American autonomous-driving tech subsidiary of Alphabet
A wave of updates across Uber, Waymo, Baidu, and others is redefining autonomous-vehicle deployment in major markets. Partnerships are shifting, apps are expanding beyond rides, and regulators are sharpening standards. The evolving ecosystem is accelerating, with major players preparing for broader rollout in 2028 and beyond.
Tesla is accelerating its AI and robotics agenda while its robotaxi rollout remains limited and costly. Quarterly data show robotaxi miles dwindling, even as Musk pushes Optimus and other AI initiatives. Analysts warn that regulatory hurdles and high CapEx complicate the path to scale.
Zoox has received a temporary NHTSA exemption that allows it to charge fares for its purpose-built robotaxis and will start paid rides in Las Vegas on Aug. 10. The company can deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years under enhanced federal oversight while state and local approvals remain required for expansion.
DoorDash is expanding its use of autonomous tech and drone delivery. A pilot in Phoenix has gig workers loading Dot robots with orders, highlighting the human role in robot-assisted delivery. The company is also rolling out DoorDash Air and revising service fees to better reflect delivery costs, while continuing to rely on Dashers for most daily deliveries.
Lucid Motors has postponed the Cosmos midsize EV to the second half of 2027 as part of a broader leadership overhaul and cost-cutting plan. The company reports a Q2 loss of about $1.26 billion with liquidity of roughly $3 billion and is tightening governance, cutting thousands of jobs, and delaying product launches to fix quality and manufacturing issues.
London's TfL has licensed 15 private-hire autonomous vehicles with human supervision to begin trials later this summer, paving the way for robotaxis in the capital. Uber and Wayve say thousands are on the waiting list as regulators monitor safety and prepare for potential driverless trips.
Moove has raised $250 million in a Series C led by Mubadala, supporting its plan to scale autonomous-vehicle operations while continuing its human-driven fleet business. The funding values Moove at $2.1 billion and will fund depots, hiring, and expansion with Waymo partnerships.
Waymo has opened its autonomous taxi app to the public in Dallas, enabling riders to hail robotaxis in the city. The rollout follows earlier tests and pauses caused by heavy rain, with service expected to resume for airport operations soon.
Nevada's transportation authority has approved permits for major players to deploy robotaxi services in Clark County, Las Vegas, setting up a competitive battle among Tesla, Waymo, Uber, and Zoox. The approvals include up to thousands of vehicles over the next 12 months, with limits per company and ongoing questions about deployment pace and regulatory oversight.
Amazon’s Prime Air has expanded to hundreds of cities, but a Texas drone delivery ended with a package dropping into a pool, prompting questions about safety as the service scales. Multiple outlets report the incident amid broader plans to grow the ultrafast delivery network.
Berkshire Hathaway has expanded its Alphabet stake and outlines how it plans to use energy assets to support hyperscale computing, while facing renewed community resistance to data-centre projects. Abel says Berkshire will sell energy to AI customers only if it wouldn’t raise costs for other customers, and Buffett’s Alphabet investment continues to loom large as AI reshapes the portfolio.
Waymo plans phased testing in Munich this autumn, building high-definition maps and adapting software to the city’s conditions before a public launch by end-2027. The rollout in Munich marks another international expansion as Waymo targets a broader European footprint amid competition with Tesla and other AV players.
Uber has announced a reorganisation that will reduce its global headcount by about 10% and collapse small "micro-teams", flatten management and require almost all staff to work from hubs rather than remotely. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has said the changes will make Uber "simpler and faster" and free money to reinvest in autonomous vehicles and core services.
Uber and Wayve have launched a small pilot of autonomous, all-electric Ford Mustangs in London. Fifteen vehicles operate with safety drivers on board as regulators weigh broader rollout. Customers can opt in via the Uber app; fares match standard Uber rides.
Tesla has launched its two-seat, steering‑wheel‑free Cybercab robotaxi in Austin and begun limited service in other Texas and Florida cities. Federal safety regulators have opened an audit of Tesla's self‑certification, investors have punished the stock after an underwhelming launch, and rivals Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox are intensifying the robotaxi race.
Major moves in autonomous mobility involve Bolt and Lucid, May Mobility, and Lyft-Waymo partnerships, with deals aimed at scaling fleets, public listings, and international expansion.
Automated vehicles have incorporated features like braking and monitoring, yet critics question whether they enhance safety or erode driver autonomy. Across reports, users describe discomfort with surveillance and the loss of control as robotaxis and autopilot systems become more common.
Ford and GM are expanding gasoline and V-8 options for 2027 pickups while trimming some features to cut prices. Ford adds a towing-capable BlueCruise on the F-150; GM rolls out new Small Block V-8s and a refreshed Silverado/Sierra lineup. The shift comes as regulators and markets weigh the future of electrification against demand for traditional powertrains.
Disney has named Karandeep Anand, former CEO of Character.AI, as its first chief technology officer. He will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data and AI platforms, reporting to CEO Josh D'Amaro. The move follows a rocky relationship with Character.AI and signals Disney’s renewed focus on technology to support storytelling and the company-wide One Disney initiative.
TechCrunch reports AMI Labs and World Labs are racing to commercialize world-models that automate spatial intelligence. Public product timelines remain opaque as leaders emphasize ongoing research. Demos range from CGI and game environments to robotics applications, while suppliers admit limited clarity on developers’ plans.
A wave of new AI-focused funding signals a shift toward enterprise-ready solutions. BAG Ventures raises a new fund to back AI-native startups, Dorm Room Fund expands with a $50 million AI-aligned pool, and Ema secures growth funding to expand multi-agent workflows. Spellbook appoints a new CMO as the legal AI space grows. Together, these moves indicate a push toward integrated, outcome-driven AI in businesses.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into Comma AI devices after five crashes in which users’ cars collided with slow or stopped vehicles. At least three people have died and 11 injured across the incidents. Forked versions of the software may be involved, and regulators are checking the software running in each crash.
Vets from Nvidia are launching a wave of robotics startups, riding billions in funding and the push for physical AI. Microagi, Skild AI, Walden Robotics and others are drawing talent and capital as researchers move from labs to real-world deployments.
Robotaxis are expanding in London with Uber and Wayve testing, while unions protest and regulators debate powers. London’s transport body is cautious, stressing safety and oversight amid calls for stronger government authority and potential job losses for drivers.
Elon Musk has said special committees at Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a possible merger and that combining the firms "would be a good idea." He has recused himself from the committees. The proposal would require approval from at least 50% of Tesla shareholders and has sparked stock movement and renewed debate over control, AI and national-security implications.
Tesla executives describe a path to a robotaxi-dominated future, with Cybercabs and unsupervised FSD on the horizon, while regulators scrutinize safety and certification processes.
Reddit has begun testing a primarily logged-in experience in select markets outside the US, aiming to bolster ads targeting and curb data scraping. The company reports rising revenue and user engagement, but warns of possible declines in search referrals and daily active users in upcoming quarters.
Amazon has reinforced its AI-driven investment plan, forecasting more capital outlays in 2027 as it pushes AWS and AI infrastructure. Third-quarter results show AWS growth powering revenue while free cash flow remains negative amid heavy capex.