Results for: Autonomous Vehicles

The global automotive AI market is projected to reach a value of US$ 13.0 billion by 2034, driven by the rise of autonomous vehicles, connected car technology, and edge computing. Leading players like NVIDIA, Intel, and Waymo are spearheading innovation in areas such as autonomous driving, vehicle connectivity, and predictive maintenance. Key growth drivers include increasing demand for safety and performance, collaborations between automakers and tech companies, and government support for AI research.

Daniel Ho, Tesla’s former head of vehicle programs and new product introduction, has joined Alphabet’s Waymo as program director. This move comes amidst a wave of departures from Tesla, including several high-profile executives, following layoffs and a focus on the Robotaxi program.

Tesla is set to host its Robotaxi event on October 10th, and Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas believes it could be a significant moment for the company’s autonomous ride-sharing ambitions. Jonas expects Tesla to showcase a cybercab demonstration and discuss potential launch timelines, focusing on both fully autonomous and supervised ride-sharing services. The analyst also predicts Tesla will reveal details about target metro areas, FSD hardware installations, potential price cuts for FSD, and driver economics.

A Waymo self-driving taxi briefly disrupted Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade in San Francisco, causing delays and highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by autonomous vehicle technology. The incident comes as Waymo expands its robotaxi services in major cities, but also faces criticism and incidents involving its vehicles.

Hitachi Rail’s groundbreaking Autonomous Tram AI Technologies has been recognized with the prestigious ERCI Innovation Award 2024, earning the title of “Best Large Enterprise.” This advanced technology, poised to revolutionize urban transportation, promises enhanced safety, accuracy, and efficiency in tram operations without human drivers.

Uber is expanding its autonomous vehicle offerings by partnering with WeRide to launch self-driving taxis in Abu Dhabi. This partnership marks a significant step forward for both companies and the future of transportation in the UAE.

The US Commerce Department is proposing a ban on Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles due to national security concerns. The Biden administration fears data collection on US drivers and infrastructure by Chinese companies, as well as potential foreign manipulation of vehicles. This move significantly escalates restrictions on Chinese vehicles and represents a major step in the ongoing tech rivalry between the US and China.

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car subsidiary, is reportedly in talks with Hyundai Motor to contract manufacture its robotaxis. This potential partnership could see Waymo utilize Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 electric vehicles for its 6th-generation self-driving technology, a shift from its previous plans to use Zeekr vehicles due to increased tariffs on EV imports from China.

Cruise, the autonomous driving unit of General Motors, is restarting its robotaxi testing in California after a pedestrian accident halted operations last year. The company will deploy manual mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View, with supervised robotaxi testing planned for later this fall. This move comes after a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny and follows Cruise’s resumption of operations in other cities.

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas reiterates his bullish stance on Tesla, emphasizing the crucial role of Elon Musk’s AI company xAI in propelling Tesla’s future in robotics, autonomy, and manufacturing. Jonas highlights the importance of training and simulation, areas where xAI’s vast computing power and talent pool benefit Tesla significantly. While Jonas expects Tesla to showcase advancements in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology at the upcoming Robotaxi Day, he tempers investor expectations by acknowledging the intense competition from rivals like Waymo.