Nevada opens roads for Tesla, Waymo and Uber's Aviari driverless rides in Las Vegas Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 | 12:54 p.m. The Nevada Transportation Authority has approved three autonomous vehicle companies to provide passenger transportation in driverless cars within Clark County, officials said today. Elon Musk's Tesla Robotaxi, Waymo and Aviari Services — a subsidiary of Uber — were given the green light to charge for rides around Las Vegas so long as they comply with conditions set by the authority. "Nevada has established a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle network companies that is intended to provide a clear process for innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight," Kristopher Sanchez, director of the Nevada Department of Business & Industry, said in a statement. "As autonomous vehicle technology continues to develop and these companies scale up their operations, I support the NTA's commitment to evaluate the existing regulatory framework and make adjustments when appropriate to ensure that the safety of the traveling public remains a central consideration." With the approval, vehicles from all three companies can traverse roads in Clark County, including at Harry Reid International Airport, though each will still need separate authorization from the Clark County Department of Aviation before entering airport grounds. Tesla is being allowed a fleet of up to 5,000 fully autonomous vehicles during its first year, while Waymo and Aviari were each capped at 1,000 vehicles. The approvals come with requirements: Companies must provide vehicle inspection documentation, maintain required insurance, submit rates to the NTA before offering service, share customer-facing app information for regulatory review and comply with rules on accessibility. Permits also require reporting crashes and other incidents, keeping maintenance and repair records, and operating only within the NTA's authorized scope. Operations must begin within 120 days of permits being issued, though none of the three
Aug 21, 2026 · via lasvegassun.com
Nevada approves Tesla, Waymo, Aviari for driverless rides State agency clears three companies to run autonomous vehicles in Clark County LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Nevada Transportation Authority has approved applications from Tesla, Waymo and Aviari to operate autonomous vehicle services in the state. The approval allows the companies to offer paid rides in fully self-driving vehicles in Clark County. EN ESPAÑOL: Nevada autoriza a Tesla, Waymo y Aviari para ofrecer viajes sin conductor Service area includes airport The service area includes Harry Reid International Airport. Each company must first get authorization from the county Department of Aviation to pick up or drop off passengers there. MORE ON FOX5: Henderson’s Paseo Verde wins 6-5 in rescheduled LLBWS opener Vehicle limits set for first year Tesla is authorized to operate up to 5,000 vehicles during its first year. Waymo and Aviari can each operate up to 1,000 vehicles. Regulator comments on safety NTA Director Kristopher Sanchez said, “As autonomous vehicle technology continues to develop and these companies scale up their operations, I support the NTA’s commitment to evaluate the existing regulatory framework and make adjustments when appropriate to ensure that the safety of the traveling public remains a central consideration.” Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
Aug 21, 2026 · via fox5vegas.com
HOUSTON – Houston, your next rideshare might not have a driver.
Waymo has expanded rider access in Houston, meaning anyone who has the Waymo app can now request one of the company’s autonomous vehicles.
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That means you no longer need a special invitation or early-access status to give a robotaxi a try. If you have the app, you can request a ride.
And yes, that means you could soon find yourself sitting in the back seat, watching Houston traffic while the car does the driving.
So, how does it work?
Waymo’s vehicles use cameras, sensors and other technology to navigate roads and make driving decisions without a human behind the wheel.
Riders request a trip through the Waymo app, just like they would with a traditional rideshare service. Once a vehicle arrives, passengers can hop in and let the car take it from there.
The company says the expansion gives more Houstonians a chance to experience autonomous transportation for themselves.
Aug 21, 2026 · via click2houston.com
NTA approves autonomous taxi operation in portions of Clark County LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KOLO) - The Nevada Transportation Authority has unanimously approved the operation of automated taxis in portions of Clark County. The approval of applications for Tesla Robotaxi, Waymo and Aviari Services was announced Friday after being considered during an Aug. 20 General Session Meeting. The approvals allow the taxis to provide paid passenger transportation in fully automated cars in Clark County. The approved geographic area will include Harry Reid International Airport, however the companies will not be allowed to service the airport without first obtaining the needed authorization from the Clark County Department of Aviation. Tesla will be authorized for a full fleet of 5,000 fully automated cars in the first 12 months following the issuance of its permit. Waymo and Aviari will be allowed to operate up to 1,000 fully automated cars in their first 12 months. “Nevada has established a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle network companies that is intended to provide a clear process for innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight,” said Nevada Department of Business and Industry Director Kristopher Sanchez. “As autonomous vehicle technology continues to develop and these companies scale up their operations, I support the NTA’s commitment to evaluate the existing regulatory framework and make adjustments when appropriate to ensure that the safety of the traveling public remains a central consideration.” Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
Aug 21, 2026 · via kolotv.com
Tesla, Waymo and Aviari cleared to deploy 7,000 Las Vegas robotaxis Tesla, Waymo and Aviari have all been approved to operate thousands of self-driving vehicles in Las Vegas. Tesla Robotaxi has been approved to operate 5,000 vehicles, while Alphabet Inc.-backed Waymo and Uber subsidiary Aviari have been approved to operate 1,000, according to a Friday news release by the Nevada Transportation Authority. All three companies are allowed to charge for rides. The approval came during Thursday’s NTA board meeting. In July, Tesla was initially approved to operate only 10 robotaxis in Las Vegas; the expanded fleet was approved after the request was heard by the full authority, NTA spokeswoman Teri Williams said. As part of the approval, all three companies have the ability to operate to and from Harry Reid International Airport, but they each must receive authorization from the Clark County Department of Aviation first. No autonomous vehicle companies have been approved to provide commercial rides at Reid Airport, according to Monika Bertaki, airport spokeswoman. “There have been informal discussions with several autonomous technologies; however, the two that currently have mapping and testing agreements with the Clark County Department of Aviation are Zoox and Waymo,” Bertaki said. Zoox was approved last month by the NTA to offer paid rides, a year after the Amazon-owned company began offering free, demonstration rides. Zoox’s fleet at launch last week as 64 robotaxis. As part of the approval, the trio of AV companies must provide vehicle inspection documents, maintain insurance, submit rates to the NTA before vehicles are put into service for public rides and provide information on their customer-facing applications for regulatory review. “Nevada has established a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle network companies that is intended to provide a clear process for innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight,” Nevada Department of Business
Aug 21, 2026 · via reviewjournal.com
Waymo has responded to questions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of the regulator’s investigation into a January crash in which a robotaxi struck a child at low speed. An initial batch of documents was posted to NHTSA’s website on Friday morning after TechCrunch inquired about them earlier in the week. The agency told TechCrunch that it is “reviewing other responses and will publish them in the investigation file upon completion.” The responses from Waymo that were available at the time this article was published were entirely redacted, citing “confidential business information.” While the information is redacted, the posted responses signal that the investigation is progressing after Waymo was granted extra time to prepare them. NHTSA asked for a wide swath of information about how Waymo determines speed limits in school zones, whether the company has received any complaints about how its robotaxis behave around schools, and for documentation about Waymo’s software, among other things. The crash in question occurred on January 23 in Santa Monica, California. One of Waymo’s Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis was traveling near a school when a nine-year-old girl stepped into the street. The robotaxi was traveling 17 miles per hour, but it braked and reduced its speed to six miles per hour before colliding with the student “near its front-right headlight assembly,” according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released in March. The child fell, then walked to the curb and reported minor injuries, according to that report. She did not need medical transport. The NTSB’s investigation is separate from the one being performed by NHTSA. It typically releases a final, more detailed report after 12 months. NHTSA announced it was investigating the crash one week after it happened, and the regulator sent 12 questions (some with
Aug 21, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Are parked Waymos recording Nashville neighborhoods? Here’s what we know A Waymo representative said the vehicles’ data collection while parked is limited and not designed to continuously record pedestrians, license plates, families walking on sidewalks or children playing in driveways. What This Story Is About - Waymo says its autonomous vehicles use advanced sensors while driving, but a company representative says parked vehicles are not operating as neighborhood surveillance cameras or license-plate readers. Why It Matters - The question comes as Waymo vehicles become more visible in Nashville. The company says its technology is designed to understand road conditions and navigate safely — not monitor people’s daily activities. What Happens Next - Waymo says it continues using sensor data and real-world driving experience to improve how its vehicles respond to road conditions. Catch Up NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Are parked Waymos recording you throughout Nashville? Waymo says its autonomous vehicles are designed to collect information needed to navigate safely, not to record Nashville neighborhoods like a Ring camera or Flock license-plate reader. The company’s vehicles use lidar, radar, cameras and onboard computing while driving to understand their surroundings. Lidar creates a three-dimensional picture of nearby objects using laser pulses, while radar helps measure distance and speed. Waymo says cameras provide a 360-degree view around the vehicle. What data is being collected by Waymo vehicles? A Waymo representative said the vehicles’ data collection while parked is limited and not designed to continuously record pedestrians, license plates, families walking on sidewalks or children playing in driveways. The representative said a parked vehicle may need to recognize conditions such as an emergency vehicle passing by or debris in the road. That information can help the vehicle know how to safely respond in the moment and improve its driving behavior in similar situations later.
Aug 21, 2026 · via wsmv.com
The Nevada Transportation Authority unanimously approved applications from Tesla Robotaxi, LLC, Waymo LLC and Aviari Services, LLC to operate as Autonomous Vehicle Network Companies. The NTA says the approvals authorize each company to provide paid passenger transportation in fully autonomous vehicles within Clark County, subject to the operational design domain and other conditions approved by the Authority. The approved geographic area includes the Harry Reid International Airport, however, companies will not be allowed to service the airport without first obtaining the necessary authorization from the Clark County Department of Aviation. Under the approved orders, Tesla is authorized for a fleet of up to 5,000 fully autonomous vehicles during the first 12 months following issuance of its permit. Waymo and Aviari are each authorized for up to 1,000 fully autonomous vehicles during their respective first 12 months. The NTA says the companies must provide vehicle inspection documentation, maintain required insurance, submit applicable rates before offering transportation to the public, provide information regarding their customer-facing applications for regulatory review, and comply with applicable requirements concerning accessibility, nondiscrimination, receipts and reporting. The permits also require the companies to report crashes (pursuant to NRS 706B.260) and other events as required by law, maintain inspection (subject to NRS 706B.220), maintenance and repair records subject to (NRS 706B.220), and operate only within the scope of authority granted by the NTA. The orders provide that operations must commence within 120 days after the permits are issued and that the companies may not provide transportation services until the applicable requirements have been satisfied. Commissioners also required that each applicant provide first responders within their service area a 24-hour emergency contact. “Nevada has established a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle network companies that is intended to provide a clear process for innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight,” said Nevada Department
Aug 21, 2026 · via ktvn.com
Three self-driving car companies get green light to charge for rides in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Three companies specializing in autonomous vehicles have received a green light to charge for rides in the Las Vegas valley. Nevada Transportation Authority commissioners voted Thursday to approve applications from Tesla Robotaxi, Waymo and the Uber subsidiary Aviari Services. This means each company can provide paid passenger transportation in fully autonomous vehicles within Clark County, subject to other conditions. Tesla is cleared for a fleet of up to 5,000 fully autonomous vehicles during the first year of its permit. Waymo and Aviari are authorized up to 1,000 vehicles each. Operations must start within about four months of the permits being issued. Before cars are placed into service, the companies must provide vehicle inspection records, maintain insurance, submit the rates they plan to charge, and provide information on their apps for regulatory review. "Nevada has established a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle network companies that is intended to provide a clear process for innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight," Nevada Department of Business and Industry Director Kristopher Sanchez said in a statement. "As autonomous vehicle technology continues to develop and these companies scale up their operations, I support the NTA's commitment to evaluate the existing regulatory framework and make adjustments when appropriate to ensure that the safety of the traveling public remains a central consideration." The companies will have to get a separate authorization from the Clark County Department of Aviation before they can serve Harry Reid International Airport as well.
Aug 21, 2026 · via news3lv.com
TOKYO, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TIER IV, the pioneering force behind open-source software for autonomous driving, has joined Open Invention Network (OIN) 2.0, a new framework established by OIN, a global network dedicated to protecting open source software from patent risks. As the leading developer of Autoware, open source software for autonomous driving, TIER IV will leverage its participation in OIN 2.0 to help reduce patent risks and create an environment where a wide range of partners, including automakers, suppliers, and semiconductor makers, can confidently leverage open-source technologies, while promoting the expansion of the open-source ecosystem for autonomous driving from a patent strategy perspective. OIN provides a global patent non-aggression framework that supports the development and growth of open source software, with thousands of companies and organizations around the world participating in the network. Through the OIN framework, participants grant one another royalty-free cross-licenses to patents covering the Linux System as defined by OIN, helping to reduce patent risks associated with Linux and related open source software. Launched in January 2026, OIN 2.0 expands the scope of the Linux System, broadening the range of technologies covered by OIN's patent non-aggression framework. TIER IV has led the development of Autoware since its initial release in 2015. Built on open source software, including Linux and ROS, Autoware serves as the foundation of TIER IV's software platforms for bringing autonomous driving into society. In recent years, TIER IV has been expanding the autonomous driving ecosystem by collaborating with automakers, suppliers, semiconductor makers, and other partners to leverage an open technology foundation spanning software, AI, and automotive computing. To advance the deployment of autonomous driving in collaboration with partners around the world and help create a safer and more sustainable society, it is essential to foster an ecosystem built on open source software,
Aug 21, 2026 · via prnewswire.com
Abstract Local path planning is essential for autonomous vehicles operating in complex non-convex environments. Existing geometric planners are computationally efficient but often generate curvature discontinuities and steering commands that are difficult to execute, whereas optimization-based methods usually require higher computational cost and may suffer from numerical oscillations in constrained spaces. To address these issues, this paper proposes a dynamic potential field-guided and force-coupled adaptive pure pursuit framework, termed i-APP, for real-time local path planning. The proposed method consists of three stages. First, a velocity-adaptive gradient A* search generates a collision-free initial path with speed-dependent safety margins. Second, a dynamic artificial potential field refines risky path segments through deterministic lateral offsets to improve obstacle clearance. Finally, a force-coupled adaptive pure pursuit strategy maps obstacle repulsive forces to the look-ahead target point, while forward kinematic integration and steering-rate constraints are incorporated to improve trajectory executability. Simulation and real-vehicle experiments are conducted to compare i-APP with APP, A*+APP, and EMplanner methods. The results show that i-APP reduces planning time while improving trajectory smoothness and suppressing curvature fluctuation, indicating its suitability for real-time local planning in obstacle-constrained autonomous driving scenarios. Subjects Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Shijiazhuang Science and Technology Cooperation Special Project (Grant No. SJZZXA25003) and the Tianjin Science and Technology Plan Project (Grant No. 25ZXRGGX00310). (Corresponding author: Ding Chengjun).Thanks to Chengjun Ding, Tan Zhang , Tengfei Ma , Zijian Li, Jinshen Yu, Ke Wang, Jianxin Hufor their assistance in the project. Ethics declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Additional information Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Rights and permissions Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or
Aug 21, 2026 · via nature.com
General Motors collects data for self-driving technology in Fort Myers Would you let a computer drive your car for you? In Fort Myers, people are split on the idea of self-driving cars. "If I can just sit in the backseat and just kind of tell it to go home, I'm down with that,” Joshua Bogumil said. "You do whatever you want, instead of just being a slave to staring at the tailpipe of the car in front of you." Clarice Kentwood is less confident. "I think we need people to make decisions,” she said. “I think it would make me nervous the whole time.” Ready or not, they're here. Waymo – a driverless taxi – is already rolling through Miami and Orlando. In the Fort Myers area, people are noticing specialized GM vehicles on the roads. "You might see them often, because they're driving on the highways every day,” Ryan Falor said. Falor is the Director of AV Data at General Motors. Right now, the company has test drivers in specialized vehicles on major roadways in Fort Myers, like I-75 and State Road 82, among others. The vehicles are decked out with cameras, radar, and lidar, and are collecting data for the future of GM's autonomous vehicles. While Waymo is a taxi service, GM is working on cars people can eventually own. “We're focusing on enabling people to get time back as part of their driving experience,” Falor said. “And to get value from their car that they otherwise wouldn't have gotten." GM already has what’s called Super Cruise, which can control speed, the wheel and even change lanes on certain roads. What they're working toward now is an 'eyes-off' driving system. "Where really, you can start to take your eyes off the road,” Falor said. “Not only will the
Aug 21, 2026 · via gulfcoastnewsnow.com
It’s January off of Nantucket Shoals. An uncrewed surface vehicle begins a series of carefully planned transects through Southern New England, collecting data day and night. There are no scientists onboard, but the 30-foot vessel is constantly measuring ocean currents, water temperature, salinity, weather and other ocean conditions. It’s also helping identify areas with high fish and plankton abundance. Every nautical mile traveled adds to a more complete picture of how marine ecosystems function. These missions reflect NOAA’s growing use of uncrewed systems technology. Traditionally, these autonomous platforms have supported hydrographic surveys, nautical charting, and ocean mapping. But the benefits extend beyond creating better maps. Today, the same technologies are helping scientists answer complex ecological and oceanographic questions. They’re collecting critical, high-accuracy, and time-sensitive data across nearly every mission area. "Over the last several years, we have been able to expand the applications for how uncrewed surface vehicles can help with various research related to stock, ecosystem, and protected species evaluations and assessments,” explains Dr. Conor McManus, marine development and advanced technology program lead for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. “With each mission we conduct, we are learning more about the Northeast U.S. Shelf ecosystem, but also how we can better operationalize these technologies to meet our scientific or data needs." These technological advances are expanding where, when, and how our scientists collect ocean data. The results allow researchers to observe the ocean more continuously and in places that are difficult to sample with ships alone. These vehicles complement ship-based surveys—filling gaps in data that can arise from challenges like winter weather and limited ship availability. This year, there were three uncrewed surface vehicle missions in the Northeast—two operated by Chance Maritime Technologies and one using DriX. They demonstrated how the benefits of uncrewed survey technology can answer many different
Aug 21, 2026 · via fisheries.noaa.gov
ALSO, the Rivian spinoff behind the TM-B e-bike, has closed a $150 million Series D round, according to the funding announcement it put out Wednesday. The money is aimed almost entirely at autonomy. ALSO said the round accelerates development of its autonomous vehicle platform and lets it work on multiple autonomous form factors at once, covering both goods and passengers moving around cities. Those vehicles will lean on the EV architecture the company already built for the TM-B and for the TM-Q, the commercial delivery quad. Chris Yu, co-founder and president, said congestion and cost per trip are the same problems whether a human is steering or not. If you have been following ALSO, the TM-B is the interesting part of the story so far. It is a pedal-by-wire bike with no mechanical link between the pedals and the wheel, a modular top frame that swaps between a single seat, a cargo setup and a bench in a few seconds without tools, up to 100 miles of range on the 808 Wh pack, 28 mph pedal-assisted top speed, regenerative braking, and a removable battery that charges over USB-C at 240 watts and doubles as a power bank. Launch Edition and Performance are $4,500, the Standard is $3,500. Rivian sells it through the Gear Shop, so plenty of owners have already seen it in the configurator flow. Launch Edition bikes have started shipping in the U.S., and pre-orders and configuration recently opened for the Performance and Standard models, with first deliveries this fall. This follows the $200 million Series C that ALSO closed earlier this year, led by Greenoaks with Prysm participating and a strategic investment from DoorDash attached. That round came with a multi-year agreement to develop and deploy autonomous delivery vehicles with DoorDash at scale. Amazon is the other
Aug 21, 2026 · via riviantrackr.com
Nevada, get ready for the robotaxis. The Nevada Transportation Authority unanimously approved three permits Thursday that will allow Tesla, Uber, and Waymo to operate commercial robotaxi services in Clark County, home to Las Vegas. Together, these permits would deploy up to 8,000 robotaxis across the county over the next 12 months. Tesla’s permit allows it to deploy up to 5,000 robotaxis, while Waymo is allowed operate up to 1,000 autonomous vehicles over the next year. Uber was also approved for 1,000 robotaxis, which it will operate through partnerships with Hyundai subsidiary Motional and Zoox. Zoox already holds an autonomous vehicle network company permit that allows it to operate 100 robotaxis. Whether these companies will be able to launch that many robotaxis is an unanswered question. Testimony from Tesla representatives and the other companies suggests the answer is no. “The 5,000 has always been a ceiling for us,” said Eric Early, Tesla’s Cybercab chief engineer, during the meeting. “I don’t think we’ll be in a position by this time next year to deploy 5,000 vehicles, and it’s not [because of] the technology. … I think we would be extremely happy and satisfied if we could get ourselves up to 2,500, maybe a bit higher than that in the next year.” Even if these three companies roll out only half of those totals, Clark County — and Las Vegas specifically — is shaping up to be a major robotaxi battleground, with Tesla, Uber (via its autonomous vehicle partners Motional and Zoox), and Waymo all competing for the same riders. That kind of fast, large-scale robotaxi deployment is poised to change the city — and specifically its workforce. Depending on who you ask, these companies will either deliver a whole new category of jobs designed to maintain, charge, and clean these vehicles or
Aug 21, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
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Aug 20, 2026 · via youtube.com
Tesla’s two-seat Cybercab won’t be the only purpose-built vehicle in Tesla’s robotaxi fleet. Following a visit to Tesla’s Fremont factory and meetings with its Investor Relations team, JPMorgan said Tesla reiterated that the Cybercab is only the initial form factor for robotaxi, and that additional vehicle types are expected as the platform develops. Tesla specifically mentioned the Robovan unveiled at its 2024 We, Robot event as an example. Multiple Robotaxi Vehicle Types Cybercab is designed to move one or two passengers at the lowest cost possible. Tesla has said the two-seater should account for most of its autonomous vehicle volume because most trips involve very few occupants. But Tesla already sees uses that Cybercab cannot cover. Tesla’s words are interesting. They mention Robovan as an example, meaning that there will likely be several other vehicle types. Tesla recently secured a U.S. design patent for the Robovan, meaning that it’s still a part of its plans. What we’ll likely see are vehicle types between Cybercab (aimed at low-cost transportation) and Robovan. We could see more luxurious vehicles, or a van that fits somewhere between the Cybercab and Robovan. Specialized Vehicles Removing the need for a driver changes how a vehicle can be designed. Cybercab focuses on inexpensive transportation, but other autonomous vehicles could prioritize passenger capacity, comfort, or a particular use. That could eventually create room for vehicles designed around sleeping, working, or traveling with groups. Interiors could feature opposing seats, larger displays, or work surfaces instead of the traditional driver-focused layout that the Cybercab uses. Tesla has already explored some of these ideas with Robovan. The vehicle can be configured for passengers or cargo, and Tesla has discussed uses such as an autonomous RV. Tesla AI Director Ashok Elluswamy previously responded to a request for an autonomous RV by pointing
Aug 20, 2026 · via notateslaapp.com
TOKYO -- Japanese automakers are racing to develop artificial-intelligence-powered self-driving vehicles, partnering with startups and other players in a bid to catch up with the leading U.S. and Chinese companies.
Japanese automakers drop preference for in-house development in effort to close gap
Tier IV has equipped robotaxis and other vehicles with autonomous driving technology. (Tier IV)
Aug 20, 2026 · via asia.nikkei.com
Uber Brings Baidu’s Driverless Robotaxis To Dubai Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) and Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) launched fully driverless Apollo Go robotaxis on Uber’s platform in Dubai on Thursday. The launch marks the first deployment under the companies’ multiyear partnership. New Horizon Luxury Transport will operate the fleet. Driverless Rides Available On Uber Dubai riders who request UberX or Uber Comfort may now be matched with Baidu’s fully driverless Apollo Go vehicles. Users can also select the "Autonomous" option in the Uber app to increase their chances of getting a robotaxi. The service initially covers select areas in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah. The companies plan to expand the operating area. The rollout uses Apollo Go’s sixth-generation RT6. The fully electric robotaxi carries up to three passengers and has more than 30 sensors. It also processes driving data onboard in real time. Baidu said Apollo Go now operates across 28 cities worldwide. Its fleets have logged more than 350 million autonomous kilometers, including over 240 million kilometers without a human driver. Uber Expands Autonomous Network Dubai is the first market to launch under Uber and Baidu’s partnership. The companies plan to eventually deploy thousands of Apollo Go vehicles across Uber’s global network. The expansion also supports Uber’s broader autonomous vehicle strategy. The company works with more than 30 autonomous vehicle partners. "Launching in Dubai marks the first time our multi-partner vision comes to life on public roads," said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous. Price Action: Baidu shares were up 0.34% at $93.19 and Uber Technologies shares were up 0.21% at $78.20 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data. Image via Shutterstock Read Also: Dara Khosrowshahi Hails Uber's Japan Robotaxi Expansion, Says Country Has Been a 'Terrific' Market for the Ride-Hailing Giant
Aug 20, 2026 · via tradingview.com
Ford taps NHTSA vet in new chief auto safety officer role | Exclusive Ford Motor Co. has tapped a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration veteran for a new chief auto safety officer role, the Dearborn automaker confirmed to The Detroit News on Thursday. David Hines steps into the position on Monday, reporting to Steve Croley, Ford's chief policy officer and general counsel. Based out of Washington, D.C., he'll be responsible for the automaker's global product safety compliance, governance and strategy. Hines most recently served for more than 13 years as director of NHTSA's Office of Crash Avoidance Standards, according to his LinkedIn profile. “David’s 30 years of experience in automotive engineering and safety will be an asset to the company as we continue to put quality first,” Croley said in a statement. Hines' appointment comes as Ford has faced scrutiny around its quality. The Dearborn automaker last year set a record for the number of recalls issued in a single year, and warranty and repair costs have weighed on financial sheets. Ford also remains under a three-year independent federal monitor overseeing its recall processes, data analytics and compliance following a 2024, $165 million consent order. That order was adopted after NHTSA found Ford failed to recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner. Over the past few years, Ford executives have reshaped the automaker's approach to quality and industrial systems from development and engineering to the plant floor. They say it's bearing fruit, evidenced by its top ranking of mainstream auto brands in initial quality in JD Power's latest study. But executives say problems from past models are continuing to show up. Hines also will lead a cross-departmental team from engineering, digital design and software, quality, manufacturing and purchasing to ensure product safety design and quality throughout a
Aug 20, 2026 · via detroitnews.com