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☆ Musk's plan for a cheap Tesla car is what fans hope to hear this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

This week, fans hope, he will explain what he has in mind - and perhaps how he can afford to build it. A recent Tesla engineering video showed a small car with typical Tesla curves that was assumed by company watchers to be a Model 2 sketch. Battery production also is an issue. Batteries are also likely to figure in Musk's plans for a "fully sustainable energy future" outside the car. He may also discuss solar power generation and battery energy storage - which he has said are two other pillars to a sustainable energy future.

☆ Nvidia results show its growing lead in AI chip race
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Chavi Mehta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, shows the Drive Pegasus robotaxi AI computer at his keynote address at CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 7, 2018. AI has emerged as a bright spot for investments in the tech industry, whose slowing growth has led to widespread layoffs and a cutback on experimental bets. SPECIALIZED CHIPSGraphics processing units are designed to handle the specific kind of math involved in AI computing very efficiently, while generic central processing units (CPUs) from Intel can handle a broader range of computing tasks with less efficiency. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O), whose shares also rose after Nvidia earnings on Wednesday, is the second-biggest player in the GPU industry, with a market share of roughly 20%. Nvidia's strength in the AI industry has also attracted the attention of venture capitalists and startups, which are investing billions of dollars and promising improvements such as lower electricity consumption.

☆ Factbox: Tesla CEO Musk signals Part 3 of Master Plan is ready
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Elon Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. PART I (2006) - THE SECRET TESLA MOTORS MASTER PLAN (JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME):BUILD SPORTS CAR AND AFFORDABLE EVsBefore Tesla put out its first production car, Musk set expectations for three: a sports car, a cheaper four-door family car and an even more affordable third model. The plan was unveiled in 2006 and the first model, the Roadster sports car, rolled out in 2008 at a price of $89,000. Musk had first estimated in 2015 that Tesla vehicles would be able to drive themselves by 2018. But Tesla is yet to unveil a detailed plan for its ride-sharing and robotaxi services.

[1/3] Elon Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. The plan was unveiled in 2006 and the first model, the Roadster sports car, rolled out in 2008 at a price of $89,000. Musk had first estimated in 2015 that Tesla vehicles would be able to drive themselves by 2018. ENABLE CAR TO MAKE MONEYHe said consumers will be able to summon their self-driving Teslas from anywhere. Last year, Musk said Tesla expects to mass-produce a robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedal by 2024, after missing his targets for self-driving vehicles multiple times.

☆ Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi drives on public roads in California for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Amazon’s Zoox driverless transportation company has started testing its robotaxi on open public roads — with employees on board, for now. The company said Monday that it conducted an initial run of its shuttle service for workers at its headquarters in Foster City, California on February 11, a key step in its efforts to make autonomous vehicles widely available. Full-time employees will now be able to travel in the self-driving taxi on the route between Zoox’s two main office buildings. Zoox, which was founded in 2014 and purchased by Amazon in 2020, is unique in its approach to designing electric self-driving vehicles. But Zoox has ditched the steering wheel and brake pedal, claiming those features are unnecessary when there’s no human driver.

☆ Amazon's Zoox tests robotaxi on public road with employees as passengers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Abhirup Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN.O) self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, said on Monday it has successfully tested a robotaxi with employees as passengers on a public road in a move to bring it closer to commercial service for the general public. Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) last fall announced they would shutter their Argo AI self-driving unit and focus on driver-assistance technology that provided more immediate returns. Companies still pursuing development of this technology include General Motors Co's (GM.N) Cruise unit and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Waymo. Online retailer Amazon, which has been aggressively expanding into self-driving technology, bought Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020. Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Amazon's Zoox robotaxi now giving rides to employees on public roads in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Annie Palmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon -owned autonomous vehicle venture Zoox said on Monday that it is now testing its self-driving robotaxis on public roads in California with passengers on board. Zoox executives said the company began the tests after it received approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles last week. Zoox said one of its vehicles completed a test run with employees on board over the weekend. Zoox unveiled its custom-built, electric robotaxi in 2020, with an eye on offering on-demand autonomous transportation in urban settings. It will continue to test the vehicle with employees and expects to launch a shuttle service for staffers this spring.

REUTERS/Phil NobleCOVENTRY, England, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Developing fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) that can go everywhere has proven harder and more expensive than expected, but investors are continuing to fund startups that target simpler self-driving vehicle solutions far removed from pedestrians and other vehicles operated by unpredictable humans. Earlier promises made by robotaxi companies of operating fleets of vehicles by the early 2020s have fallen well short. BMW iVentures has also invested in AV truck technology firm Kodiak Robotics, which managing partner Sage said has adopted a simpler approach to areas like mapping. Construction and agricultural equipment - used off-road in low-traffic environments - has been another growth area for AV startups. U.S. agricultural equipment maker AGCO Corp (AGCO.N), for instance, is using the Palo Alto, California-based startup's software for an experimental automated electric planter.

☆ Two companies race to deploy robotaxis in San Francisco. The city wants them to hit the brakes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco is trying to slow the expansion of robotaxis after repeated incidents in which cars without drivers stopped and idled in the middle of the street for no obvious reason, delaying bus riders and disrupting the work of firefighters. Some believe self-driving cars will never happen on a wide scale, but they’ve been gaining momentum in San Francisco. San Francisco doesn’t want robotaxis operating in the city’s downtown core, for example, or during morning and evening peak commuting times. He also provided letters in support of Cruise written by local San Francisco merchants associations, disability advocates and community groups. City officials argue that stopped robotaxis are hazards that can cause human drivers to react dangerously.

☆ I used to work on Mars rovers and now I develop self-driving cars. Here's how I made the pivot from NASA's JPL to Amazon's Zoox.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The former supervisor at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab now works at AV startup Zoox. I figured after all the startups, why not work for a big company, and what better big company than NASA? ZooxThe AV space is the next frontier of robotics. What we're trying to do here in the AV space, it's extremely multidisciplinary. You're doing perception, you're doing planning, you're doing prediction, doing simulation.

☆ U.S. startup Outrider raises $73 mln to scale up autonomous yard trucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - U.S. self-driving truck firm Outrider said on Thursday it has raised $73 million in funding to scale up its autonomous trucks operating in distribution yards for customers in e-commerce, manufacturing and other industries. It also includes fresh funding from American venture capital fund New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and the venture capital arm of industrial conglomerate Koch Industries. Outrider says its self-driving yard truck "hitches to and unhitches from trailers, robotically connects and disconnects trailer brake lines, backs semi-trailers with precision, interacts safely with loading docks, and keeps track of trailer locations throughout the yard." The company says its customers represent more than 20% of all yard trucks operating in North America, and have invested in joint product testing and pilot operations since 2019. Yard trucks are designed to move trailers and cargo containers in distribution yards.

☆ Oxbotica raises $140 mln to deploy self-driving commercial vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Self-driving software startup Oxbotica has raised $140 million from investors to speed deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in areas including heavy industry, ports and airports. The Series C round includes funding from new investors including Japanese insurer Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, the venture capital arm of software company Trimble (TRMB.O) and the venture capital arm of Japanese oil refiner Eneos (5020.T). Oxbotica has now raised about $225 million in total and the company said that additional investors are expected to sign up before the funding round closes in a few months. Once regulations catch up with the industry, the company will start running tests on limited routes for Ocado in 2025, Jackson said. "The proceeds (of this funding round) will really accelerate deployment for our commercial customers."

☆ Geely's EV brand Zeekr aims to double sales in 2023, expand in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Joseph White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Carlos Barria/LAS VEGAS, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr aims to double sales in 2023 to about 140,000 vehicles and plans to expand sales in Europe, Chief Executive Andy An told Reuters on Thursday. Zeekr, a brand created by Chinese automaker Geely (0175.HK), sold 72,000 vehicles in 2022, mostly in China. A second Zeekr model, the 009, will go into production this month. Later this year, Zeekr plans to begin selling vehicles there with assisted driving systems engineered with Mobileye (MBLY.O), he added. An said Zeekr plans to build vehicles for Waymo in China, but U.S. production is a possibility, "depending on the market situation."

☆ Baidu gets license for driverless robotaxi tests in Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Baidu Inc (9888.HK) said on Friday it had been granted the first license to test driverless vehicles on roads in Beijing, and would add another 200 robotaxis to its network across China in the coming year. Baidu started to charge fees for its robotaxi service Apollo Go last year. Apollo Go, which operates in Wuhan and Chongqing without a safety driver, delivered a total of 1.4 million driverless rides by end of the third quarter, Baidu has said. The company said it would begin testing 10 fully autonomous vehicles in a technology park developed by the government of Beijing as a step toward offering a commercial robotaxi service in China’s capital. The push by Baidu comes as other companies outside China pull back from the bullish rollout schedule for fully autonomous vehicles predicted just a few years ago.

☆ Unedited footage of a Tesla Full Self-Driving beta test shows just how stressful the software can be to use
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Marques Brownlee posted an unedited video of his commute to work using Tesla Full Self-Driving. The YouTuber said he's comfortable using FSD on the highway, but not everywhere. Marques Keith Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, posted an unedited video on YouTube of his trip to work using FSD last week. Brownlee is far from the first to post videos of Tesla FSD in action. During the video, the Tesla software repeatedly reminded Brownlee to touch the steering wheel.

[1/2] A trader works on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., December 14, 2022. Adding to angst, New York Fed President John Williams said it remains possible the U.S. central bank raises rates more than it expects next year. The policymaker added that he does not anticipate a recession from the Fed's aggressive tightening. The simultaneous expiration of stock options, stock index futures and index options contracts later in the day, known as triple witching, could cause volatility through the trading session. The S&P index recorded no new 52-week highs and 15 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 29 new highs and 267 new lows.

☆ U.S. safety regulators investigating GM's Cruise robotaxis blocking traffic, causing collisions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. automotive safety officials have opened a formal probe into the autonomous driving system used by General Motors' self-driving vehicle unit Cruise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received complaints about the self-driving vehicles – retrofitted Chevrolet Bolt EVs – engaging in "inappropriately hard braking" or becoming "immobilized while operating," according to a filing. Officials said although the two types of incidents appear to be separate from one another, they each result in the Cruise vehicles becoming unexpected roadway obstacles. "This may introduce multiple potential hazards such as a collision with a Cruise vehicle, risk to a stranded passenger exiting an immobilized Cruise vehicle, or obstruction of other traffic including emergency vehicles," NHTSA said in the filing. Each of the crash incidents had already been reported, as mandated by regulations involving self-driving vehicles.

☆ U.S. opens safety probe into autonomous driving system in GM's Cruise vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. auto safety regulators said Friday they have opened a formal safety probe into the autonomous driving system in vehicles produced by General Motors' (GM.N) robotaxi unit Cruise LLC. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has received notices of incidents in which self-driving Cruise vehicles "may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized." The agency said while both issues "appear to be distinct, they each result in the Cruise vehicles becoming unexpected roadway obstacles." The safety agency's preliminary evaluation covers 242 Cruise autonomous vehicles and is the first step before it could seek a recall. The investigation follows reports of three crashes in which Cruise vehicles were struck from behind by other cars after the autonomous vehicles braked quickly.

☆ Uber, Motional launch robotaxi service in Las Vegas
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 7 (Reuters) - U.S. ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) and driverless tech-maker Motional have launched their public robotaxi service in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Tough regulatory scrutiny and delayed commercial adoption of autonomous vehicle technology have delayed deployment of robotaxi services, leaving investors worried. The launch is part of a non-exclusive 10-year agreement between both the companies for driverless vehicles, with a rollout in Los Angeles expected to follow. In the multi-market deal, Motional's autonomous vehicles would also ferry both passengers and delivery items for Uber and its Uber Eats division. Last month, rival Lyft (LYFT.O) said it would launch the robotaxi service in Los Angeles after it had rolled out in Las Vegas earlier this year.

☆ Uber launching driverless robotaxis in Las Vegas
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

While the autonomous vehicles are currently only available for ride hailing in Las Vegas, there are plans to expand to Los Angeles “at a later date,” according to the release. Uber said it plans on launching a fully driverless service with Motional in 2023. U.S. ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) and driverless tech-maker Motional said on Wednesday they launched their public robotaxi service in Las Vegas. UberMotional has been offering robotaxi services in Las Vegas since 2018 through Uber rival Lyft, though rides before 2020 were offered under parent-company Aptiv. The sale came after a a five-year run of developing self-driving vehicles that was marred by litigation and a fatal crash.

☆ James Lee on Baidu's chip resiliency
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJames Lee on Baidu's chip resiliencyJames Lee, analyst at Mizuho Securities, says that Baidu is not reliant on highly advanced semiconductor chips and manufactures its own AI chip for its cloud computing and robotaxi businesses.

☆ Baidu claims its robotaxis rival traditional ride-hailing in parts of China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Baidu got approval to charge fares for its robotaxi rides in the Beijing suburb of Yizhuang in November 2021. BEIJING — Chinese tech company Baidu said its robotaxi business in large cities is close to gaining the same traction with locals as traditional ride-hailing services. "According to our knowledge, this number is quite close to the average daily rides for traditional ride-hailing services," Li said. In Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Baidu's robotaxis — branded Apollo Go — can only operate in certain suburban areas. The company did not say whether it could charge fares for its robotaxi rides in Guangzhou or Shanghai.

☆ UBS says self-driving cars could become a $100 billion market in China — and names stocks to play it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It cited China's large domestic market, high acceptance of autonomous driving, efficient supply chains, and supportive infrastructure among other factors. UBS estimated that China's potential autonomous driving-related market could reach $100 billion by 2030. As such, the Swiss bank said it sees "significant" investment opportunities in the autonomous driving space. Stock picks Tesla is among UBS' top picks to play the autonomous driving theme. Xpeng also made the list, with the bank describing the automaker as one of the "leading autonomous driving players in China."

☆ China's Baidu says it expects 'limited' impact from U.S. chip curbs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"We think the impact is quite limited in the near future," Dou Shen, executive vice president and head of Baidu AI Cloud, said of the U.S. chip export controls. Chinese tech company Baidu expects that impact from U.S. chip sanctions on its businesses will be "limited," a company executive said on Tuesday during a Q&A session of its third quarter earnings call. In October, the United States imposed export controls limiting American businesses from selling semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to Chinese chip manufacturers. "A large portion of our AI Cloud business and even wider AI business does not rely too much on the highly advanced chips," said Shen. "And for the part of our businesses that need advanced chips, we have already stocked enough in hand to support our business in the near term," he said.

☆ Lyft, Motional to launch robotaxi service in Los Angeles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tough regulatory scrutiny and delayed commercial adoption of autonomous vehicle technology have delayed deployment of robotaxi services, worrying investors. Los Angeles will become the second city where the companies will offer the driverless taxi service after Las Vegas. Motional which uses Hyundai Motor Co's (005380.KS) IONIQ5 electric car for the robotaxi service is a joint venture between the South Korean manufacturer and automotive technology company Aptiv (APTV.N). The autonomous vehicle technology company also has a 10-year agreement with Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) for supplying driverless vehicles. Competitor Waymo started its autonomous ride-hailing service in Phoenix, Arizona last week.

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