2.0-40 fire truck based on the KAMAZ Kompas chassis. The compact dimensions of the vehicle allow it to be used in densely built-up areas, on narrow streets and in cramped courtyards, including in historical city districts. The vehicle incorporates several technical solutions for the first time. Firefighters were given a single portable remote control from which they can remotely control the engine, pump, communications, and monitor. This allows the operator to be in a safer zone while maintaining a good overview of the situation. For maneuvering in cramped courtyards and narrow streets, the vehicle received a 3D surround view system that visualizes the space around the vehicle. It helps the driver navigate better in confined conditions. The fire truck has another important feature – it can simultaneously supply water and air-mechanical foam. In addition, the vehicle is capable of creating a water spray, which is used to protect personnel from thermal flows. The vehicle was developed by the "Vargashinsky Zavod Protivopozharnogo i Spetsialnogo Oborudovaniya" and specialists from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Academy. The effectiveness of the vehicle has already been tested in practice: this year it successfully underwent trial operation in one of Moscow's fire and rescue units. Комментарии
Aug 29, 2026 · via www1.ru
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has quietly executed one of the most aggressive deep tech investment runs of any sovereign wealth fund in 2026, with QIA deep tech investments now spanning satellites, semiconductors, and autonomous freight. In just ten weeks, the $600 billion fund has backed a Finnish satellite company, a Dutch semiconductor equipment maker, and now a California autonomous trucking startup, committing hundreds of millions of dollars into the hardware backbone of the AI era. On August 25, 2026, QIA co-led Gatik’s $200 million Series D round alongside Koch Disruptive Technologies, with participation from ARK Invest, Millennium Management, Intact Private Capital, and Arca Continental. It was the third significant deep tech deal for the Qatari fund since June, and its largest single venture investment of the summer. What makes the streak unusual is not the size of each check but the consistency of the thesis. All three companies sell physical infrastructure, not software. All three have commercial and defense applications. And all three sit at the growth stage, where QIA can take meaningful ownership in businesses that have already proven their technology at commercial scale. QIA Co-Leads Gatik’s $200 Million Series D Gatik, the Mountain View-based autonomous freight specialist, announced the $200 million round on August 25, 2026, marking the company’s largest funding to date. The company has now raised approximately $500 million in total capital, according to reporting from Bloomberg. Unlike other autonomous vehicle companies chasing robotaxis or long-haul trucking, Gatik focuses on a narrow but commercially important segment: high-frequency routes between distribution centers and retail stores. The company currently operates fully driverless box trucks for Fortune 50 retailers, grocery companies, and consumer packaged goods businesses across Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, and Ontario, Canada, joining a growing field of autonomous freight operators now moving real commercial cargo. The commercial
Aug 29, 2026 · via intelligentliving.co
Skyworth unveils world premiere truck at IAA Transportation While this is not Skyworth’s first appearance in Europe, it marks its debut at IAA Transportation (15–20 September in Hanover, Germany), Europe’s largest trade fair for commercial vehicles. True to form, the Nanjing-based electric vehicle manufacturer is pulling out all the stops, bringing five fully electric exhibits to the event. Under the theme “Smart Ecosystem for a New Era,” the company will showcase a portfolio spanning heavy-duty trucks, urban waste management, intelligent urban mobility, and commercial electric vans. The highlight of its presence in Hanover will be the world premiere of the Skyworth Z9, a heavy-duty battery-electric truck with Level 4 autonomy. The vehicle is equipped with five LiDARs, five millimetre-wave radars, and ten HD cameras for 360° perception. A closer look at the chassis reveals that the Z9 is a battery-electric tractor unit with a 6×4 configuration. Skyworth has equipped the Z9 with a dual-motor system delivering 610 kW of power and a peak torque of 1,160 Nm. The electric truck also features a 400 kWh LFP battery, which is said to provide what the manufacturer calls, “a reliable range for freight transport.” Further details about the Z9 will be disclosed during the official presentation. Skyworth also brings an autonomous refuse truck The line-up at the IAA stand will also include four additional models for various applications. Alongside the Z9, the company will present the G18 refuse truck, which also operates at Level 4 autonomy, as well as the autonomous shuttle bus Urban Elf Robobus for environments such as parks, campuses, airports, and residential areas. The offering is rounded out by two van and platform solutions: the Hongtu V9 electric panel van for urban logistics, and the Hongtu X electric chassis with a range extender, which can be used for custom
Aug 29, 2026 · via electrive.com
Vol. 63 No. 2 (2026) Plants & Infrastructure Systems
New Products
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| "Merging Support Information System" for Autonomous Trucks | |
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| | Mobility Business Development Department,Mobility Business Division Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems Co., Ltd. |
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| In Japan, driver shortages are making it increasingly difficult to sustain logistics networks, raising concerns about a nationwide decline in freight transport capacity. With the establishment of limits on overtime work (such as 960 hours per year) in April 2024, solutions to maintain logistics while reducing working hours in the field are needed. To address this, infrastructure development, such as merging support for road-vehicle cooperative autonomous driving, is being promoted as a policy, taking into account road conditions unique to Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems, Ltd., which has a proven track record both domestically and internationally in the social implementation of road-vehicle cooperative systems such as automated toll collection system, is seeking to provide merging support information for the implementation of autonomous driving in Japan based on the expertise it has cultivated through these projects, including high-precision positioning, time synchronization, and roadside unit operation. This report introduces these initiatives. | |
Aug 28, 2026 · via mhi.com
- Jack Demmer Automotive wants to deliver parts with drones across Detroit. - An initial test flight was recently conducted over a short distance. - Trucks delivering parts currently face traffic issues that the drones won’t have. A car dealership group in Wayne, Michigan, has begun testing an autonomous drone delivery program to deliver parts across metro Detroit as part of an effort to reduce service times for its customers. It’s an intriguing idea, and perhaps in the near future, you may spot a drone hovering above you carrying a spare taillight or a new shift knob. Jack Demmer Automotive Group’s initiative is being supported by a $740,000 Michigan Advanced Air Mobility Activation Fund grant. It will allow the company to deliver high-demand parts within a 12-mile radius of Jack Demmer Ford dealerships. Read: You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide From These New Police Drones The first test flight was conducted on Tuesday, with a drone taking off from the dealership with a small box to a parking lot behind the company’s Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center. Employees at the sites currently need to run between the two locations when parts are needed urgently, or a truck may be used to ferry parts. Obviously, a truck has to deal with traffic, something a drone doesn’t have to worry about. The test flight was only conducted over a short distance, but Demmer is hopeful it’ll grow to include its other locations, including a Lincoln dealership in Dearborn and a 27-bay commercial vehicle center that it plans to open next year. As part of this week’s test, staff from drone supplier Blueflite were on hand, but in the future they will be able to manage drone deliveries remotely. Speaking with the Detroit Free Press, Blueflite business development lead Tyler Bruder
Aug 28, 2026 · via carscoops.com
Bot Auto recently announced it will staff the remote assistant function across its autonomous trucking operations exclusively with personnel based in the U.S., a commitment the Houston company framed around communication with first responders and law enforcement. The company was specific about what the role is not. Remote assistants do not perform any dynamic driving task, and the vehicle operates autonomously at all times. Their function is communication and coordination, including direct contact with first responders and law enforcement in the field, along with a limited set of vehicle functions used to assist an incident response. Assistants working from its mission control already confirm vehicle status, provide cargo and routing information, remotely actuate functions such as hazard lights, and can facilitate a vehicle shutdown at an officer’s direction. According to the company, keeping the function onshore delivers consistent language fluency, familiarity with U.S. traffic laws and emergency protocol, and reliable connectivity. The commitment lands against a Texas requirement that took effect this year. Since May 28, 2026, an operator running automated vehicles on Texas roads must hold authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and one condition of that authorization is that the Texas Department of Public Safety has been given a copy of a plan specifying how firefighting, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, and other emergency services should interact with the vehicle. Captain (ret.) Bart Teeter, director of fleet and operational safety at Bot Auto, described the job in those terms. “Our remote assistants aren’t driving the truck, but they are the voice on the other end of the line when an officer needs one,” he said. “Miscommunication or poor connections can potentially cost valuable time in addressing emergency conditions,” said Major Omar Villarreal of the Texas Department of Public Safety. “Autonomous vehicle operators committing to U.S.-based remote assistants
Aug 28, 2026 · via act-news.com
EACON Mining Technology Brings Bidirectional Autonomy to Cabless Mining Truck BEIJING, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EACON Mining Technology's autonomous haulage system is now operating on the AT150, a 136-tonne-payload, cabless and bidirectional battery-electric mining truck. Developed with Inner Mongolia North Hauler Joint Stock Co., Ltd. (NHL) and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), the truck was deployed at an SPIC mine in northern China. Bringing together SPIC's mining operations expertise, NHL's vehicle design and manufacturing capabilities, and EACON's autonomous driving technology, the AT150 demonstrates how autonomy can influence vehicle architecture and mine workflows when incorporated from the outset. Unlike conventional mining trucks, the AT150 has no fixed front or rear. It can approach a loading or dumping point in one direction and depart in the other, avoiding the U-turns and switchbacks generally required by front-facing vehicles, and streamlining traffic in constrained areas. EACON developed the autonomous perception, planning and control capabilities required for either end to become the leading end, with sensor selection and placement tailored to the truck's architecture and bidirectional operation. Using perception data from both directions, the system identifies road boundaries, obstacles and other vehicles before planning paths and stopping positions. Its path-planning technology can also determine how the truck should approach and leave each location, select alternative dumping positions when an assigned area becomes unavailable, and coordinate multiple vehicles around shared areas. Advertisement The AT150's electric drive and all-wheel steering support this operating model. Its semi-solid-state battery is designed for temperatures from –30°C to 50°C, while its 900V system supports charging at up to 3.4 MW. EACON's technology can also consider vehicle charge levels, production tasks, charger availability and fleet demand when allocating work. "The biggest shift is not removing the driver from the cab, but removing the assumption that mining equipment must be designed around
Aug 28, 2026 · via aol.com
Pony.ai, Uber expand pact to deploy 2,000 robotaxis in Europe Pony.ai and Uber have expanded their partnership to deploy over 2,000 robotaxis in Europe and the Middle East, building on their successful pilot in Zagreb. The deal integrates Pony.ai's L4 tech with Uber's platform, using local partners for fleet operations. Pony.ai shares dipped slightly before earnings, with analysts expecting revenue to jump to $35.18 million though losses widen to 17 cents per share. *this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only. Pony.ai Inc. (NASDAQ: PONY) and Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER) announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to deploy more than 2,000 Pony.ai robotaxis across Europe. The move builds on the companies' existing commercial service in Zagreb, Croatia, and targets four additional European cities, with further plans for deployment in the Middle East. The expanded agreement formalizes a joint-deployment model designed to achieve commercial scale by integrating three core functions: Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving technology, a leading mobility platform, and day-to-day fleet operations. Under this framework, Pony.ai provides its L4 technology and operational expertise, while Uber offers customer access through its global mobility platform, including booking, payment, and customer service capabilities. Operational Structure Day-to-day fleet operations will be carried out by established local fleet partners selected for each market. Vehicle funding and ownership structures may vary by market, allowing individual partners to take on multiple roles. This model aims to combine Pony.ai's proven autonomous driving technology with Uber's extensive market reach and hybrid platform experience. | Partner | Role | Key Contributions | |---|---|---| | Pony.ai | Technology & Operations | L4 autonomous driving tech, rider-experience expertise, operational know-how | | Uber | Platform & Access | Global mobility platform, booking/payment systems, customer service, human driver network | | Local Partners | Fleet Management | Day-to-day
Aug 28, 2026 · via scanx.trade
An autonomous trucking company plans to deploy 500 Tesla semi trucks across multiple freight corridors starting in September.
Einride plans to utilize 500 Tesla semi trucks on its fleet intelligence platform and utilize them in places such as Texas, California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Georgia to serve customers as large as Amazon. The deployment is expected to start in September. The company will then stagger the rollouts of the Tesla semi trucks in multiple phases over the next two years, reported the Austin-American Statesman.
“EV heavy trucks provide lower costs per mile from fuel savings, reduced maintenance and better uptime over diesel trucks,” said Dan Priestley, director of Tesla Semi. “These savings increase further through operational efficiency when deploying EV trucks at scale and we are excited that Einride recognizes this and look forward to supporting their deployments.”
Tesla has been promising full scale production of the Tesla semi for many years, and has promised that wide-scale deliveries of the truck will start this year. The company has plans to host a Tesla semi truck inauguration at its Nevada factory where they will be produced on September 24th.
Aug 28, 2026 · via cdllife.com
Bot Auto is keeping its remote assistants based exclusively in the U.S., the Houston autonomous trucking company announced Thursday. These remote assistants sit between a driverless truck and whoever walks up to it but perform no part of the actual driving. The vehicle operates autonomously at all times. Their function is communication and coordination: direct contact with first responders and law enforcement in the field, plus limited vehicle actions during an incident. “Remote assistants play a critical role in Bot Auto’s operations, providing a human layer of support and oversight for our autonomous fleet. We’re building out America’s 21st-century supply chain. It needs to be extremely resilient, and that’s why it’s critical that these roles are always kept within the United States,” said Brian Moore, Bot Auto’s chief policy officer. Bot Auto runs a Level 4 fleet out of Houston and sells transportation as a service, positioning itself inside what it calls the Texas trucking triangle. What Remote Assistance Operators Do at the Roadside The work is already running in live operations. Remote assistants monitor operations from Bot Auto’s mission control today, confirming vehicle status and passing along cargo and routing information. They can remotely actuate functions such as hazard lights. They can also facilitate a vehicle shutdown at an officer’s direction. That last capability is the one that matters during a traffic stop. With no one in the cab, the shutdown request has to go somewhere. Bot Auto’s answer is a person in the United States, not one offshore. The Question the Senate Already Asked Where those people sit became a Washington issue in February. Waymo Chief Safety Officer Mauricio Peña told a Senate hearing that part of the company’s robotaxi support staff works overseas. Waymo operates four remote assistance centers, two of them in the Philippines and the
Aug 28, 2026 · via freightwaves.com
Autonomous trucks from Yandex, Navio, and KAMAZ have covered over 20 million kilometers on federal highways since 2023. According to the Ministry of Transport, these figures are tracked via a digital identification platform integrated with the ERA-GLONASS state system. Currently, 121 autonomous trucks are active on the roads. The vehicles operate on four major routes: the M-11 "Neva," M-4 "Don," the Central Ring Road (CKAD), and the M-12 "Vostok." The platform records the mileage of each connected vehicle and provides detailed route data. Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin stated that the mileage counter provides an objective measure of the readiness of autonomous transport for scaling. According to Nikitin, the vehicles are not only testing the technology but are performing actual freight transport to improve logistics efficiency. Current operational status: All 121 trucks on the highways currently operate under the supervision of a remote logistics operator who monitors movement and can intervene. The ERA-GLONASS infrastructure is being expanded to include new safety tools. Alexey Raykevich, Director General of JSC GLONASS, reported that a cyberattack protection system is currently under testing. Additionally, a mechanism for forced stopping during emergency situations is being developed. Both solutions are in the testing phase and will complement the existing accident-free mileage counter. Industry development is focused on removing the human operator from the process. In the spring, Navio tested a long-haul tractor at the NAMI proving ground that operated without a driver and without remote control. During these tests, the vehicle independently changed lanes, bypassed obstacles, and stopped at traffic lights. KAMAZ has also previously announced timelines for the launch of fully autonomous long-haul transport. Source: This article was adapted from an original Russian-language publication by Pravda.Ru. Subscribe to Pravda.Ru Telegram channel, Facebook, RSS!
Aug 28, 2026 · via english.pravda.ru
It looks like California has just taken a huge step towards putting autonomous freight trucks on the roads. This comes after the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles granted Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI permission to begin testing their technology on public streets and highways. California had previously prevented autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs from undergoing public-road testing but all of that is about to change. The move was made back in April when the California DMV approved a new set of autonomous-vehicle regulations. Advert These rules have established a framework covering heavy-duty autonomous vehicles and opened the door to testing vehicles far larger than the robotaxis that have already become familiar on California roads. Aurora and Kodiak have now become the first companies to receive permits under that expanded system, with Kodiak already beginning a small amount of testing on public roads. Does this mean truck drivers might soon be out of their jobs? Well, the short answer is no, at least not yet, because the new rules come with a catch. These trucks aren’t actually allowed to roam around the streets of California completely driverless just yet, because there needs to be a human safety operator behind the wheel who can step in if necessary. There are also limits to where the trucks can drive, with testing being prohibited on roads with posted speed limits of 25mph or below unless the vehicle is travelling on a direct route between destinations. These won’t be the first autonomous trucks on US roads as Kodiak has accumulated considerable experience outside California, with its driverless vehicles having been used commercially for some time now. The new regulations are a first for California though, with it indicating that driverless cars and trucks could be the inevitable future. This comes as Elon Musk is
Aug 28, 2026 · via uniladtech.com
Gasgoo Munich- At Singapore's Changi Airport, a driverless fleet from China is already operating airside. UISEE's autonomous vehicles are now serving overseas aviation hubs, including Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport. Similar shifts are unfolding at ports. In July, the UK's Port of Felixstowe confirmed its third order for Westwell's Q-Truck. Once delivered, the fleet of autonomous trucks there will reach 100 units. Meanwhile, at the Kalgoorlie goldfields in Western Australia, six Komatsu HD1500 haul trucks have gained "Chinese drivers." E-Ctrl didn't ship a fleet of Chinese autonomous mining trucks to Australia. Instead, it installed its own self-driving system into the site's existing Japanese-brand haulers. Airports, ports, mines. Three distinct production sites are witnessing the same shift: China's L4 solutions, honed on domestic soil, are entering real-world production systems overseas. But "going global" isn't the same as "scaling globally." The three cases vary in maturity and hardly represent the entire Chinese L4 sector. Yet they offer a crucial window into a key question: When Chinese firms move their capabilities—honed in complex domestic production environments—to entirely new regulatory, equipment, and operational frameworks, how much actually carries over? That may be the true test of whether the "China Solution" can genuinely go global. It is also the question that Gasgoo's "China Solution to the World" series aims to answer. As more Chinese technology and industrial solutions enter real-world overseas scenarios, identifying which capabilities hold genuine global competitive edge will be a key focus of the "Golden Gear Awards" hosted by Gasgoo on October 23. Airports: The Real Bottleneck to Replication May Not Be Algorithms Airports can easily create an illusion. Enclosed, low-speed, with fixed routes and none of the complex traffic or pedestrians found on open roads, they seem naturally simpler than robotaxis. But in mid-August 2026, during an interview
Aug 28, 2026 · via autonews.gasgoo.com