Our Next Webinar…

The path from pilot programs to real-world robotaxi fleets is riddled with challenges that go far beyond refining autonomous driving software. From charging logistics and operational density to cost structures and city-specific constraints, the next stage of deployment presents a complex systems problem.

Join us for a candid, expert-led webinar discussion on July 1 at 10AM Pacific: “The Full-Scale Challenges of Scaling Robotaxis: Operational and Charging Realities.” We’ll unpack what it really takes to move from hundreds to thousands of vehicles on the road—and what companies must anticipate in terms of infrastructure, energy, uptime, and scalability.

Register now to secure your spot.

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Now, Here’s What’s Happening.

Waymo paused its robotaxi service nationwide last weekend in anticipation of protests against federal immigration policies and military crackdowns on demonstrators. Service areas affected included San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix. Eagle-eyed Waymo spotters quickly located the parking lots used to store the overflow AVs.

The move follows an incident where protestors set fire to five Waymo AVs in downtown Los Angeles. Photos and videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, raising questions about how image and video data collected by robotaxis might be used by law enforcement. A Waymo spokesperson clarified that the company generally challenges overly broad data requests or those lacking legal basis.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is streamlining its review process for self-driving car exemption requests filed by automakers seeking to deploy vehicles without traditional human controls such as steering wheels, brake pedals, and mirrors. While the agency can grant exemptions for up to 2,500 vehicles per manufacturer annually, it has historically spent years reviewing some applications without taking action.

Autonomous vehicle developers like Zoox have previously criticized the NHTSA for its slow review times. Zoox, in particular, opted to self-certify its custom ride vehicle rather than seek an exemption, prompting the agency to produce a report finding Zoox in violation of eight safety regulations.

It seems the NHTSA is finally making an effort to get ahead of developing technology. With the new streamlined exemption review process, maybe they will finally begin issuing exemptions… something that would benefit Waymo, Tesla, and Zoox immensely.

Tesla robotaxis have been spotted around Austin accompanied by trailing follow cars. Videos shared on social media show a Model Y with the “ROBOTAXI” wordmark emblazoned on the side, followed by another unmarked Model Y acting as a support vehicle.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed a tentative launch date for the service: June 22, which is later than the previously reported internal date of June 12, per Bloomberg. The new date is also described as “tentative,” suggesting Tesla could miss this one as well.

Time will tell if Tesla manages to achieve this June 22 date…

Moove, the Uber-backed company that cleans and charges Waymo robotaxis, is planning a $300 million fundraising round. The raise would bring the company’s valuation to over $1 billion. While Moove’s primary revenue has come from extending loans to Uber drivers, the Dubai-based company has recently begun generating income from its role as Waymo’s fleet operator, an area the new funding aims to expand.

Moove took over Waymo’s fleet operations in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this year and has secured a contract to manage Waymo’s fleet in Miami starting next year.

Trouble is brewing in China’s car market. A pricing war has led to a possibly imminent liquidity crisis, reminiscent of the Evergrande crisis. Here’s the rundown:

• Shenzhen based BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of NEVs (new energy vehicles), said it would reduce prices of 22 models to promote sales.
• In response, the CEO of Great Wall Motors, based in Chongqing, made a statement implying that BYD could be the next Evergrade of Chinese automakers.
• A BYD spokesperson refuted the claim: “There is no Evergrande in the auto industry [...] Any remarks that belittle China’s [NEVs] are unacceptable.”
• The response sparked investigations into BYD’s debt ratio, with interesting supply chain economics implications:
  • BYD may be obfuscating debt by using unusually long payment periods for their suppliers.
    • Western automakers: usually 45 days.
    • Chinese domestic automakers: usually 90-120 days.
    • BYD: 270 days.
• In response to the investigations, a group of Chinese automakers jointly announced that they would enforce a 60 day payment period.
• In response to the joint announcement, BYD was pressured into following suit with their own 60 day payment period announcement.
• In response to the price war, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that it would further scrutinize competition and tighten rules.
• The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents the country’s largest auto manufacturers, also issued a statement urging its members to prevent monopolies and avoid dumping.

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In Other News…

• Waymo releases new insights for scaling laws in autonomous driving
• Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Assist Pro Delivers Near-Autonomous Capability

Alright, that’s it from me… until next week!

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