Autonomous Driving

Today's Stories

1. 1

   Uber, Wayve launch London's first robotaxis

   Uber and AI firm Wayve have launched London's first robotaxis, marking the start of driverless ride-hailing in the UK capital. This is a significant step for autonomous vehicles in Europe, as London is a major global city with complex traffic conditions, and it could pave the way for wider adoption in the region.

   The service's initial scale and safety record will be key indicators of whether robotaxis can gain public trust and regulatory approval in other European cities.

2. 2

   Toyota to launch Level 2++ automated driving by 2028

   Toyota plans to commercialize its next-generation automated driving system, called Level 2++, around 2028. The system combines AI with a proprietary safety mechanism, aimed at reducing accidents.

   Whether the timeline holds and how the safety mechanism differentiates Toyota's approach in the market.

3. 3

   Uber cuts 3,300 jobs, bets on robotaxis

   Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced on Wednesday that Uber will cut 3,300 jobs, about a tenth of its global workforce. This is the largest cut since Covid, when it cut 14% (3,700 jobs). Khosrowshahi said the cuts are not due to economic downturn—Uber has “grown by orders of magnitude” in five years—but because Uber had become too big to manage. The reorganization aims to make the company run “faster and smarter,” and savings will be reinvested in growth and innovation, including autonomous vehicles.

   Uber expects to commit $10 billion to bring self-driving cars to market at scale, with 120,000 cars committed by partners like Rivian, Baidu, and Pony.ai. Khosrowshahi aims to make Uber the “world’s leading commercialization platform for autonomous vehicles.”

4. 4

   PlusAI goes public via SPAC at $800M valuation

   Autonomous trucking software developer PlusAI is going public by merging with SPAC Texas Ventures Acquisition III Corp. The deal values PlusAI at $800 million in pre-money equity and is expected to close in 2026. PlusAI already operates autonomous freight routes with Ryder and International Motors in Texas and has generated $25 million in revenue through its HyperFoundry platform. The company targets $40–50 million in contracted revenue in 2026 and plans a commercial launch of SuperDrive-equipped trucks in 2027.

   The merger is backed by up to $300 million in capital, including over $60 million in committed financing and about $236 million from the SPAC trust. The combined company will continue to operate as PlusAI.

5. 5

   Caterpillar Partners with FieldAI, NVIDIA for AI Robotics Push

   Caterpillar announced a collaboration with FieldAI to deploy physical AI, autonomy, robotics, and NVIDIA-powered digital twins across jobsites and factories, aiming to improve safety, visibility, and operational efficiency. The move highlights how traditional heavy equipment suppliers are embedding AI-driven automation into their operations. However, the article notes it does not materially change near-term catalysts like converting backlog into revenue, nor key risks from tariffs, discounting, and geopolitical trade friction.

   Caterpillar's narrative projects $94.5 billion revenue and $17.4 billion earnings by 2029, requiring 10.1% yearly revenue growth. The collaboration supports its broader push toward autonomy and services, but sustained tariff headwinds and pricing pressure remain concerns.

6. 6

   Caterpillar, FieldAI Partner on Physical AI for Jobsites

   Caterpillar is collaborating with FieldAI to advance physical AI, autonomy, and robotics for jobsites and factories. The partnership will use FieldAI's robot foundation models and NVIDIA technologies to create digital twins and enable autonomous inspections. The collaboration aims to address labor shortages and productivity demands by improving decision-making, safety, and operational efficiency. It combines Caterpillar's industry expertise with FieldAI's AI to help customers get more value from every operation.

   Early applications include autonomous inspections, digital twins for real-time insights, enhanced situational awareness, and operational optimization. FieldAI says its deployments span hundreds of sites worldwide.