Uber plans to launch a premium robotaxi service in Houston by mid-2027, making it the second U.S. market under its partnership with EV maker Lucid and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro. The announcement follows a flurry of activity in the San Francisco Bay Area, as the trio of companies prepare to offer a robotaxi service there later this year. Uber says it will eventually take the robotaxi program to “dozens of cities” in the coming years. For now, the focus is on San Francisco and then Houston — both markets where Uber will go head-to-head with rival Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company that currently operates commercial robotaxi services in both cities. Nuro has spent months testing Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with its self-driving system in San Francisco and has made progress on that front, including giving Uber employees the ability to hail the Lucid robotaxis. But these vehicles still aren’t driverless, despite Nuro receiving a permit last month from the California Department of Motor Vehicles that would allow it to remove the safety driver from the vehicle. Uber and Nuro’s combined engineering fleet of 100 autonomous vehicles is testing on public roads with safety operators behind the wheel in Houston as well. Nuro is also using closed courses and simulation to validate the self-driving system before opening the robotaxis to the public. The test fleet is expected to expand in the coming weeks as Lucid begins manufacturing the first production versions of the robotaxis at its Arizona factory. The Lucid Gravity robotaxi, unveiled in January, is outfitted with high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar sensors, and radars that help the self-driving system perceive the real-world environment and operate in it. Uber, which will own and operate the fleet, has focused its efforts on the in-cabin experience, including how riders will interact with
Jun 17, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Ondas is pushing deeper into the autonomous defense market and has unveiled a broad suite of systems designed to link air, ground, and AI‑driven capabilities into a single operational network. As militaries confront faster, lower‑flying, and increasingly unmanned threats, the company says that it is positioning autonomy as the first layer of engagement. Ondas says that it is not building standalone platforms for a bygone battlefield, but one where autonomous systems that are integrated into one unified system-of-systems will allow technology to be the first contact with the enemy, before troops are exposed. The company’s unified architecture is built to connect air‑defense assets, aerial intelligence platforms, ground robotics, loitering systems, sensors, and AI‑powered command software, with the goal of creating an autonomous force able to sense, decide, orchestrate, execute, and assess across multiple domains without waiting for human operators to process every step. Iron Wave is built around unmanned ground vehicles and containerized deployment modules, combining ground and air defense for forward‑deployed units. It is designed to give frontline forces an autonomous buffer before personnel are exposed. Dual Shield brings a truck‑mounted counter‑UAS system for maneuvering forces, offering mobile layered protection against drones in contested environments. MODUS adds a modular low‑altitude sensing and response layer for dismounted troops, extending autonomous protection to the tactical edge. Scout Cyber‑over‑RF provides a mobile counter‑UAS capability for small teams that need rapid, flexible protection against hostile drones. Iron Arrow, the company’s new long‑range interceptor, is designed to scale autonomous air defense against unmanned platforms. At the center of the architecture is LADOS, a newly unveiled orchestration system that links sensors, autonomous systems, communications, and effectors into one operational ecosystem. It is built to enable synchronized mission execution and real‑time situational awareness across air and ground environments. The rollout follows a series of moves by
Jun 17, 2026 · via jpost.com
Mobileye is moving beyond its role as a technology supplier to establish a wholly owned autonomous ride-hailing operation, with a US launch planned for 2027. The company intends to bring together autonomous driving technology, fleet and rider services, and mobility management within a single vertically integrated division. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. According to the press statement, this marks a departure from its existing model of licensing self-driving systems to automakers and mobility providers. At the centre of the new service will be Mobileye Drive, its standalone self-driving platform. The initiative will also draw on capabilities from Moovit, a Mobileye subsidiary, encompassing its mobility platform, consumer applications, multimodal trip planning and autonomous vehicle mission control. Mobileye founder and CEO Amnon Shashua said: “As interest in autonomous mobility accelerates, the industry has become increasingly dependent on a small number of technology providers and business models. “We believe there is an opportunity for a new approach—one built on deep autonomous-driving expertise, strong industry partnerships, and proven capabilities across the mobility ecosystem.” Fleet management technologies and teleoperation infrastructure from the subsidiary will also be integrated into the new service. Mobileye said the new operation will run alongside its existing technology supply business and is not expected to alter its commercial arrangements with automakers, mobility operators and other customers. The company said customer-led deployments and its own robotaxi operations are expected to progress in parallel. The initial phase will see roughly 100 vehicles deployed in a major US metropolitan area during 2027, with the rollout taking place in stages throughout the year. The phased approach is intended to validate the operating model under fully driverless conditions. Subject to a successful deployment, Mobileye aims to scale the fleet to approximately
Jun 17, 2026 · via just-auto.com
The Next Chapter for SDS: Japan Applied Intuition has now extended its Self-Driving System across North America, Europe, and Asia—all in under a year. Japan is one of the most important automotive markets in the world—and one of the most demanding environments for intelligent driving systems. Home to some of the industry’s most respected engineering organizations, highest quality standards, and most complex road networks, Japan presents a unique challenge for autonomy and ADAS developers. That’s why we’re excited to announce the expansion of Applied Intuition’s Self-Driving System (SDS) to Japan. Less than a year after launching SDS for Automotive in North America and Europe, we’re bringing the platform to a market that presents a unique combination of challenges for advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomy. Dense urban corridors, multi-exit intersections, left-hand traffic patterns, and stringent regulatory requirements create a uniquely challenging environment. This demands systems capable of adapting quickly while maintaining safety and performance. For us, this expansion—which was announced at Intersect 26: Japan, our featured showcase of Applied Intuition perspectives and technology for industry professionals—is about more than entering a new market. It’s another step toward building a globally scalable self-driving platform capable of supporting automakers across regions, regulations, and driving environments. “Launching SDS in Japan marks a major milestone that reflects the remarkable pace at which we’re advancing production and deployment of autonomous driving,” says Will Lin, head of automotive at Applied Intuition. “Today’s market demands a system that can adapt to all vehicle segments, powertrain types, and regional regulations, and SDS is purpose-built to deliver that, making intelligent driving accessible to everyone.” Our expansion into Japan did not begin this year. Applied Intuition has invested in Japan for years, working closely with some of the country’s leading automotive and commercial vehicle manufacturers. We’ve built local engineering teams, established
Jun 17, 2026 · via appliedintuition.com
Element Fleet Management has signed a strategic multi-year partnership with Waymo to provide end-to-end fleet management and operational services for Waymo's autonomous vehicle operations. The partnership will begin with an initial deployment in San Diego and expand to additional markets over time. The partnership is enabled through Element Mobility, Element's dedicated autonomous and next-generation mobility division, and is designed to combine Element's capital strength, global operational experience and mobility capabilities with Waymo's autonomous driving technology and ride-hailing demand platform. Element will support the fleet through vehicle lifecycle management, charging infrastructure and energy management, maintenance coordination, and operational fleet optimisation. David Madrigal, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Element Fleet Management, said the deal connects Waymo's technology with the logistics infrastructure needed to deliver it at scale. Related:Shell Recharge and SINEXCEL launch joint R&D lab in China for ultra-fast and megawatt EV charging "Autonomous mobility succeeds through operational intelligence, disciplined execution, and the ability to perform reliably across markets," Madrigal said. "This partnership combines Waymo's industry-leading autonomous technology with Element's global expertise in fleet management and operations. Together, we are enabling Waymo to scale autonomous mobility efficiently, reliably, and at a premium standard across markets." Element Fleet Management, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker EFN, describes itself as the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world. The company manages vehicles, data, technology and decisions for a wide range of commercial clients. Waymo's expansion context Waymo currently provides approximately 400,000 paid rides each week across several US cities and is targeting more than one million weekly rides by the end of 2026, a figure that would represent a more than 150% increase from its current run rate. Trip volume quadrupled in 2025 as the company expanded fleet capacity and service areas, and Waymo raised
Jun 17, 2026 · via evinfrastructurenews.com
Latest Search Quote | Back Zoom + Zoom - | | | MINIEYE (02431.HK) Signs Procurement and Long-term Cooperation Agreement for Autonomous Logistics Vehicles, Involving Supply of 1,000 Vehicles and Supporting Software Systems Recommend 4 Positive 5 Negative 1 | | | MINIEYE (02431.HK) announced that it has recently formally signed a procurement and long-term cooperation agreement for autonomous logistics vehicles with an independent third-party enterprise based in Wuxi, marking a significant milestone in the commercialization and market expansion of the Group’s autonomous logistics vehicle business. Pursuant to the cooperation agreement, during the effective period, the partner and third parties introduced by the partner will procure a total of 1,000 autonomous logistics vehicles and supporting software systems from the Group. The vehicle models involved include T5, T8 and other autonomous logistics vehicle products to be launched during the cooperation period. The procured vehicles will mainly be deployed in scenarios such as urban distribution, supply and distribution across municipal and county-level administrative regions, and last-mile logistics, covering multiple logistics segments including fresh produce, food, pharmaceuticals, supermarkets and building materials. The partner will be responsible for coordinating road right applications and licensing matters for autonomous logistics vehicles in relevant regions, while the Group will complete production, delivery, operations and after-sales services in accordance with agreed standards. This cooperation will help the Group further expand the market share of its autonomous vehicles and supporting solutions, enhance brand influence, continuously promote the large-scale commercial application of autonomous driving technology in smart logistics scenarios, and consolidate the Group’s leading position in the industry. (sl/u) Auto-translated by AI This article was automatically translated by AI, the original language version should be considered the authoritative version. AASTOCKS.com Limited does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and accepts no liability for any damages or losses arising from the
Jun 17, 2026 · via aastocks.com
Micropolis Robotics Expands Physical AI Portfolio with Five-Year Autonomous Sweeper Deployment Agreement with Abu Dhabi Government Rhea-AI Summary Micropolis Robotics (NYSE:MCRP) signed a five-year agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport to design, deploy, operate, and maintain a Physical AI-powered autonomous urban cleaning ecosystem. The project starts with AI-driven autonomous sweepers and includes collaboration with Khalifa University, supporting the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031. AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice. Positive - Five-year autonomous urban cleaning agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport - Initial deployment of AI-powered autonomous sweepers across Abu Dhabi urban environments - Showcases vertically integrated Physical AI ecosystem for smart city operations - Strategic collaboration with Khalifa University on research and knowledge transfer - Aligns with UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and national AI ambitions Negative - None. Key Figures Market Reality Check Peers on Argus MCRP is up 8.33%, while momentum peers show mixed moves (e.g., HUBC down 6.40%, LIDR up 4.61%), suggesting a stock-specific reaction to the Abu Dhabi agreement. Previous AI Reports | Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst | |---|---|---|---|---| | Apr 07 | AI conference appearance | Neutral | -1.6% | CEO participated in AI infrastructure virtual conference fireside chat webcast. | | Mar 03 | AI commercial agreement | Positive | -3.7% | Signed $9.3M multi-year AfricAI agreement for autonomous vehicle platforms. | | Dec 03 | Saudi AI LOI | Positive | +51.3% | LOI with QSS Robotics including intent to procure up to 500 robots. | | Nov 18 | Edge AI module launch | Positive | -6.8% | Launched IP67-rated NVIDIA-powered edge computing unit for robot AI processing. | | Oct 31 | AI security workshop | Neutral | -1.0% | Showcased AI security and robotics solutions at ADNOC AI Security
Jun 17, 2026 · via stocktitan.net
FAU CA-AI Team Competes in DARPA Lift Challenge with Heavy-Lift Autonomous Aircraft Tuesday, Jun 16, 2026A team from the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI), within Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been selected to compete in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Lift Challenge, a national competition focused on advancing autonomous aerial logistics through next-generation aircraft design. The DARPA Lift Challenge is part of a long tradition of DARPA-led technology competitions that have influenced the trajectory of emerging industries. Most notably, DARPA's Grand Challenge and Urban Challenge competitions helped accelerate the development of autonomous vehicle technologies years before self-driving systems became commercially viable. Today, DARPA continues to use challenge-based innovation to advance critical technologies, with the Lift Challenge focused on expanding the capabilities of autonomous aviation and aerial logistics. "DARPA competitions have historically served as catalysts for technological breakthroughs, particularly in autonomous systems," said Dimitris Pados, Ph.D., director of CA-AI and Charles E. Schmidt Eminent Scholar Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. "For our students, participating in the Lift Challenge is an opportunity to engage with a problem at the forefront of aerospace innovation while applying the principles of autonomy, artificial intelligence, and engineering design that are central to CA-AI's research." Fully funded, organized, and supported by CA-AI, the project brings together seven FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science student researchers under the guidance of CA-AI faculty to design, build, and test heavy-lift autonomous tiltrotor aircraft for the competition. The DARPA Lift Challenge aims to advance autonomous flight capabilities by challenging teams to significantly increase the payload-to-weight performance of vertical-lift aircraft. Competitors are working toward a 4-to-1 payload-to-weight ratio, a benchmark that exceeds the capabilities of existing aircraft systems and represents a key milestone for future autonomous
Jun 17, 2026 · via fau.edu
Intel advances 18A-P chip process to risk production, signaling manufacturing readiness.
Intel announced that its 18A-P process node has entered risk production, indicating the chip manufacturing process is mature enough for initial production. This milestone is crucial for Intel's financial turnaround as it aims to attract external manu...
Jun 16, 2026 · via pluang.com
2 senators want NHTSA to review Tesla's Full Self-Driving safety data Los Angeles — Two U.S. senators are asking the nation’s traffic safety regulator to examine Tesla Inc.'s self-published crash statistics for its Full Self-Driving driver-assistance system, following a Reuters investigation last month that found the EV maker was exaggerating its safety claims. Democratic Sens. Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday, citing the Reuters report and saying the analysis underlying Tesla’s FSD safety statistics is “weak and misleading,” creating “an urgent safety problem.” The letter asks NHTSA to write back by July 7 to answer a series of questions, including whether the agency has evaluated Tesla’s FSD safety claims or asked for the underlying crash data used to make the claims. The senators also urge NHTSA to strengthen reporting requirements for companies using self-driving technology or advanced driver-assistance systems like Tesla’s FSD, saying the agency has no way of knowing whether “public safety claims bear any relationship to reality.” Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. NHTSA said it received the letter and is reviewing it. The Reuters examination last month found that Tesla CEO Elon Musk and other leaders over the past year have increasingly cited statistics they say prove FSD is up to 10 times safer than human drivers. Researchers interviewed by Reuters said Tesla exaggerates the technology’s safety by comparing a rate of crashes in FSD-piloted Teslas that triggered airbag deployments to a U.S. crash rate for all vehicles that includes far less severe accidents. The company also compares its cars to the average U.S. vehicle, which is much older than the average Tesla. That distorts the results because automakers have gradually introduced new safety features that reduce crashes. Tesla has
Jun 16, 2026 · via detroitnews.com
Intel advances 18A-P chip process to risk production, signaling manufacturing readiness.
Intel announced that its 18A-P process node has entered risk production, indicating the chip manufacturing process is mature enough for initial production. This milestone is crucial for Intel's financial turnaround as it aims to attract external manu...
Jun 16, 2026 · via pluang.com
June 16, 2026 01:22 PM EDT
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High gas prices already pushing buyers away from expensive trucks, GM exec says
High gasoline prices have started to deter buyers across the industry from pickups and SUVs faster than expected, GM's North American president said.
Jun 16, 2026 · via autonews.com
Mobileye is establishing a vertically integrated robotaxi business that will extend its role beyond supplying autonomous driving technology into directly owning and operating ride-hailing services. The initial deployment of around 100 autonomous vehicles (AVs) in a major US metro is targeted for 2027, scaling to approximately 17,000 vehicles over the following five years. The vertically integrated model combines Mobileye Drive, its autonomous driving system, with Moovit’s Mobility Platform and consumer applications, AV mission control, fleet management and integration with teleoperation infrastructure. The new business will run in parallel with Mobileye’s existing supply-side agreements with automakers and mobility operators. Moovit, which provides the consumer mobility and multimodal trip-planning capability for the new service, serves more than 1.7bn users across more than 3,500 cities in 112 countries. Mobileye Drive draws on more than 25 years of autonomous driving development, with Mobileye technology embedded in more than 230m vehicles produced worldwide. In a statement, Professor Amnon Shashua, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mobileye, said: “Today we are taking the next step: combining those technologies with operational ownership to create a financially and geographically scalable robotaxi business designed from the ground up for global deployment.” Shashua added: “This initiative is not a replacement for our existing partnerships; it is an extension of them. At the same time, operating our own service allows us to accelerate adoption, gain direct operational experience, and showcase the full potential of autonomous mobility.” Why this matters: • Mobileye is abandoning the supplier model for the one that captures real value. Two decades of ADAS dominance and 230 million vehicles have not translated into a share of the ride-hailing economics those vehicles enable. Direct operations changes that. • Moovit’s 1.7 billion users is the asset no pure-play AV competitor can replicate. Embedding a robotaxi service into an existing multimodal
Jun 16, 2026 · via automotiveworld.com
Intel advances 18A-P chip process to risk production, signaling manufacturing readiness.
Intel announced that its 18A-P process node has entered risk production, indicating the chip manufacturing process is mature enough for initial production. This milestone is crucial for Intel's financial turnaround as it aims to attract external manu...
Jun 16, 2026 · via pluang.com
Waymo has tapped fleet management company Element to help keep its robotaxis charged, maintained, and on the road as the company expands into more cities. The multi-year partnership will start in San Diego and could expand to additional markets over time. While Waymo continues to run its driverless ride-hailing service through the Waymo app and oversees the performance of its autonomous driving system, Element will handle much of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the fleet running. That includes vehicle lifecycle management, charging infrastructure, energy management, maintenance coordination, and fleet optimization. As Waymo grows, managing thousands of vehicles across multiple cities becomes a massive operational challenge. It’s not just about the self-driving technology – the cars need to be charged, maintained, repaired, and kept in service. The deal gives Waymo a partner focused on fleet operations while it concentrates on expanding its robotaxi service and refining the Waymo Driver autonomous driving system. “Scaling autonomous mobility requires partners with proven operational discipline and global fleet expertise,” said Nicole Gavel, head of business development and strategic partnerships at Waymo. “Element brings the infrastructure, execution, and scale needed to deploy and operate Waymo’s fleet reliably.” Read more: Waymo’s retired robotaxi batteries are heading back to work If you’ve ever considered going solar, make it easy by finding a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing by checking out EnergySage. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online, and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way.
Jun 16, 2026 · via electrek.co
Fast Company Names PlusAI’s SuperDrive™ a 2026 World Changing Idea for Bringing Physical AI to Commercial Freight Published Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 11:42 a.m. Updated Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 11:43 a.m. SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 16, 2026-- PlusAI, a Physical AI leader transforming transportation with AI-based autonomous driving software, today announced that SuperDrive™, its Level 4 autonomous driving system for commercial trucks, has been named to Fast Company’s 2026 World Changing Ideas list. This year’s awards highlight 191 outstanding projects for their impact, sustainability, design, creativity, scalability, and ability to improve society. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260616707358/en/ Fast Company Names PlusAI’s SuperDrive™ a 2026 World Changing Idea for Bringing Physical AI to Commercial Freight “We are honored by this recognition from Fast Company for the progress we have made in moving autonomous trucking from breakthrough technology to commercial reality. After more than a decade of development, we have reached an industry inflection point where autonomous trucks are beginning to show their potential to improve road safety, strengthen supply chains, and address driver shortages,” said David Liu, CEO and Co-Founder of PlusAI. “We are excited to expand the global impact of SuperDrive with our partners including Scania, MAN and International of the TRATON GROUP, Iveco Group, and Hyundai Motor Company. Our focus now is on the large-scale deployment of factory-built autonomous trucks starting in 2027.” SuperDrive is being deployed globally. PlusAI is running autonomous fleet trials in Texas with International, placing factory-integrated autonomous trucks powered by SuperDrive into real freight operations for Ryder. The trials have consistently delivered loads on schedule, achieving a 100% on-time delivery rate. In Europe, PlusAI and IVECO are advancing Southern Europe’s first autonomous trucking program with Spanish logistics operator Sesé. Built on more than seven million miles of
Jun 16, 2026 · via lasvegassun.com
From：Internet Info Agency 2026-06-16 09:36:04 Documents from Maricopa County, Arizona, show that Waymo completed its acquisition on June 5, 2024, of a test facility in Wittmann for $220 million. The 5,500-acre site was sold by a Delaware-based shell company linked to Apple. The facility includes a 115-acre urban road testing area, a 35-acre vehicle dynamics testing zone, a four-mile-long oval track, and highway test scenarios specifically designed for autonomous driving. Originally owned by Fiat Chrysler, the site was purchased by Apple in 2021 for $125 million to test prototype vehicles for its "Project Titan." After investing billions of dollars in the project, Apple terminated it in early 2024. Lynk & Co 07 GT PHEV Shooting Brake Launches Pre-sales End-June, Hits Market in Q3 Toyota's New Mid-Engine Lightweight Sports Car Spotted; May Launch as MR2 or Celica by 2028 New Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Spied: Larger Rear Wing, Possible Powertrain Upgrade Porsche Panamera Facelift Spied: Four-Screen Interior Revealed, Plug-In Hybrid Confirmed Lamborghini Revuelto SV Hypercar Unveiled in August 2026: Limited to 1,963 Units, 1,065 HP U.S. Adds NIO and Other Chinese Firms to "Chinese Military Companies List"; NIO Denies Military Ties Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Renault Urge EU to Strengthen Local Auto Manufacturing Rules
Jun 16, 2026 · via english.news18a.com
LamarRacing, a student-led AI and robotics project at the University of Bonn, won an award in the RoboRacer Competition held as part of the 2026 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Vienna. The team from Bonn came top in the time trial by some margin, securing it the “Best Performance Overall” title, and followed up this showing with fourth place in the head-to-heads. The team, led by doctoral student Nils Dengler and Professor Maren Bennewitz, started life as a study project at the University of Bonn. It has been supported financially by the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, in which the University of Bonn is involved. Competing at the conference were students Lukas Kutsch, Samir Shehadeh, Aftab Akhtar and Lavinia Kong, with Sicong Pan providing the project with scientific support. Trialling AI under real-life conditions The RoboRacer Competition sees autonomous model racecars go up against one another. The vehicles are required to navigate an actual track on their own, respond to obstacles and other features along their route and make their decisions in real time. This provides a particularly challenging testing ground for AI research. “Competitions like these let us try out algorithms for interpreting sensor data, planning actions and monitoring movements under real-life, real-time conditions,” explains Professor Maren Bennewitz from the Institute for Computer Science at the University of Bonn. “At the same time, the students learn how to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice. They gain experience in research, development and teamwork—and see for themselves how taxing it is to get autonomous systems working reliably in actual situations.” One of the key components in the successful system is an AI approach that combines data from professional motorsport with human expertise and that underpins how the vehicle plans its driving strategy and adapts
Jun 16, 2026 · via uni-bonn.de
EV manufacturer XPENG is targeting a 2027 global rollout for its next-generation VLA 2.0 autonomous driving system. Announcing its launch plans in March, XPENG stated that VLA 2.0 is the first AI driving model with L4 potential in China, marking a significant step toward the dream of the self-driving car. XPENG's cars aren't completely driverless just yet. But speaking to Mashable, XPENG's General Intelligence Center head Dr. Xianming Liu explained that VLA 2.0 may be key to finally achieving that goal. What is L4 autonomous driving? Autonomous driving systems are commonly categorised into one of six levels, as defined by global automotive standards organisation SAE International. These range from no driving automation at Level 0 (L0) to full driving automation at Level 5 (L5). Most of the currently available cars with such systems operate at L2, offering partial driving automation. Despite its name, Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is a L2 system. The company changed up the system's branding earlier this year after the term "Full Self-Driving" was found to be misleading, adding the suffix "(Supervised)" as well as axing the name "Autopilot." (The feature was rebranded again to "Tesla Assisted Driving" to comply with regulations for its Chinese launch in May.) Some other automakers have reached L3, with Mercedes-Benz becoming the first automaker to offer U.S. customers conditional driving automation in 2024. However, this L3 autonomous driving system only works in very narrow circumstances, such as on specific freeways during clear daytime weather, which limits its practicality. L4 marks the next high watermark of driving automation, just one step away from not needing a driver at all. Now XPENG claims its AI-powered VLA 2.0 system — standing for Vision-Language-Action — is all but there. Mashable took a test ride in an XPENG P7 with VLA 2.0 enabled, and found
Jun 16, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
Rivian's CEO says the company is on track to release a supervised self-driving system similar to Tesla's Full Self-Driving later this year. During a fireside chat at a Masters of Scale event in Anaheim on Thursday, CEO RJ Scaringe said Rivian will release an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) that could enable the company's second-generation cars and the new R2 to drive on their own with supervision from one destination to another — also known as point-to-point driving. The CEO compared the tech to Tesla FSD. "Later this year, we'll have full supervised point-to-point, which will be very similar to Tesla's FSD," he said. "And that'll roll out to all of our Gen 2 vehicles and, of course, R2." The release would be a notable step up from Rivian's current self-driving system, called Universal Hands-Free, if Scaringe's projection is realized. UHF is an ADAS that can handle steering and speed control on about 3.5 million miles of clearly-marked roads in the US and Canada. It does not navigate turns, traffic lights, or parking lots like Tesla's FSD Supervised. Scaringe's pronouncement could mean that Rivian has advanced its ADAS to a level of driving similar to FSD within a year of its release to customers. The CEO did not specify if there would be a limit on the number of miles the self-driving tech could handle upon first release. Rivian did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last December, the company announced a push to develop fully autonomous driving technology for its future vehicle lineup, enabling hands-free, eyes-off driving. Scaringe said at the event that unsupervised self-driving will be released next year. Part of Rivian's strategy is to develop autonomous driving for robotaxi fleets. The company inked a $1.25 billion deal with Uber in March, in which the ride-hailing company
Jun 15, 2026 · via businessinsider.com