Speaking at the National Day Rally on Aug. 23, Wong said the government intends to scale up AVs once the technology is proven as Singapore seeks to meet growing transport demand amid manpower shortages, The Straits Times reported. It is becoming harder to recruit bus drivers, while two-thirds of the country's taxi drivers are already aged 60 or older, he said. AVs could help ease these constraints and keep transport services reliable. But the technology also poses a major concern for taxi and private-hire drivers who depend on driving for their livelihoods, Wong acknowledged. "So, even as we scale up autonomous vehicles, we will do so progressively. We will not let adoption run ahead of our ability to retrain and support affected drivers, and help them move into new jobs," he said. | Grab's autonomous shuttle and a GrabCab taxi behind. Photo from Grab | Some drivers are already preparing for the transition. Taxi driver Charles Ban Kum Cheong, 55, a 10-year industry veteran, has taken artificial intelligence courses and used all his SkillsFuture credits as he prepares for a transport sector increasingly shaped by AVs. "Upskilling is a must for everyone. I’ve taken AI courses and used all my SkillsFuture Credits," Ban said in a recent interview with Singapore's National Trades Union Congress. He was also among the first group of SMRT Strides taxi drivers to switch to an EV in 2021, when electric taxis were still relatively new in Singapore, ranked the world's second-richest economy behind Switzerland by GDP per capita in The Economist's 2025 ranking. When autonomous driving technology matures, Ban hopes to move from driving one taxi to remotely operating several AVs. He believes such a transition could still be at least a decade away but does not intend to wait until then to prepare. AVs
Aug 27, 2026 · via e.vnexpress.net
BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guident Corp. (“Guident”), a leader in autonomous vehicle remote monitoring and human-in-the-loop operations, today announced a strategic collaboration with Florida State College at Jacksonville (“FSCJ”) to advance workforce development for the rapidly evolving autonomous transportation industry. The partnership will support the development of an autonomous vehicle remote monitoring and control training program at FSCJ’s Downtown Campus. The program gives students, faculty, and transportation professionals practical exposure to the technologies, workflows, and operating models required for transportation systems to transition from conventionally driven vehicles to autonomous and human-supervised mobility services. As a first major milestone, Guident has installed its GuideOn™ remote monitoring and operations technology at FSCJ, establishing the college as Guident’s sixth Remote Monitor and Control Center (RMCC) location globally and marking the sixth GuideOn vehicle integration through the addition of FSCJ’s “Olli” autonomous shuttle. The Olli autonomous shuttle will be incorporated into the training environment to provide hands on experience for students learning remote assistance, analytics, safety procedures, and operational oversight. As autonomous vehicles become more common, the workforce will evolve beyond traditional drivers and maintenance technicians to include new roles focused on remote supervision, incident response, mobility data analysis, safety monitoring, and autonomous fleet operations. The partnership combines FSCJ’s workforce-development mission with Guident’s experience in human-in-the-loop autonomous vehicle operations. The collaboration is designed to help prepare students and transportation professionals for the next generation of mobility jobs. It also supports a local talent pipeline for public transportation, campus mobility, airports, ports, logistics, municipal services, and commercial robotics. The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the autonomous vehicle industry. As autonomous shuttles, robotaxis, and specialized mobility platforms move from pilots toward broader deployment, operators and public agencies are increasingly focused on the infrastructure required to support autonomy in complex
Aug 27, 2026 · via markets.businessinsider.com
BMW iX3 EV sees strong pre-order debut in China while facing delivery and display hurdles, report says BMW has opened pre-sales for its “Neue Klasse” iX3 at the Chengdu Auto Show on August 21. The model has already secured tens of thousands of preliminary orders, while facing a peculiar sales challenge: a total lack of showroom display cars, as reported by 36KR. The iX3 is priced between 269,900 yuan (39,700 USD) and 339,900 yuan (49,900 USD). According to dealers interviewed by 36KR, the response has been overwhelming, with some core-region stores reporting nearly 80 preliminary orders each within the first week. However, this sales achievement comes with a caveat. Because physical display cars are not expected to reach more than 500 dealerships nationwide until late October, sales teams have been forced to sell the vehicle based solely on product brochures and digital images. “We aren’t selling cars, we are selling pictures,” lamented one veteran BMW salesperson. The surge in “blind orders” suggests that BMW’s brand equity remains potent and its product specifications are finally aligning with those of emerging EV competitors. The top-trim iX3 features large cylindrical batteries delivering a CLTC range of 919 km. Official tests around Qinghai Lake have confirmed a real-world range exceeding 800 km. The iX3 features end-to-end autonomous driving developed in collaboration with Momenta – which is standard across all trims – and an intelligent cockpit integrated with both Alibaba’s Qwen and DeepSeek large language models to enhance voice interaction. The risk of “future delivery” Despite the initial excitement, BMW faces a precarious timeline. While the first batch of deliveries is slated for November, large-scale delivery will not materialise until 2027. Some users may have to wait until January 31, 2027, to confirm their orders. In a market where “launch-to-delivery” cycles are typically two months,
Aug 27, 2026 · via carnewschina.com
Global growth startegy Hyundai announces 100 new models by 2030 Hyundai is sharpening its growth strategy through to 2030 by introducing more than 100 new or revised models - including range extenders - robotaxis with Waymo as well as investments in AI, battery technology and local production are intended to secure growth. Hyundai has presented a comprehensive five-year plan with regard to new products, technologies and its own production. At CEO Investor Day 2026, the Korean manufacturer announced that it will bring more than 100 new or revised models onto the market worldwide by 2030. At the same time, the company is investing in autonomous driving, robotaxi services, robotics, battery technologies and the expansion of its global manufacturing. By the end of the decade, Hyundai wants to sell 5.55 million vehicles worldwide and achieve a market share of six per cent. The share of electrified vehicles is to rise from 23 per cent in 2025 to 60 per cent. The basis for this is an unusually broad powertrain strategy that includes battery-electric cars, hybrids, combustion-engine vehicles and, in future, so-called Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREV). These vehicles combine an electric drive with a range extender. “Our starting position is stronger than ever before. The Hyundai Motor Group is the third-largest automotive group worldwide and at the same time the second most profitable,” said CEO José Muñoz. “By 2030, we will bring more than 100 new models with different powertrain options onto the market.” Range extender set to make its debut in 2027 An important building block of the product offensive is the Group's first range-extender model. The Santa Fe EREV is set to launch in the first half of 2027 and, according to the company, achieve a range of more than 965 kilometres. The vehicle is to be produced at
Aug 27, 2026 · via automotivemanufacturingsolutions.com
- Hyundai’s Level 2+ semi-autonomous driving system arrives in 2028. - Future EVs will use new cells that reduce battery costs by 30%. - Global production capacity is set to increase by 1.27 million units. Hyundai’s massive product push dominated their investor day event, but it wasn’t the only thing the company announced. Quite the opposite as the automaker talked about increasing production, ramping up autonomous driving efforts, and offering improved technology. Starting with autonomous driving, the first Ioniq 5 Waymo robotaxis will be delivered in the fourth quarter and they’ll “enable an international expansion of robotaxi services as early as 2027.” More: Hyundai Is Launching More Than 100 New Vehicles By 2030 Besides the Waymo effort, Hyundai-owned Motional will use Ioniq 5 robotaxis. They’re scheduled to begin commercial operations later this year in Las Vegas. Additional cities should then follow in 2027. On the consumer front, “Hyundai Motor Group is standardizing its sensor architecture around the NVIDIA ecosystem so that data acquired by Hyundai Motor, Kia, 42dot, and Motional can be integrated and used to a single consistent standard.” This means learnings from one company can be applied to others. Hyundai is also working to deploy its autonomous driving artificial intelligence, known as Atria AI, by the end of the year. It will eventually be used to power the company’s Level 2+ system, which arrives in 2028. The automaker went on to say “Atria AI will be extended progressively across mass-produced vehicles, building a full lineup of autonomous driving capability from Level 2+ to Level 4.” Since Hyundai sells millions of vehicles annually, they’ll collect a ton of data, and this will be used to rapidly improve the AI’s self-driving capabilities and performance. Improved EVs Hyundai has been an electric vehicle pioneer and this experience is about to pay
Aug 27, 2026 · via carscoops.com
How The Volvo EX60 EV Can 'See' Deer Around Corners Through A New Update It's not just deer, either. The Volvo can even detect people and other hazards before you do. - Volvo EVs are getting new safety features via a software update. - The EX60, EX90, and ES90 in the U.S. and Canada will get four new safety alerts based on data collected from other vehicles on the road. - One could help you avoid hitting a deer or other animal. The Volvo EX60 can see into the future. Well, sort of. It can see into your future. In 2016, the Swedish automaker launched its connected safety technology, which uses data collected about road hazards from other vehicles to alert you about upcoming dangers. Now, it's expanding on that tech with new features that can let you know about a deer in the road, around a blind corner, before you even get there. With the latest software update, Volvo EX60, EX90, and ES90 EVs in the U.S. and Canada will gain four new features to help warn drivers of impending danger. Large Animal Alert is pretty self-explanatory, as it warns drivers of big ol' animals in the road, like deer or moose. I imagine the latter is extra helpful in Volvo's home country. There's also Vulnerable Road User Alert, which tells you about humans who might be up ahead, like cyclists or pedestrians, on or near highways. Roadwork Alert and Accident Ahead Alert are again alert you of upcoming road work or accidents. None of these replace the existing connected safety features, like Slippery Road Alert and Hazard Light Alert. They're all just added to Volvo's safety arsenal. In Europe, this system works by using data collected from the European Union's "Data for Road Safety" ecosystem. The system is
Aug 27, 2026 · via insideevs.com
Austin City Council to weigh data center regulations, possible ban in work session AUSTIN, Texas — Austin City Council members are preparing to begin a formal push to regulate — and potentially prohibit — large-scale data centers within the city limits, with a work session scheduled for Tuesday and a possible vote later this week. Council Member Mike Siegel, who represents District 7, said the work session will start the conversation on how to amend city code to allow for data center regulation. He said he expects at least five council members to support outlawing data centers. "Because I've spoken with them, but most likely a majority of council saying loud and clear, once these regulations become final, we don't want hyperscale data centers within Austin, period," he said. Those voices, along with Mayor Kirk Watson, would be enough support to move forward with action, with the city council only having capacity for 10 total votes. Last week, Watson posted on the city message board about a memo aimed at establishing “clear and rigorous guardrails that put Austin values first and prevent harm in the community." ALSO | Texas fights Minnesota extradition bid for ICE agent accused in Minneapolis shooting "The memo recognizes the importance of Austin keeping up with the technological changes of our times while protecting our City," Watson said in the post. Watson says he proposed an initial framework back in May for preventing and regulating the infrastructure in Austin. Siegel said the effort is intended to ensure city policies do not favor data centers. “This is basically the follow-up that really has been initiated by the mayor and council to make sure that in our land use regulations, in our water utility regulations, our electric utility regulations, we’re not favoring data centers in any way,” Siegel
Aug 26, 2026 · via cbsaustin.com
Full story Waymo targets Munich rollout Waymo said it will begin testing autonomous vehicles in Munich in the coming weeks, laying the groundwork for a commercial ride-hailing service in Germany that it aims to launch toward the end of 2027. “Waymo said on Tuesday it would begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Munich” Reuters reported that Waymo’s vehicles would initially drive manually across Munich to map local roads and test with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel. In its announcement, Waymo said it is taking a phased approach that starts with high-definition mapping of local street networks and testing with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel before it aims to open commercial ride-hailing to the public towards the end of 2027. Waymo said it is already engaging with local, state and federal officials on regulatory approvals needed to offer its service in Germany, while also planning to invest in local fleet operations and create high-skilled jobs as it prepares to launch in Munich. Officials praise, company pledges Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana framed the Munich move as a milestone in global expansion, saying, "Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion," in the company’s blog post. Bavaria’s minister Florian Herrmann welcomed the news, saying, "Autonomous driving is a key technology for the future of mobility and for the transformation of our automotive industry," as France 24 reported. Waymo said the validation period will ensure the Waymo Driver adapts seamlessly to Munich’s distinct driving conditions before commercial ride-hailing to the public toward the end of 2027. The company also said it is working with Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, known as the KBA, as well as state authorities and local officials, and TechCrunch reported Waymo expects to
Aug 26, 2026 · via newscord.org
Updated autonomous vehicle rules mooted Draft amendment addresses rapid changes in transport technologies China has dedicated a chapter to autonomous vehicles in a draft revision to its Road Traffic Safety Law, seeking to strengthen the legal framework for the rapidly developing sector. The draft, which was submitted to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on Tuesday for its first reading, defines autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance functions, clarifies the conditions for autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads, sets principles for handling traffic violations and outlines insurance arrangements for such vehicles. It also specifies the responsibility of automakers and importers in handling road safety violations that might occur when the vehicle's self-driving function is activated. It contains 170 articles in nine chapters and introduces a dedicated chapter on autonomous vehicles, while also addressing distracted driving, electric bicycles, road-occupying activities and traffic risks involving delivery platforms. The existing Road Traffic Safety Law took effect in 2004, with individual provisions amended in 2007,2011 and 2021. While introducing the draft revision to lawmakers, Minister of Justice He Rong said that with socioeconomic development and rapid changes in transport technologies, existing provisions can no longer fully meet practical needs in areas including traffic safety responsibilities, management measures, law enforcement and legal liability. According to the draft, China supports the safe, orderly and regulated testing, demonstration and operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads. It defines an autonomous vehicle as one capable of continuously performing all dynamic driving tasks under specified operating conditions, whereas driver-assistance functions only help drivers perform some of these tasks. Vehicles operating without autonomous driving functions activated, as well as those equipped only with driver-assistance functions, would be managed under rules applying to conventional vehicles. Before applying for production approval or import permission,
Aug 26, 2026 · via chinadaily.com.cn
36Kr 8 AM Brief | Revised Draft of the Road Traffic Safety Law: Automakers shall be held liable for violations occurring under autonomous driving conditions; All products have been removed from SK Hynix's official flagship store on Taobao; Canada announces the imposition of retaliatory tariffs on American goods Today's Hotspot Overview - Multiple apps have been notified for issues including excessive permission requests and unclosable windows - Apple has completed the preparation for leadership transition, and Tim Cook will officially step down as CEO next week - Every child in Singapore will receive a subsidy of 320,000 yuan in the future - China revises the Law on Banking Supervision and Administration to strengthen the protection of consumer rights and interests - The United States uses new DNA technology to confirm more 9/11 victims TOP 3 Major News Revised Draft of Road Traffic Safety Law: Automakers Shall Bear Responsibility for Violations Occurring Under Autonomous Driving Status The revised draft of the Road Traffic Safety Law, which was submitted for the first deliberation at the meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on August 25, sets up a special chapter titled "Special Provisions for Autonomous Vehicles", clarifies the definitions of autonomous vehicles and assisted driving functions, and stipulates that where a road traffic safety violation is committed by an autonomous vehicle when its autonomous driving function is activated, the producer or importer of the autonomous vehicle shall be held responsible for the violation. Autonomous vehicles with their autonomous driving functions not activated, as well as vehicles that are only equipped with assisted driving functions being driven on roads, shall be governed in accordance with the regulations applicable to non-autonomous vehicles. (Xinhua News Agency) SK Hynix's official Taobao flagship store has removed all products from shelves, announcing that it
Aug 26, 2026 · via eu.36kr.com
About
Press
Copyright
Contact us
Creators
Advertise
Developers
Terms
Privacy
Policy & Safety
How YouTube works
Test new features
NFL Sunday Ticket
© 2026 Google LLC
Aug 25, 2026 · via youtube.com
The Texas Senate Committee on Transportation examined the expansion of autonomous vehicles on Texas roads Tuesday and flagged potential gaps in current law after officials acknowledged that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is not automatically notified when an autonomous vehicle is involved in a serious or fatal crash. The hearing came as Texas begins implementing a new regulatory framework for commercial autonomous vehicles. Senate Bill 2807, passed in 2025, requires commercial driverless vehicles to receive authorization from TxDMV and provide DPS with a first-responder interaction plan. The authorization requirement became enforceable on May 28. Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are While the TxDMV has the authority to restrict or suspend AV authorizations, officials said current law does not require serious or deadly crashes to be reported directly to the agency. Create a free account with NBC 5 DFW to save articles and videos. In an exchange with lawmakers, TxDMV Enforcement Director Corrie Thompson told State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, the agency learned of a deadly crash involving an AV in Dallas through media reports rather than through a required notification. “The current statute as written does not have a mandate for reporting to the department," said Thompson. You gave me the answer that scares the living [hell] out of me as a legislator,” Perry said. Local The latest news from around North Texas. Perry later said media reports should not be the state's first source of information about a potentially serious incident involving an autonomous vehicle. TxDMV officials said the preliminary Dallas police report did not contain a final fault determination. According to the agency's description of the report, a human-driven vehicle struck a pedestrian who entered the roadway outside a crosswalk, throwing the pedestrian into an autonomous vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Lawmakers pointed to the
Aug 25, 2026 · via nbcdfw.com
Waymo is getting ready to hit Germany with its robotaxi service, as it plans to begin testing vehicles in Munich in the coming weeks before a potential commercial launch late next year. The company said its vehicles will initially be driven manually through Munich to help create high-definition maps of the city’s streets. After mapping is complete, testing will begin with trained specialists behind the wheel, all as part of Waymo’s way of adapting its self-driving system to local roads and traffic conditions. If testing and regulatory approvals go as planned, Waymo says it expects to begin offering fully autonomous rides to the public toward the end of 2027. The move represents yet another step in Waymo’s expansion beyond the United States, where the company has established itself as the largest commercial robotaxi operator. Waymo says it has now provided more than 20 million paid and public trips and is completing hundreds of thousands of commercial rides each week. "Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion," Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said. Waymo is working with local, Bavarian, and German federal officials to obtain the regulatory approvals required for commercial service. The company also plans to establish a local fleet operations center and create jobs in Munich, though the timing of such is unclear, nor are the number of people who would benefit from working with Waymo. Germany has already established a legal framework allowing Level 4 autonomous vehicles to operate in defined areas under certain conditions, making it one of Europe’s more accommodating markets for commercial self-driving technology. Still, Waymo won’t be the first company to offer autonomous rides in Europe. Uber, working with Croatian autonomous-driving company Verne and China’s Pony.ai, launched a robotaxi
Aug 25, 2026 · via autoweek.com
Waymo said on Tuesday it will begin laying the groundwork for a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Munich, its first German market and second in Europe, with commercial rides targeted for the end of 2027. Vehicles will appear on Munich’s streets “in the coming weeks,” the company said, initially driven manually while it builds high-definition maps of the local street network. Supervised autonomous testing with trained specialists behind the wheel follows. “This validation period will ensure the Waymo Driver adapts seamlessly to Munich’s distinct driving conditions before we aim to open commercial ride-hailing to the public towards the end of 2027,” the company wrote. Berlin Says the Law Is Already There The announcement carried a notably long statement from Christian Hirte, parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, framing Waymo’s arrival as validation of German regulation. “We have already put in place the legal framework for this,” Hirte said. “Waymo, the world’s leading provider of commercial robotaxi services, has now recognised Germany’s potential as a location offering legal certainty.” He added that Waymo “is currently planning to start regular commercial operation of autonomous vehicles on the German market for the first time,” and that its interest “proves that regular autonomous mobility services can work here.” The same statement contained a caution. “We must now leverage the strengths of our economy and develop autonomous mobility solutions from within Europe,” Hirte said. “Our goal must be to ensure that we in Europe not only use these technologies but also develop and operate them here.” A federal official welcoming an American operator while arguing Europe should build and run its own is an unusual pairing to place in a company announcement. Bavaria Wants Speed Florian Herrmann, Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, tied the decision to the state’s industrial base and
Aug 25, 2026 · via eletric-vehicles.com
For over 25 years, FCW has been the go-to source for news, information, and analysis.
Join our community of industry leaders and innovators.
Become a Member
|
Login
Hydrogen
EV
Investors
Research
Knowledge
Contact
EV
Japan's Koshien Area Gets an AI-Powered Autonomous EV Bus — Aiming for Driverless Level 4 by FY2027
By
FCW Team
August 25, 2026 at 9:27 AM EDT
Listen
Aug 25, 2026 · via fuelcellsworks.com
Gamescom 2026 began with GeForce On, featuring major RTX announcements for millions of PC gamers: For a complete run down of all of these announcements, read on, and click through to our dedicated articles for even more detail about each. (googleCookiePolicyLink)YouTube sets performance, advertising, and other optional cookies(/googleCookiePolicyLink) when you watch embedded videos. To watch this video, you need to turn on optional cookies for the site. By clicking “Accept and Play Video,” you will automatically turn on advertising and other optional cookies for the site and accept our (nvidiaTermsOfServiceLink)Terms of Service(/nvidiaTermsOfServiceLink) (which contains important waivers). Please see our (nvidiaPrivacyPolicyLink)Privacy Policy(/nvidiaPrivacyPolicyLink) and (nvidiaCookiePolicyLink)Cookie Policy(/nvidiaCookiePolicyLink) for more information. Alternatively, you can (youtubeLink)watch this video on YouTube(/youtubeLink). If you’re at Gamescom, you can go hands-on with RTX games, check out exclusive presentations, grab GeForce RTX 50 Series Founders Edition graphics cards at European RRPs, snag GeForce Trading cards, and more. Find all of the details here, to ensure you don’t miss out at the world’s biggest gaming expo. Building upon the major advancements introduced with NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, including a 2nd generation Super Resolution transformer model, Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, 6X Multi Frame Generation, and an enhanced Frame Generation model, we’re excited to announce that DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction is available now, adding a new 2nd generation transformer model, delivering superior image quality in ray-traced and path-traced games. DLSS Ray Reconstruction is a neural rendering technique for all GeForce RTX GPUs that improves image quality in ray-traced and path-traced games. Replacing traditional hand-tuned denoisers, it uses an NVIDIA supercomputer-trained AI network to generate higher-quality pixels in the parts of a ray traced frame where rays were not sampled. The model is unified with DLSS Super Resolution, intelligently analyzing temporal and spatial engine data to reconstruct sharper, more stable, and higher-fidelity high-resolution images.
Aug 25, 2026 · via nvidia.com
Jack Demmer Automotive Group, blueflite, and Airspace Link Deploy Drone Logistics Network Backed by $740,000 Michigan AAM Activation Fund Grant WAYNE, Mich., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Demmer Automotive Group, in partnership with drone technology companies Airspace Link, and blueflite with support from Centrepolis Accelerator, today announced the launch of an autonomous drone delivery program for automotive parts in metro Detroit. The initiative, supported by a $740,000 grant from Michigan's Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Activation Fund — administered collaboratively by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Aeronautics Commission, the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) which is part of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) — deploys drones to deliver high-demand parts within a 12-mile radius of Jack Demmer Ford dealerships in Southeast Michigan, representing one of the first commercial drone delivery programs in the U.S. automotive industry. The program addresses a persistent logistics challenge for dealerships: traffic congestion and workforce shortages that delay parts delivery, slow vehicle repairs, and frustrate customers. By flying parts over congestion rather than through it, the drone delivery network creates a more resilient and efficient automotive supply chain. Following the successful completion of pilot test flights in the metro Detroit airspace, the partnership is now moving into live commercial operations, with the Ann Arbor–Detroit drone corridor serving as the operational environment. "At Jack Demmer Automotive Group, The Demmer Difference has always been about finding new ways to better serve our customers. From investing in technology to creating a faster, more convenient ownership experience, we're constantly looking ahead and drone delivery of automotive parts is a natural extension of that commitment," said Jack Demmer Ford Parts Manager Mark Hatfield. "This groundbreaking program allows us to move critical parts faster than ever before,
Aug 25, 2026 · via prnewswire.com
Waymo puts Zeekr-built Ojai robotaxis into regular service Following a limited test phase with free rides, Waymo has now put its Zeekr-built robotaxis, known as ‘Ojai,’ into regular passenger service. Customers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix who book a ride through Waymo’s ride-hailing service will initially be assigned either an Ojai or one of the Jaguar I-Pace vehicles already in use. Once more of the new vehicles join the fleet, customers will be able to choose between the two models. The electric vans are built by Zeekr, a subsidiary of the Chinese Geely Group. They feature sliding doors and can carry up to four passengers. According to Waymo, the vehicles are better suited to groups and families than the Jaguar I-Pace, which has formed part of its fleet for years. However, the vehicles do not arrive from China fully equipped. Zeekr ships them to the US without connected vehicle technology, with Waymo installing its autonomous driving system in Arizona. According to media reports, the sixth-generation system uses 13 cameras, four lidar sensors and six radar sensors. Waymo has also further developed the software, which is expected to operate more reliably in challenging conditions such as snow and fog. According to a company spokesperson, around 300 Ojai robotaxis are currently in service. Waymo expects thousands more to arrive in the US by the end of 2026. Later this year, the company also plans to make the new generation available to selected users in Denver, Las Vegas and San Diego. Las Vegas, in particular, is set to become one of Waymo’s next key markets. The Nevada Department of Transportation has approved the company to operate a commercial robotaxi service with up to 1,000 vehicles in Clark County. Tesla and Uber recently received similar approvals in the region. However, these figures
Aug 25, 2026 · via electrive.com
A change to Claude’s memory system will eliminate one of the most annoying things about using agents — the constant need to rebrief the AI on things it already knows. On Tuesday, Anthropic announced it’s merging the memory system used by chat and Claude Cowork, which means that Claude will always remember what it learned in one area, even when you’re engaging with it in another. Anthropic is also exposing what Claude has retained in its memory, allowing users to read, edit, or delete information on any topic. The update will improve the experience for Claude’s users as it will allow them to more seamlessly move between the research phase and taking action. Before, you may have developed ideas for projects over time while chatting with Claude, but when it came time to actually enact the changes, you’d have to start over by telling Cowork all the details. This was incredibly frustrating. The update makes Claude now feel like one continuous assistant, rather than two separate products under one roof. Anthropic offers an example of someone needing to draft an update for their manager or an agenda for a conference, where Cowork would already understand the references because of the past conversations about the matter at hand. For instance, it would know the headcount, city, and speakers at the conference, so you wouldn’t have to re-input that information. In addition, Claude will now add topics to its memory as you chat, instead of summarizing a conversation when it ends. That makes it easier to move back and forth between chat and Cowork, as the new memories are more quickly updated and shared between the two experiences, even if the chat is ongoing. Anthropic says that, by default, Claude won’t store personal or sensitive information like your health data, race, ethnicity,
Aug 25, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Airbound, an Indian startup building autonomous drones, has raised $37 million in fresh capital as it pushes to make moving goods through the air as cheap as trucking them by road. The Series A round, led by Greenoaks with participation from DoorDash, Lachy Groom, Lightspeed, and Humba Ventures, comes less than a year after Airbound raised an $8.65 million seed round. With this funding, the three-year-old startup has raised nearly $50 million. Airbound, and other startups in this nascent sector, argue that drones can move certain goods faster and cheaper than vehicles on the road. And while there have been successful deployments, drone delivery is still far from matching the scale and versatility of trucking. Airbound is trying to close that gap by redesigning the aircraft to make it more competitive with ground transportation. Conventional aircraft spend a lot of energy carrying their own weight rather than the payload, making flight expensive, particularly for moving smaller loads. Airbound’s answer is to build vertical-flight drones designed to weigh less than the cargo they carry, founder and CEO Naman Pushp said in an interview. Airbound’s current drone, called TRT, weighs about 3.3 pounds and can carry around 2.2 pounds of payload. Its next version, currently under development, is expected to weigh about 6.6 pounds and be able to carry up to 11 pounds, Pushp told TechCrunch. The startup uses a rocket-like, tail-sitter design for its drones, which takes off and lands vertically in an upright position before transitioning to horizontal flight. Pushp said Airbound intends to retain vertical takeoff and landing even as it develops larger aircraft to avoid dependence on runways. “We want to build towards a world where everything has cost parity with trucking,” he said. Founded in 2023, Airbound has completed more than 13,000 autonomous flights across the southern
Aug 25, 2026 · via techcrunch.com