Waymo will start offering rides on freeways for its robotaxi service in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. This marks a significant move as the company aims to expand its autonomous vehicle capabilities after years of testing. Safety remains a concern, especially at higher speeds, but Waymo reports a strong safety record.

Tesla has begun testing driverless vehicles in Austin, Texas, without human occupants, following a limited Robotaxi service launch earlier this year. CEO Elon Musk announced this development on social media, while the company faces scrutiny over accident reports and regulatory changes coming in 2026. Tesla's progress in autonomous driving lags behind competitors like Waymo and Baidu.

Waymo is expanding its operations to London, where it plans to test its robotaxi service. This move marks the company's first venture into the international market for autonomous vehicle services, aiming to gather data and insights for future deployments.

Internal analysis at Tesla indicated that the company's planned robotaxi service would not be financially viable, showing potential losses. Elon Musk reportedly shut down this analysis to prevent negative implications for the company's plans. The decision raises questions about the future of Tesla's autonomous vehicle ambitions.

Amazon's Zoox has inaugurated its first major production facility for autonomous robotaxis, marking a significant step in its efforts to revolutionize urban transportation. The facility aims to ramp up the manufacturing of its self-driving vehicles, which are designed to operate without a driver and provide a new mode of transportation for urban dwellers.

Tesla has received a permit to operate a ride-hailing service in Texas, allowing it to compete with Uber and Lyft. The company has been conducting a limited pilot program in Austin with a fleet of Model Y vehicles, though it has faced scrutiny over incidents involving its autonomous driving technology. Despite challenges and setbacks, Elon Musk remains optimistic about expanding Tesla's autonomous ride-hailing services across the U.S. by 2025.

Amazon's Zoox has received an exemption from federal vehicle safety standards, allowing it to operate steering wheel-less electric robotaxis for demonstration purposes. The NHTSA's decision follows a probe into Zoox's self-certification process and permits testing in select locations, although commercial operation remains prohibited. Zoox plans to produce up to 10,000 driverless cabs annually at its new factory in California, but new models will not be covered by the exemption.

Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle unit, is now providing over 250,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly in the U.S., showing growth from 200,000 in February due to expansions in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the company's evolving business model and partnerships with Uber and automakers, while also noting the competition from Tesla and other autonomous vehicle firms.

Elon Musk announced that Tesla's robotaxi service is tentatively set to launch in Austin, Texas, on June 22, with the first driverless trip planned for his birthday on June 28. The initial rollout will involve 10 to 20 robotaxis using the latest Full Self-Driving technology, while safety concerns have led to planned protests by activists opposing Musk's approach to automotive safety.

Tesla plans to expand its robotaxi service in California, but regulators have clarified that it must operate with human drivers due to restrictions on autonomous vehicle transport. The company will offer rides to friends and family of employees and select members of the public, but only using non-autonomous vehicles, while facing scrutiny over its driver assistance marketing practices.

Waymo and Toyota have announced a preliminary partnership to explore integrating Waymo's autonomous technology into personally-owned vehicles, aiming to accelerate the development of driver assistance and self-driving features. This collaboration follows Waymo's previous partnerships with multiple automakers and comes as the company continues to expand its ride-hailing services. Additionally, the partnership does not interfere with Waymo's plans to deploy other vehicle brands in its fleet.

Uber has announced a partnership with Lucid and Nuro to deploy over 20,000 robotaxis over the next six years, investing $300 million in Lucid. Nuro will provide the self-driving technology for these vehicles, which are set to launch in a major U.S. urban hub next year, marking a significant step in Uber's expansion into the autonomous vehicle market.

Waymo is increasing its production of robotaxis at a new factory located in Arizona. This expansion aims to enhance their fleet of autonomous vehicles, responding to growing demand for ride-hailing services. The factory is expected to significantly boost their operational capacity and efficiency in the competitive autonomous transport market.

Tesla's net income fell 37% in Q3 despite record vehicle sales, overshadowing its financial performance as CEO Elon Musk focused on future projects, including a significant pay package and advancements in autonomous technology. Musk expressed concerns about maintaining control over Tesla while pursuing an ambitious vision of a robot-powered future, showcasing plans for robotaxis and the Cybercab.

Tesla is making initial moves to introduce its robotaxi service in New York City by posting a job for data collectors to operate its vehicles in the city. The role involves collecting audio and video data to assist in training the Autopilot software, although Tesla has not yet applied for testing permits in the city.

Waymo, Google's autonomous taxi service, has surpassed 10 million rides, showcasing its rapid growth in cities where its self-driving cars operate. The California Public Utilities Commission regularly publishes data reflecting the increasing presence of these vehicles, highlighting Waymo's significant advancements in the self-driving industry.

Tesla has applied to test its Robotaxi vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, aiming to expand its autonomous vehicle operations following the lead of Waymo. The company is currently piloting its robotaxis in Austin, Texas, but has faced challenges, including incidents of road rule violations. A decision on Tesla's Arizona application is expected by the end of July.