Autonomous Driving

Today's Stories

1. 1

   Uber's Gross Bookings Are Up 25% and It Just Launched an Autonomous Vehicle Unit. Is This the Transportation Stock to Own in 2026?

   Uber's Gross Bookings Are Up 25% and It Just Launched an Autonomous Vehicle Unit. Is This the Transportation Stock to Own in 2026?

2. 2

   U.N. adopts first global safety rules for fully autonomous vehicles, expected to take effect in January 2027 and clear the way for wider robotaxi deployment.

   The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations at the United Nations agreed on a global regulatory framework for vehicles with fully autonomous driving systems. The framework requires manufacturers to meet strict testing, safety governance, and continuous performance monitoring standards, and is expected to enter into force in January 2027. Automakers have faced fragmented national regulations that threaten to block vehicles developed for one market from entering others. This unified global standard removes that barrier and may help accelerate robotaxi rollouts, which have grown significantly—private robotaxi fleets in China and the United States combined more than doubled in 2025 to reach 8,000 vehicles across more than two dozen major cities.

   The IEA forecasts between 700,000 and 3 million robotaxis will operate in 40 to 80 major cities by 2035. The new framework was backed by all major auto markets including the United States, China, the European Union, Japan, and Britain, and some manufacturers are already preparing for implementation.

3. 3

   Robotaxis are launching in London this summer as Wayve, Waymo, and Baidu race to lead Europe's autonomous vehicle market, with Britain positioning itself ahead of the EU through faster regulation.

   British start-up Wayve, in partnership with Uber, will begin commercial robotaxi rides in London this summer with a human operator on board initially. US rival Waymo, which already operates in 11 US cities, is expected to follow shortly after. China's Baidu, partnering with Lyft, will test in the coming weeks before launching in London later this year. London's complex streets—with 20 times more road construction than San Francisco and 10 times more vulnerable road users—present a real test of autonomous vehicle technology. Britain's government has sped up regulation to move ahead of the EU, and expects the autonomous vehicle sector to generate 38,000 jobs and £42 billion ($55 billion（約8.8兆円）) by 2035. However, companies face public trust challenges after high-profile mishaps, including Baidu vehicles stalling in central China and Waymo recalling nearly 4,000 cars after robotaxis entered closed-off highway construction areas.

   Londoners can take their first commercial rides with Wayve this summer, with fares likely to be "pretty similar" to traditional taxis at launch. The sector's complexity means companies may collaborate in some cities while competing in others.

4. 4

   Tech stocks rallied on AI infrastructure demand and U.S. chip strategy, as Apple-Intel partnership and major M&A deals signaled growing focus on domestic semiconductor capabilities.

   Intel gained nearly 5% after President Trump announced Apple would collaborate with the company on U.S.-based chip development and manufacturing. Separately, Nebius completed its acquisition of AI optimization specialist Eigen AI and posted a 10% weekly gain, while RUM Group finished its purchase of Germany-based Northern Data and launched its Quake AI platform. Ondas announced its sixth acquisition of 2026, agreeing to buy Cyberhawk for about $125 million（約200億円） to expand its drone inspections and critical infrastructure monitoring capabilities. Investors are watching companies that control hardware for AI computing and domestic chip production as governments and corporations prioritize securing their own semiconductor capabilities. The flurry of deals and partnerships reflects a strategic shift toward building AI infrastructure at scale and reducing reliance on overseas manufacturing, which appears to be reshaping where investors see long-term demand.

   While most semiconductor and AI infrastructure stocks declined during the week—UBER, TSLA, and ASTS fell between 1% and 7%—retail investor interest surged on some names (RUM message volume jumped 86%, MRVL message volume up 12%). Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran also lingered, though negotiators reported meaningful progress during talks in Switzerland on Monday, with hopes to finalize a broader agreement within the next two months.

5. 5

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6. 6

   🔬 The Self-Driving Lab — Joseph Krause, Radical AI

   🔬 The Self-Driving Lab — Joseph Krause, Radical AI