In line with the industry’s move towards greater autonomy, ASEAN NCAP has introduced the Intelligent Vehicle Advanced Safety Assessment (IVASA), a dedicated evaluation platform for advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The programme is aimed at assessing the real-world performance, safety and reliability of these technologies for Southeast Asia. The creation of the test, the agency explained, is to evaluate whether Level 2 semi-autonomous driving functions in cars today – which tend to be calibrated for their home markets, not ours – are capable of handling uniquely ASEAN road conditions. These include complex traffic situations, diverse vehicle types, high densities of motorcycles and pedestrians, and our, ahem, “localised driving behaviours” (their words, not mine). “To ensure passenger vehicles are truly equipped for Southeast Asia, we must evaluate intelligent technologies within the context of our local road realities,” said ASEAN NCAP technical leader Yahaya Ahmad. “IVASA was established to bridge this gap, creating specialised assessment protocols that safeguard drivers while supporting the safe deployment of next-generation mobility.” Created in collaboration with ASEAN NCAP’s testing partner, the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI), IVASA consists of three assessment categories. Basic Driving Assistance evaluates a vehicles ability to avoid obstacles such as other cars, lorries, motorcycles and “localised road features” including crashed cars, cows and even wild boars. This will be held on a closed course. Yahaya admitted there will be some overlap with the current ASEAN NCAP protocol, which tests autonomous emergency braking effectiveness under the Safety Assist Technologies (SAT) banner. The key part of the IVASA, however, is that Level 2 features such as adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist are enabled throughout, in order to evaluate the car’s smarts when it is driving itself. The second category is Intelligent Driving Assistance, which tests a car’s ability to navigate highways and
Jul 29, 2026 · via paultan.org
Momenta has received a Germany-wide level 4 testing approval from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), clearing it to run autonomous vehicles in urban conditions across the country. The permit underpins the company’s planned robotaxi deployment in Munich and gives its European operation a validation base outside China. The regulatory point carries more weight than the technical one. Germany runs one of the more demanding approval regimes for autonomous driving, and the KBA has granted nationwide urban testing rights to a developer whose engineering base sits largely in China. Momenta already works with Mercedes-Benz, BMW and the Volkswagen Group, and runs its European headquarters in Böblingen alongside a Munich office. Supplier relationships and an operating permit are different things, though, and the second is what a robotaxi business needs. Chief Executive Xudong Cao said in a statement that true autonomy depends on a system that understands the road rather than simply seeing it. He described anticipating how a situation will unfold as the core of the company’s physical AI approach, and cast the permit as a foundation for commercial deployment. Platform partners including Uber, Grab and Lumo give Momenta routes to market once vehicles are ready to carry passengers. The distance between a testing permit and commercial deployment remains substantial, and no date is set for closing it. Source: Momenta
Jul 29, 2026 · via automotiveworld.com
Photo Credit: Lyft Lyft and Baidu have started testing robotaxis in London with Freenow, marking the next step in a European autonomous-vehicle partnership first outlined last year. The vehicles are Baidu's Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis. For now, test drivers will be aboard. That detail matters. Early London activity is still testing, rather than a full commercial driverless service, and the companies are positioning the rollout around regulatory coordination before public rides begin. Baidu's Apollo Go RT6 vehicles will begin appearing in the UK capital while Lyft and Freenow handle passenger booking from next year. Freenow is the German taxi company Lyft now owns, and it gives the project an existing taxi and private-hire network to connect with as autonomous vehicles move toward service. Dozens of Baidu Apollo Go RT6 vehicles will operate in the Brent borough of London as part of the tests, the companies said in a press release. As a result, Londoners in that area will become the first to see the Baidu vehicles operating under the Lyft-Freenow partnership. The network is planned to operate alongside Freenow's established taxi and private-hire business. However, that does not make the service immediately open to the general public. The Baidu robotaxi service will be called Freenow by Lyft and expects to invite the public to reserve rides sometime in 2027. The timeline remains conditional. The exact schedule will depend on regulatory approval, with coordination involving Transport for London and the UK government. Meanwhile, the UK government is drafting autonomous-vehicle rules and has recently launched a robotaxi pilot program. Lyft uses Freenow as its European lever Lyft's Freenow acquisition now has a clear strategic role in the robotaxi plan. Lyft bought Freenow last year to accelerate its European autonomous-vehicle ambitions by using Freenow's large taxi network in the UK and Germany. Therefore,
Jul 29, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
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A closer look: Push for national safety standards for autonomous vehicles
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Jul 29, 2026 · via nbcbayarea.com
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco leaders on Tuesday voiced support for new federal legislation aimed at regulating how self-driving vehicles interact with first responders during emergencies. The proposed measure, called the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, was introduced by Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo. Supporters say it would establish nationwide standards designed to ensure autonomous vehicles do not impede emergency operations. As robotaxis become increasingly common on Bay Area roads, city officials and public safety agencies say clear protocols are needed when emergencies unfold. Many view robotaxis as an emerging mode of transportation. "I take them once a week," one rider said. RELATED: SF may soon fine autonomous vehicle companies for impeding emergency response "They kind of drive aggressively. I can't lie. Sometimes I'm like whoa," said Shanon Chang of Palo Alto. "I've only very smooth rides in Waymos," said another rider. Autonomous vehicles have drawn attention for incidents involving emergency response efforts. Officials cited cases in which vehicles have driven through crime scenes or obstructed fire crews and paramedics. On the Fourth of July, numerous Waymo vehicles sat idle on San Francisco streets during heavy traffic, adding to congestion in parts of the city. Mullin said the legislation is intended to create consistent standards across the country. "This is an attempt for the federal government to engage on the issue and develop some uniform standards of protocol across the country that really puts the onus on these companies to do the right thing," Mullin said. MORE: Study finds lower crash rate for Waymo vehicles in San Francisco Under the proposal, autonomous vehicle companies would be required to provide standardized emergency response protocols for first responders. Supporters of the measure say the goal is to ensure autonomous vehicles can operate safely alongside emergency personnel while maintaining access to increasingly
Jul 29, 2026 · via abc7news.com
Apollo Go Testing AVs With Onboard Safety Operators According to an official statement released by the company on Tuesday, Apollo Go will test its latest RT6 autonomous vehicles in London with Lyft-backed ride-hailing company Freenow. The Robotaxi operator said that testing would be conducted with onboard safety drivers in London’s Brent borough. The company says public rides are scheduled to begin in 2027, pending regulatory approval. Apollo Go also announced it is conducting Level 4 autonomous testing in Hong Kong with safety drivers, marking the first time a company has conducted driverless testing in a right-hand-drive market globally. The London service will be offered alongside traditional ride-hailing, Apollo Go said. It also announced that the service had completed 22 million rides globally by April 2026, with the operator completing 3.2 million fully driverless rides in the first quarter of 2026. Globally, its fleet has recorded over 136 million driverless miles, Apollo Go said. Notably, Apollo Go offers level 4 autonomous rides in Dubai in partnership with Uber. Waymo, Tesla’s Robotaxi Push The companies are also reportedly seeking to end the partnership in cities like Atlanta and Austin, with the Robotaxi operator planning to enter both markets independently once the contract expires in January 2028. Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link. Photo courtesy: frantic00 / Shutterstock © 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
Jul 29, 2026 · via benzinga.com
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Jul 29, 2026 · via sfgate.com
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Jul 29, 2026 · via youtube.com
A U.S. congressperson is stepping in to regulate robotaxis after a string of San Francisco traffic fiascos in which Waymos have stalled, lost battery and required physical tows, most infamously during the widely-documented Fourth of July car-pocalypse. Mayor Daniel Lurie joined Rep. Kevin Mullin on the steps of Fire Station 4 in Mission Bay on Tuesday as he proposed new federal standards that would — on paper — keep robotaxis like Waymo from blocking emergency first responders, driving through active crime scenes, or backing up intersections. Lurie welcomed Waymo onto car-free Market Street in 2025, and San Francisco International Airport gave approval for the company to take passengers to and from the airport. Yet despite his high profile, and previous support for what he called “safe, reliable, and modern transportation options,” the mayor has little authority to regulate the standards for autonomous vehicles operating statewide. That power rests with the California Public Utilities Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles, who have not publicly responded to Lurie’s calls for tighter regulation nor Mullin’s legislation after being contacted by Mission Local. But with today’s announcement, it’s clear that federal lawmakers aren’t waiting for those agencies to act. If approved, Mullin’s “AV Emergency Response Coordination Act” would establish “uniform safety standards” nationally, requiring robotaxis to share the road with police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Mullin and other officials cited a list of traffic incidents in cities such as Austin, where a Waymo vehicle blocked authorities trying to respond to a mass shooting. The bill, according to Mullin, would establish a 24/7 hotline for public officials to communicate directly with autonomous vehicle companies. It would also, he said, create a process for local public officials to issue requests for robotaxis to avoid certain areas during emergencies using geofencing. The bill would apply to all
Jul 28, 2026 · via missionlocal.org
Today Congressman Kevin Mullin announced the Autonomous Vehicle Emergency Response Coordination Act outside of San Francisco Fire Station 4. Rep. Mullins’ bill would require driverless-car companies to coordinate with first responders during emergencies. "It would establish a 24/7 hotline for public officials to communicate directly with AV companies in real time, in the moment," Rep. Mullin explained. "And create a process so that local public officials can issue requests for AVs to avoid certain areas during an emergency. We call it geofencing." Rep. Mullin’s proposal comes after a series of mishaps involving autonomous vehicles, or AVs. In December last year, a citywide power outage stalled Waymos across San Francisco, creating hours of traffic congestion for residents. And on the 4th of July, dozens of Waymos created an hours-long traffic jam in the Presidio. One drove passengers over a lit firework, while several others had to be towed. San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispin says AVs commonly disrupt emergency services: "These interferences frequently require direct interaction between SFFD personnel and the autonomous vehicle, diverting firefighters and paramedics away from critical emergency response duties in such situations as safety personnel." Despite the Lurie Administration’s support of the AV industry, the Mayor was also there in support of the legislation. "We have served as the birthplace of rideshare services and now autonomous vehicles," Mayor Lurie said. "And each of those innovations evolved over time to meet the needs of a dynamic city. Now it is time for autonomous vehicles to do the same." The Lurie administration has historically supported the expansion of driverless vehicles in San Francisco. Last year, Mayor Lurie allowed Waymos to start driving on Market St., and supported pilot programs at both the San Francisco and Oakland airports. Rep. Mullin's bill is expected to be introduced to the House of
Jul 28, 2026 · via kalw.org
‘Waymo’ Coordination Needed: Bill Aims to Address Autonomous Vehicle Mishaps Following a string of Waymo-fueled traffic meltdowns in the Bay Area, a new federal bill aims to improve coordination between autonomous vehicle companies and emergency responders. Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, announced Tuesday that his proposed legislation will target autonomous vehicles’ ability to navigate emergency situations spurred by unexpected power outages and other unusual traffic conditions. “The technology is remarkable in normal conditions; what I’m concerned about is abnormal conditions,” Mullin said. “These vehicles not only need to evolve their technology to deal with that, but they need to be in direct coordination with our local public safety officials whose job it is to respond appropriately.” Waymo has created a number of headaches for emergency responders in San Francisco — most notably by causing a “traffic meltdown” during the city’s Fourth of July celebrations and grinding to a halt during the city’s December power outages. These events prompted Mayor Daniel Lurie to send a letter to the state Secretary of Transportation, asking for new standards for autonomous vehicles, including proof that they are ready for large crowds and unusual traffic patterns. The bill, titled the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, calls for companies to provide response plans for emergency personnel — and to establish a 24/7 hotline for public officials, according to Mullin’s press release. If passed, public officials would have a process to geofence areas during emergencies, so that driverless vehicles avoid certain areas while there is an ongoing safety hazard. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would also be tasked to develop national emergency standards for autonomous vehicle companies. At Mullin’s conference on Tuesday, Lurie voiced his support for both the legislation as well as autonomous vehicles in San Francisco. “San Francisco wants AVs on our streets, and
Jul 28, 2026 · via kqed.org
Turning around an underperforming store takes more than fresh advertising. It means fixing culture, tightening processes, and having financial discipline. That’s the challenge Scott Simons, Owner of Simons Automotive Group, took on when he bought Simons Chevrolet GMC, then an underperforming store, in the small town of Whiteville, North Carolina, last year. Simons joins host Adam Marburger on today’s episode of Training Camp for a closer look at how he took the store from 24 units a month to 103, growing gross profit 115% year over year while holding expenses to a 4% increase, and pushing customer satisfaction to 280% of the dealer’s objective. Fixing the culture When Simons first took over, he mentioned how he retained the majority of the staff. Every employee got a chance to stay, and before making any changes, Simons sat down with each person individually to learn about their families, their goals and how long they’d been in the business. Once he understood the team, he laid out the plan. Initially, the store had been selling 24 units a month, a number he told staff they could grow and eventually surpass 100 vehicles for the first time in the store’s history. "In this town, this Chevrolet store has never sold 100 vehicles; well, we just sold 103 vehicles." He implemented a new sales standard gradually, beginning with employees selling one car every other day, which amounted to around 11 vehicles over a 22-day month. He then aimed to increase this to a rate of one car sold for each day worked. Despite the changes, some staff chose not to remain during the transition. But to strengthen the new leadership team, Simons brought in a general sales manager he had collaborated with for 25 years, along with a finance manager. Fixing the infrastructure With culture
Jul 28, 2026 · via cbtnews.com
Uber shares drop 20% despite strong Q1 and major Delivery Hero acquisition.
Uber Technologies' stock fell 20% even after reporting strong first-quarter results and announcing a €12.7 billion acquisition of Delivery Hero, which will create a global duopoly with DoorDash in food delivery. The company is also advancing its auto...
Jul 28, 2026 · via pluang.com
Waymo and other robotaxi operators are facing increased scrutiny — and possible new federal requirements — over how their autonomous vehicles interact with emergency responders, a regulatory risk that’s becoming harder for the industry to shrug off. Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) is the latest lawmaker to put pressure on the industry with a proposed bill that would direct federal regulators to establish minimum national safety standards for autonomous vehicle operators. The proposed legislation, expected to be introduced in Congress this week, follows a number of incidents in which autonomous vehicles have blocked ambulances and fire trucks, driven into active crime scenes, and failed to recognize safety signals such as traffic cones and flares. A TechCrunch investigation earlier this year identified a number of incidents in which Waymo relied on first responders to manually drive its vehicles when they encountered issues. The legislation, called the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, was unveiled Tuesday during a press conference in San Francisco, a hub of autonomous vehicle testing and where hundreds of Waymo robotaxis already give rides to paying customers. San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie, San Francisco fire chief Dean Crispen, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety president Cathy Chase also spoke at the press conference. “We have seen disturbing, and frankly, an unacceptable number of incidents where autonomous vehicles inadvertently interfere with emergency responders,” Mullin said during the press conference. Crispen said that while the fire department has worked with AV operators, a number of incidents, and a pattern of continued behavior, shows changes need to be made. He noted that robotaxis are picking up and dropping off passengers directly in front of fire stations and ambulance deployment facilities, which obstructs emergency access. Mullin’s bill proposes requiring AV companies to provide clear emergency protocols for first responders, establish a 24-hour hotline
Jul 28, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
As more Waymos and other autonomous vehicles hit the road, a Bay Area congressman and the mayor of San Francisco are calling for new national safety standards. Congressman Kevin Mullin, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, the city's fire chief, and advocates for highway and auto safety gathered in San Francisco on Tuesday to urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish uniform safety standards across state lines. Watch NBC Bay Area News free wherever you are The group said there is growing evidence that autonomous vehicles (AVs) are creating dangerous situations and interfering with first responders during power outages and other emergencies. On the night of July Fourth, a line of immobilized Waymos in San Francisco caused even more traffic congestion and confusion during an already jam-packed event. One Waymo even drove through fireworks. "The unusually heavy traffic created navigation challenges and some AVs blocked intersections," Lurie said. Mullin said incidents involving AVs happening across the country should help attract bipartisan support for his new legislation. Local "It has been challenging with this Republican majority for Democratic bills to move," he said. "There's a certain reality there, but this one, we've had fruitful conversations on the AV front because it really isn't viewed in a partisan context." The proposed AV Emergency Response Coordination Act would impose some baseline safety standards and protocols, especially in emergencies. A lot of the protocols are already used by the San Francisco police and fire departments, but there are new potential issues with new driverless vehicles operated by Zoox. The company's new model doesn't have a steering wheel, so the fire department is considering new strategies. "If there's a major incident, earthquake, we can use our fire engines, trucks, rescue squads to push it out of the way," San Francisco Fire Department Chief Dean
Jul 28, 2026 · via nbcbayarea.com
The future of travel has arrived, or so we are told. Driverless taxis are reported to begin operating on UK roads before the year is out. You may have even seen one of them on the road today. British startup Wayve Technologies has begun test runs ahead of government-backed robotaxi trials launching this year, with London set to become the UK’s test ground for autonomous vehicles. Global players, including U.S. company Waymo and China’s Baidu, also plan to take part with September launches publicised. Steve Birdsall, CEO, Gaist, discusses whether the UK’s roads are ready for autonomous vehicles It’s an exciting glimpse into the future. But, as it stands now, Britain’s roads aren’t ready for this revolution. Indeed, the data from these high-profile trials in London may be favourable, but it will paint a misleading picture of national readiness. The reason for this? London is a highly controlled and heavily resourced environment. So while the results might be positive for London and the deployments might well be highly successful, the reality for other parts of the country is far more complex. A well marked city street is very different from an overgrown country lane. Addressing this gap needs more than the current trials can offer. More than testing in controlled environments, the future viability of autonomous vehicles across the UK will depend on having a far clearer, more consistent understanding of road conditions across the entire network. London vs the wider UK: a gap in readiness With the UK’s roadmap for autonomous vehicles extending beyond just the capital, The Automated Vehicles Act of 2024 has established an ambitious framework for deploying self-driving vehicles across the country, with full autonomy within the next decade. However, while ambition is national, readiness is not. Beyond the capital, the challenge becomes significantly more complex.
Jul 28, 2026 · via fleetpoint.org
Forget rideshare. How seniors are using Tesla FSD for transportation. Oakland County ― Tesla is expanding its Robotaxi rideshare service to include Florida, Texas, and California as it competes with Alphabet’s Waymo, Amazon’s Zoox, and other autonomous rideshare services. But consumers are already buying retail Teslas to self-drive them in cities across the US. Senior citizens most notably. Determined to maintain their individual transportation independence, they are using Tesla’s hands-free Full Self Driving system as a driver assist. Though by no means exclusive to seniors in its ability to add another set of eyes to the road, FSD helps elderly drivers maintain a cocoon around their car as their confidence in reflexes and eyesight naturally deteriorate. “It's as good a driver as I am,” said Dick Amacher, 78, a retired General Motors engineer from Rochester Hills who drives his Model Y and Model 3 on FSD 98% of the time. “Here's the thing, it will not go through a red light. It will not go through a stop sign. Every once in a while, I've driven through neighborhoods where stop signs were partially obscured by low hanging branches, for example. . . and (the Tesla) sees them before I do.” Alphabet founder Sergei Brin launched Google’s autonomous car program (now called Waymo) in 2014 with the idea of giving seniors independence. Now, as Waymo and Tesla duke it out in a high-capital-cost, high-stakes race to dominate the ride-share space, that sci-fi vision ― shared by Tesla CEO Elon Musk ― is fast becoming reality with Tesla’s version 14.3 FSD software. FSD has made enormous strides in the last two years thanks to millions of miles of real-world customer use and Artificial Intelligence advancement. “Tesla self-driving enables safer mobility for senior citizens,” posted Musk on X July 11 in response to
Jul 28, 2026 · via detroitnews.com
DroneShield secures $12.5M autonomous vehicle contract
· DroneShield executed an agreement to integrate its anti-drone systems onto unmanned ground vehicles.
· The company secured a $12.5–$13 million contract, driving a 4.2% increase in its share price.
· Management stated this integration expands its defence offerings into mobile, cross-domain operational environments.
DroneShield (ASX:DRO) executed a $12.5–$13 million agreement to integrate its DroneSentry systems onto unmanned ground vehicles.
This deployment contrasts with the previous year when the firm's technology was restricted to fixed-site installations.
"We are ensuring these platforms operate with full-spectrum awareness," said DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik.
The company stated this project requires $1.2–$1.5 million in testing and will conclude by November 2026.
Following the announcement, the DroneShield share price was up at $1.88.
Executives stated this contract supports their corporate strategy to expand artificial intelligence applications across 40 international markets.
Jul 28, 2026 · via grafa.com
A new study suggests driverless cars like Waymo may have a safety edge over people behind the wheel, but what is the data actually showing? Waymos make headlines pretty often these days — usually when they shut down in traffic during storms or power outages. But now, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is drawing attention to something else: Waymo’s driverless vehicles may actually crash far less often than human drivers. Stream NBC 5 for free, 24/7, wherever you are. The study by the independent nonprofit examines crash data for four of the U.S. cities where Waymos have been on the road for several years, including San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Austin. Looking only at crashes that would typically be reported to police, researchers analyzed Waymo's first 50 million miles of fully autonomous driving and found its crash rate was 68 percent lower than that of human drivers. For comparison, human drivers logged about 200 billion miles in those same areas during the study period. But researchers admit the data isn’t perfect. Gaps in federal crash-tracking data and different reporting requirements make it difficult to fully measure how self-driving vehicles stack up against human drivers. One key limitation is that the federal crash-reporting system for automated vehicles does not consistently collect data on miles driven, making it harder to compare crash rates across vehicle types. So when can you hail a ride in a Waymo in Chicago? A Waymo spokesperson told NBC 5 Responds the framework for their operations in Illinois is still in the works. A bill that would’ve cleared the way for driverless taxis to operate in Illinois has stalled in the legislature.
Jul 27, 2026 · via nbcchicago.com