NavInfo is nearing the completion of its acquisition of PhiGent Robotics, a company known for its autonomous driving technologies. Since early 2023, NavInfo has ramped up its investments in intelligent driving solutions, indicating a strategic shift to establish itself as a tier 1 supplier in the automotive sector. PhiGent Robotics is recognized for its expertise in full-stack development and mass production, utilizing Horizon's J6E/M chip platform. Its NOA system, designed for highway driving, ...

In a press release on Aug. 26, Cyngn announced the official granting of a new patent, numbered 12,332,083, for its autonomous vehicle solutions. This patent, titled "Modular Sensor System For Automated Guided Vehicles," introduces a sensor system that can be integrated with existing industrial machines with minimal modifications.  Since August 2023, Cyngn has been awarded 13 additional patents, increasing its total to 23 US patents. Lior Tal, CEO of Cyngn, highlighted that this milestone...

As reported in a press release on Aug. 28, Isuzu Motors plans to establish a dedicated autonomous driving test course at Isuzu Hokkaido Proving Ground in Mukawa, Japan. This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of Level 4 autonomous trucks and buses, with full operations expected by September 2027. The course will span approximately 190,000 square meters and include urban, highway and rural testing areas, allowing for complex driving scenario verification that is difficult on public r...

Self-driving truck technology provider Aurora and McLeod Software have announced a strategic partnership to deliver the industry’s first Transportation Management System (TMS) designed for autonomous trucks. The collaboration is set to streamline how carriers adopt and operate self-driving freight, laying the groundwork for a seamless customer experience. Self-driving trucks promise to move freight safely, efficiently and continuously, enabling carriers to maximize asset utilization and rev...

Li Auto has developed its in-house autonomous driving chip, the M100, which demonstrates effective computing power comparable to two NVIDIA Thor-U chips for large language model tasks. The M100 has successfully completed prototype production and has undergone functional and performance testing, showing promising results in stress tests. It is expected to enter mass production and be integrated into vehicles in 2026. Until then, Li Auto will continue to depend on NVIDIA and Horizon Robotics. T...

Automated vehicles transitioning from test tracks to public roads have highlighted the issue of motion sickness, which could affect up to 60% of occupants. TNO's Motion Comfort Institute is addressing this challenge by integrating expertise from various research fields. Motion sickness often results from a mismatch between sensory inputs, particularly when a person's physical sensations do not align with visual information. This issue is particularly pronounced in automated vehicles, where the t...

Aurora Innovation has initiated the deployment of driverless trucks to transport goods on US freeways, specifically operating without safety drivers in Texas on Interstate 45 between Dallas and Houston. These trucks are hauling loads for FedEx, and Aurora's CEO, Chris Urmson, acknowledged the potential unease and challenges that such a transformation in the trucking industry might create. The Aurora Driver system employs a combination of cameras, radar and a specially developed lidar techno...

Stellantis has paused its Level 3 advanced driver-assistance program due to high costs, technological challenges and limited consumer demand, Reuters reported Aug. 26, citing sources familiar with the matter. Although the company announced in February that its AutoDrive system was ready for deployment, it has not been launched. Stellantis confirmed the technology is available but not deployed, without stating if the program is canceled. Former CEO Carlos Tavares had identified AutoDrive as a ...

AEye Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Blue-Band LLC to integrate AEye's Apollo lidar technology with Blue-Band's Integrator-AI platform. The collaboration, under the OPTIS initiative, aims to create an advanced autonomous system, offering high-resolution 3D perception and real-time responsiveness for traffic infrastructure. The combined solution will utilize AEye's long-range Apollo lidar, which can detect objects up to one kilometer away, alongside Blue-Band's AI-powered orchest...

In a press release on Aug. 26, DeepRoute.ai unveiled DeepRoute IO 2.0, its latest smart driving platform that integrates the advanced Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model. Designed to offer more intelligent and safer driving experiences, this new platform supports a flexible multichip and multisensor design that accommodates both lidar-equipped and vision-only configurations. Initially, DeepRoute IO 2.0 will be available on the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor platform, which utilizes the Blackwell graphi...

As reported in a press release on Aug. 26, proteanTecs and Dream Chip Technologies have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing imaging applications for sectors such as automotive. By integrating proteanTecs' on-chip embedded monitors with Dream Chip Technologies' system-on-a-chip (SoC) design platform, the partnership seeks to enhance functional safety, reliability and system performance through real-time predictive monitoring. Dream Chip Technologies' modular image signal proces...

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to increase its investment in the US to $26 billion between 2025 and 2028. This investment marks an addition of $5 billion to the previously announced $21 billion in March 2025. The fund aims to bolster strategic initiatives in the automotive, steel and robotics industries within the US market. As part of this expanded commitment, a new steel mill is planned in Louisiana to support US industries such as automotive manufacturi...

Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition, shared insights on the company's latest product launch and the developments in self-driving AI during an interview with CNBC's Sara Eisen on "Closing Bell Overtime." Applied Intuition is described by Younis as a vehicle intelligence company that focuses on developing AI infrastructure for autonomous systems. Its work emphasizes physical AI applicable to moving platforms such as passenger cars, heavy-duty trucks and military tanks. The compan...

Ruqi Travel announced the launch of its Robotaxi+ strategy on July 23, aiming to expand robo-taxi operations to 100 core cities over the next five years. The company plans to build a robo-taxi fleet of over 10,000 vehicles and promote a significant investment plan to establish a three-level operation and maintenance network, supporting the offline operations of 100,000 robo-taxi vehicles annually. This expansion involves cooperation agreements with GAC Commerce, GAC Energy, and four strategic pa...

Kodiak Robotics, a company focused on autonomous vehicle technology, has formed a collaboration with NXP Semiconductors to integrate NXP's automotive processors and in-vehicle networking interfaces into its autonomous trucking system. The announcement revealed that NXP's automotive solutions have been incorporated into Kodiak's Actuation Control Engine (ACE), a proprietary computer system that transforms electric or mechanical signals into motion. This integration is intended to enhance Kodiak's...

NVIDIA has made the DRIVE AGX Thor developer kit available for preorder and set for delivery in September. The kit provides developers and researchers with an advanced platform for accelerating the design, testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles and intelligent mobility solutions. The kit is based on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, next-generation Arm Neoverse V3AE CPUs, and the NVIDIA DriveOS 7 software stack. It is purpose-built for automotive development, supporting various sensors a...

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Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, has received its first permit from the New York Transportation Department to test its autonomous cars in New York City. The company will begin testing with eight cars operating in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn. The testing will continue until late September, with the possibility of extending the testing period further. In compliance with New York state law, a trained autonomous vehicle specialist will always be present behind the steering w...

VEStellaLab Co. Ltd. has secured a US patent for its innovative parking recognition method and system technology. Unlike traditional systems that rely on sensors, this technology utilizes camera footage and AI-based video processing to determine parking status by analyzing time-sequenced images to detect vehicle movement and parking positions. This method reduces installation costs, minimizes maintenance and maintains high accuracy under various conditions, enhancing its competitiveness over con...

Lumotive has secured an additional $14 million in investments from Amazon and the ITHCA Group of Oman, adding to its previous Series B funding round of $45 million in February, which valued the company at $200 million. This funding supports Lumotive's advancement in solid-state, programmable light management technologies using its proprietary Light Control Metasurface (LCM) technology. This technology facilitates programmable 3D perception crucial for lidar applications and free-space laser...

James Cox, former leader of Uber's ride-share product UberPool, left the company in 2019 when it had halted its autonomous vehicle development. He then founded The Routing Company, a startup assisting transit agencies in matching riders with vehicles efficiently. Over five years, The Routing Company has facilitated 3 million trips across 13 US states and five countries. Recently, The Routing Company secured its first robo-taxi client, Zoox, an Amazon-owned company. Zoox will purchase a nonexc...

TriEye, known for its mass-market short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensing technology, has partnered with LITEON Technology, a company in opto-semiconductor and power management, to introduce a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-powered SWIR sensing and imaging solution. This collaboration has resulted in a technology demonstrator that integrates TriEye's advanced SWIR sensor with LITEON's innovative 1,135-nanometer (nm) VCSEL product. By employing high-volume, scalable manufacturing ...

Sumitomo Electric Industries has developed a pedestrian detection millimeter-wave sensor named NEXUSEYE, which is notable for its high detection accuracy under adverse weather conditions and at night. This sensor has been deployed in the US, including in San Marcos, Texas, where it has contributed to enhancing pedestrian safety. The NEXUSEYE will be showcased at the 31st ITS World Congress 2025 in Atlanta, from Aug. 24 to 28, with live demonstrations planned from Aug. 25 to 27. The sensor, co...

In a press release on Aug. 21, WeRide unveiled WePilot AiDrive, a one-stage end-to-end advanced driver assistance system developed with Bosch. This comes six months after its two-stage solution was mass-produced. WePilot AiDrive streamlines the process by integrating sensing and decision-making into a single stage, allowing vehicles to simultaneously "see and act" like skilled drivers, which results in quicker response times, shorter driving routes and improved fault tolerance. The system has co...

In a press release on Aug. 21, Nuro announced the closing of a $203 million Series E funding round, bringing its valuation to $6 billion. This funding round included companies such as Uber, Baillie Gifford, Icehouse Ventures, Kindred Ventures, NVIDIA and Pledge Ventures. This follows an earlier tranche of $106 million announced in April, which involved investors such as T. Rowe Price Associates Inc., Fidelity Management & Research Co., Tiger Global Management, Greylock Partners and...

As reported in a press release on Aug. 19, Holon has launched an autonomous urban shuttle service in Hamburg, Germany. This barrier-free vehicle can accommodate up to 15 passengers and travel at speeds up to 60 km/h. Technical testing for these minibuses will commence in late summer, covering routes from Stadtpark to the Elbe and from Schlump to Wandsbek. The public will be able to use these autonomous shuttles starting in 2026.  The ALIKE project involves testing two vehicle types in hi...

In a blog post on Aug. 20, Helm.ai announced a multiyear joint development agreement with Honda Motor to advance Honda's next-generation self-driving capabilities, including its Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) platform. The partnership focuses on advanced driver assistance systems in consumer vehicles by utilizing Helm.ai's full-stack real-time AI software and large-scale auto labeling and generative simulation foundation models for both development and validation. Helm.ai will provide its compre...

Self-driving Tesla models powered by AI are now being tested on public roads in Japan, according to a report published by Nikkei Asia on Aug. 20. During testing, drivers are required to keep their hands on the steering wheel while the AI operates the vehicle. Tesla employees have been using these cars throughout the summer to verify safety and train the AI system. The US electric vehicle manufacturer plans to commercialize this technology soon by installing it in existing vehicles throug...

In a press release on Aug. 19, Applied Intuition has introduced its next-generation end-to-end (E2E) white box autonomy stack solution, designed for passenger vehicles, called the Self-Driving System (SDS) for Automotive. This advanced driver assistance system aims to provide automotive original equipment manufacturers with a high-performance, cost-effective solution that supports Level 2++ driver assistance features, ultimately progressing toward Level 3 and Level 4 capabilities. SDS for Aut...

Aurrigo International is expanding its autonomous vehicle technology into North America with the deployment of its nine-seater passenger Auto-Shuttle in Kanata, Canada, as reported in a press release on Aug. 18. This marks the launch of Canada's first all-season, medium-speed autonomous shuttle on public roads. The project, in collaboration with the Kanata North Business Association and Area X.O operated by Invest Ottawa, will connect eight stops across Kanata North Technology Park. The 4.5-k...

Alphabet's self-driving unit, Waymo, has collaborated with Spotify to integrate the music streaming service into its robo-taxis, now operational in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This integration allows passengers to access their Spotify library through the vehicle's touchscreen or the Waymo mobile app. Users can link their Spotify accounts via the Waymo app before booking or by scanning a QR code during their ride. The system retains the user's account for future trips unless they disc...

WeRide, a company noted for its work in autonomous driving technology, has announced a strategic equity investment from Grab, a prominent super app in Southeast Asia. This investment marks the beginning of a collaboration aimed at accelerating the deployment and commercialization of Level 4 robo-taxis and shuttles in the region. The partnership seeks to integrate WeRide's autonomous vehicles into Grab's network, enhancing service and safety levels. This investment is expected to be finalize...

Aptiv reported a 3.1% year-over-year increase in net sales to $5.2 billion for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, according to a press release. When adjusted for currency fluctuations and commodity price changes, sales improved by 2% year over year during the quarter. This growth was primarily driven by a 4% increase in Asia, despite a slight decline of 1% in mainland China. North America and South America each experienced a 3% growth, while Euro...

Recent corporate filings have disclosed that ARK Invest, a firm led by Cathie Wood, invested approximately $12.9 million in Pony.ai, a Chinese company specializing in Level 4 autonomous driving technology, in August. This marks ARK's first investment in a Chinese enterprise dedicated solely to this sector. Alongside ARK, Pony.ai drew interest from at least 14 major global institutional investors in the second quarter of 2025, including Baillie Gifford and Nikko Asset Management, both known for t...

In a press release on Aug. 15, Hesai Technology announced a new design win from Toyota, where its long-range automotive lidar, ATX, will be used in a new-energy model produced by a Toyota joint venture in China. This model is set to enter mass production in 2026. The JV is focused on electrification and intelligence, leveraging local research and development to combine global engineering standards with Chinese innovation for advanced mobility solutions. This collaboration highlights Hesai's r...

Momenta, an autonomous driving technology company, has created its first self-developed computer chip, aiming to revolutionize the autonomous driving industry. Traditionally a software company, Momenta is now transitioning to a full-stack provider, offering both software and hardware solutions. This approach places it alongside competitors such as Horizon Robotics, providing integrated systems for modern electric vehicles. The company's newly activated chip is designed to compete directly with r...

Serve Robotics, an autonomous sidewalk delivery company, has acquired Vayu Robotics, a developer specializing in AI foundation model-based navigation for robots. This acquisition represents a strategic move for Serve to advance its autonomous delivery capabilities and enter new markets. Serve has announced that the acquisition will enhance its "end-to-end learned autonomy," improving the safety, reliability and efficiency of its delivery fleet. By integrating its autonomy stack wi...

Aptiv has commissioned a new technical center in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, to focus on developing software-defined vehicle (SDV) solutions for the Indian market, Autocar Professional reported Aug. 18. The new technical center is part of Aptiv’s planned $60 million investment, which also includes capacity expansion at its Chennai plant in 2024. The 34,000-square-foot facility will initially employ nearly 300 engineers, with plans to expand to over 500 by 2026, facilitat...

WeRide announced that its Founder and CEO Tony Han has been invited by the Singaporean government to join the steering committee on autonomous vehicles, China Daily reported Aug. 13. This committee includes leaders from various sectors such as autonomous vehicles, public transport and union representatives, as well as government bodies, to oversee the rollout of autonomous vehicles in Singapore. WeRide and Waymo are the only international enterprises on the committee. Han will play a significant...

Continental has introduced the aContact tire family, designed specifically for autonomous vehicles. This new line of original equipment tires incorporates tailored technologies suited for various autonomous transportation options such as robo-taxis, shuttle vehicles, autonomous delivery services and self-driving private cars. These tires are set to debut on public roads in US cities such as Las Vegas and San Francisco.  “Self-driving robo-taxis will soon be part of our everyd...

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In a press release on Aug. 14, Hesai Technology announced its participation in IAA Mobility 2025, scheduled from Sept. 9 to 12. The company, which focuses on lidar solutions, aims to enhance the safety and intelligence of mobility. At the event, Hesai will debut ETX, an automotive-grade ultralong-range lidar intended for Level 3 autonomous driving. The ETX, featuring Hesai's proprietary photon vector technology and a 32-mm optical window, offers a compact design that facilitates integration...

Driver Technologies, an AI-based mobility tech company, has announced the integration of its Driver: Driving & Dash Cam App with Google built-in via the Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS). This integration allows drivers to access the app's mobile telematics and driving safety features directly through the infotainment systems of select vehicles from General Motors, Nissan, Volvo and other compatible brands. The app automatically records trips along with vehicle information, enabling...

Pony AI is optimistic about achieving its 2025 target for robo-taxi vehicle production and is actively seeking opportunities in new European markets, despite the uneven pace of commercialization in the industry across different regions, according to a report published by Bloomberg on Aug. 13. Since the start of mass production two months ago, Pony AI has deployed over 200 of its Gen-7 Robotaxi vehicles, keeping the company on track to meet its goal of 1,000 vehicles by the end of 2025. This m...

Tesla Inc. has obtained a ride-share license in Texas, US, allowing the electric vehicle manufacturer to launch its robo-taxi service in accordance with new regulations for autonomous vehicles in the state. According to a report published by Bloomberg on Aug. 8, Tesla Robotaxi LLC is now officially registered as a transportation network company with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, joining established companies such as Uber Technologies and Lyft. This license has become ...

Baraja Pty. Ltd., an Australian company known for its Spectrum-Scan lidar architecture, has announced a global initiative to commercialize its full suite of patented lidar intellectual property and technical assets. To manage this process, Baraja has appointed IP Pioneer Group Inc. as the exclusive worldwide adviser. The Spectrum-Scan technology developed by Baraja features a solid-state architecture that steers a laser beam by adjusting its wavelength through a dispersive prism o...

As reported in a press release on Aug. 13, Guident Corp., a teleoperation company specializing in autonomous vehicles, has announced a partnership with the city of Boca Raton, Florida, to introduce an autonomous shuttle-based public transportation service. This innovative shuttle will operate on a 2.6-mile loop connecting Mizner Park to Royal Palm Place. The service is set to launch in the fall of 2025 in collaboration with Circuit, the current provider of shuttle services in Boca Raton and othe...

In a press release on Aug. 13, Tensor, a company specializing in agentic AI, announced the launch of the Tensor Robocar, which is described as the world’s first personally owned autonomous vehicle. This development aims to redefine the concept of embodied AI in personal transportation, with a focus on privacy and safety. The Tensor Robocar is specifically created for autonomous and agentic vehicles. It represents a new category of personal transportation that emphasizes individual ownership...

General Motors (GM) is refocusing its efforts on autonomous vehicle development by planning to rehire former employees from its closed Cruise unit, according to a report published by CBT News on Aug. 12. This shift signals a renewed commitment to creating self-driving cars for personal use, moving away from the robo-taxi sector. The goal is to eventually produce fully driverless cars, without human supervision. Sterling Anderson, GM's new product development lead and former Tesla Autopil...

As reported in a press release dated July 29, Simulation software specialist rFpro has expanded the Sim4CamSens2 project, which aims to enhance the development and validation of automotive sensor systems through simulation. Building on the original Sim4CamSens project, which focused on external sensor systems, this initiative now includes interior sensor systems, addressing the importance of in-cabin monitoring for safety and autonomous driving. The project is led by Claytex and includes part...

According to a press release on Aug. 12, Ansys, in collaboration with Synopsys and NVIDIA, has entered into an agreement to license, sell and support Omniverse technology embedded in its simulation solutions. This partnership will allow Ansys to offer easy access to NVIDIA Omniverse technologies and libraries, initially focusing on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and autonomous solutions. The collaboration aims to enhance insights into aerodynamics, bolster autonomous vehicle safety and advan...

On Aug. 12, Kongsberg Automotive ASA (KA) announced its plan to acquire the remaining 75% of shares in Chassis Autonomy SBA AB through its subsidiary, Kongsberg Automotive AS. With this transaction, KA will achieve full ownership of Chassis Autonomy. The deal is expected to be finalized within the week. Chassis Autonomy is developing steer-by-wire (SBW) systems for highly automated vehicles. This strategic acquisition underscores KA’s commitment to the SBW market, which is projected to grow...

Scantinel Photonics GmbH, based in Ulm, Germany, has filed for insolvency, with the Local Court of Ulm ordering provisional insolvency administration on Aug. 6. Georg Jakob Stemshorn from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH has been appointed as the provisional insolvency administrator. Despite the insolvency filing, the startup, which develops chips for autonomous driving, continues its business operations and employs approximately 50 people. The employees have been informed about the situation, and their...

Canadian autonomous trucking developer Waabi has appointed Lior Ron as its COO, as the company gears up to expand its operations and roll out fully driverless trucks later in 2025. Ron previously spent a decade as founder and CEO of Uber Freight, where he helped develop it into a comprehensive logistics platform generating over $5,000 million in annual revenue and serving a significant portion of Fortune 500 shippers. In his new position, Ron will be responsible for leading Waabi's go-to-market ...

Hyundai Motor Group's software unit, 42dot, has announced plans to raise 500 billion won (about $360 million) through a rights offering. This move aims to enhance the company's global competitiveness in AI-based mobility technology. Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia will participate as strategic investors, following the conglomerate's three-year capital expansion plan approved in 2023. The additional capital will be allocated to advancing software-defined vehicles (SDVs), investing in agentic AI, graphi...

Mohamed Elshenawy, former president and chief technology officer of Cruise LLC, joined the board of directors at Kodiak Robotics Inc. His appointment comes as Kodiak prepares for a planned public listing through a business combination with Ares Acquisition Corporation II. Elshenawy, bringing over 20 years of experience in engineering leadership, AI and product development, has had a significant impact at Cruise, where he was instrumental in advancing autonomous vehicle technology and lea...

In a press release on July 8, AB Dynamics introduced ClearTrack, an integrated solution designed to enhance safety and efficiency during durability, misuse and mileage accumulation testing by automating obstacle detection and avoidance. It incorporates a high-resolution, solid-state, ultralong-range lidar sensor with a 500-meter range that integrates with AB Dynamics' Automated Driverless Testing solution. This system is operated through a track test software ecosystem. Jonathan Barry, s...

Magna will present its latest innovations at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich from Sept. 8 to 14. The company will highlight advancements in sustainable materials, drivetrain technologies, energy storage systems and advanced driver assistance systems in Hall B3, Booth E40. A significant focus will be on sustainable materials that adhere to high technical standards while minimizing the ecological footprint of vehicles. According to Uwe Geissinger, executive vice president and president of Magna Eur...

AEye CEO Matthew Fisch announced several new achievements for the company, marking a significant turning point. These include its certification as an NVIDIA DRIVE AGX partner and selection for the General Motors-backed WinTOR project. A major global transportation original equipment manufacturer's selection of Apollo for an important autonomous safety program could bring a $30 million opportunity, expected to contribute to this year's revenue. Additionally, AEye launched the OPTIS platform, whic...