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A fast little bit of breaking information that hit simply as we have been about to ship this text out. The Nationwide Transportation Security Board has opened an investigation into Waymo after its robotaxis have been noticed illegally passing stopped faculty buses quite a few occasions in at the least two states. Learn the complete story right here.
Now onto our common programming …
Tesla made a few strikes this week — and simply earlier than its quarterly earnings drops — designed to point out its progress, and even dominance, in automated driving expertise. However, maintain up, there’s extra to it than mere optics.
The week began with Tesla providing passengers robotaxi rides in Austin and not using a human security driver within the entrance seat. If you happen to recall, Tesla launched a restricted service in Austin final yr with a fleet of modified Tesla Mannequin Y automobiles operating a extra superior model of the corporate’s driving software program generally known as Full Self-Driving Supervised (this one being “unsupervised”). Human security operators have been using within the entrance passenger seat as a precaution for the reason that rollout.
Not all of Tesla’s fleet in Austin can be totally driverless, and there’s apparently a chase car behind these which might be. Nonetheless, it’s notable and suggests Tesla is shifting towards a broader ramp-up.
In the meantime, Tesla has killed Autopilot, the superior driver-assistance system that was initially launched to its automobiles in 2014. Autopilot has gone by a number of software program and {hardware} iterations through the years with new capabilities.
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Autopilot was immediately common and controversial, partly as a result of the title implied the system was extra succesful than it really was. (Drivers are accountable and are purported to have their fingers on the wheel when Autopilot is engaged.)
Tesla ultimately made a primary Autopilot system customary in all of its automobiles, whereas launching and charging for a extra sturdy system identified now as Full Self-Driving (Supervised). The fundamental model, which is now useless, included traffic-aware cruise management, wherein the car maintains a set distance with vehicles forward, and Autosteer, a function that facilities the car within the lane and steers it.
Its determination to kill what was customary ADAS comes one week after Tesla stated it might cease charging a one-time $8,000 payment for the FSD software program and transfer all prospects to a month-to-month subscription.
These choices when taken collectively supply a easy sufficient clarification: Tesla desires to acknowledge extra income from FSD because it positions itself as an AI and robotics firm.
However there’s one other attainable cause. The corporate is dealing with a 30-day suspension of its manufacturing and seller licenses in California after a choose dominated in December that Tesla engaged in misleading advertising and marketing by overstating the capabilities of Autopilot and FSD.
The ruling has been stayed for 60 days to permit Tesla to conform. Dropping the Autopilot title whereas cashing in on FSD is a somewhat daring transfer. However maybe Tesla believes this is sufficient to satiate the DMV.
Offers!
Zipline, the autonomous drone-delivery and logistics startup, has been round for greater than a decade, beginning in Rwanda delivering blood. Its progress has been gradual and regular, notching wins in different African nations and increasing to america. That trajectory sped up after it launched a brand new drone platform in 2025 known as P2 that focuses on residence supply of meals and different items.
Now, fueled with $600 million in new funding, its enlargement ambitions have grown. The corporate, which is now valued at $7.6 billion, is bringing its service to Houston and Phoenix and plans to broaden to at the least 4 extra U.S. states in 2026.
Constancy Administration & Analysis Firm, Baillie Gifford, Valor Fairness Companions, and Tiger World participated within the funding spherical.
Different offers that bought my consideration …
ABZ Innovation, a Europe-based maker of industrial quality agricultural and industrial drones, raised $8.2 million in a funding spherical led by Vsquared Ventures, with participation from Meeting Ventures and Day One Capital.
Ethernovia, a San Jose, California-based startup that makes Ethernet-based techniques for autonomous automobiles, raised $90 million in a Collection B funding spherical led by Maverick Silicon — an AI-focused fund created in 2024 by hedge fund Maverick Capital.
Serve Robotics, the sidewalk supply robotic firm backed by Nvidia and Uber, acquired Diligent Robotics in a deal that values the frequent inventory at $29 million. Diligent builds robots named Moxi which might be designed to help in hospitals by delivering lab samples, provides, and different duties. Word: Look ahead to extra autonomous car tech-robotics crossovers within the coming yr.
Terralayr, a German grid-scale battery storage firm, raised €192 million in a spherical led by Eurazeo. RIVE Non-public Funding, Creandum, Earlybird, Norrsken VC, and Picus Capital additionally participated.
TrueCar founder Scott Painter reacquired the corporate in a $227 million deal by his agency Honest Holdings, and companions AutoNation, PenFed Credit score Union, Zurich North America, and others. TrueCar will not be publicly traded, and Painter has returned to the CEO spot.
Notable reads and different tidbits
Austin Russell, the founder and former CEO of bankrupt lidar firm Luminar, agreed to just accept an digital subpoena for data on his cellphone pertaining to the corporate. The subpoena is said to Luminar’s ongoing chapter continuing.
Chinese language automaker Geely Holding Group launched its five-year blueprint, and amongst its many targets is a bit on robotaxis. The corporate stated that by 2030 its Cao Cao Mobility ride-hailing unit will function a fleet of 100,000 robotaxis masking main cities in China. It additionally hinted at plans to broaden past China “sooner or later.”
Basic Motors is shifting manufacturing of two gas-powered automobiles away from China and Mexico and to a U.S. manufacturing unit in Kansas. That change may also imply the top of its rebooted Chevrolet Bolt EV, the one car at present constructed on the Fairfax Meeting Plant in Kansas. Learn extra to be taught when manufacturing of the Chevy Bolt EV will finish.
Tesla goals to restart work on Dojo3, the corporate’s beforehand deserted third-generation AI chip. Dojo3 gained’t be geared toward coaching self-driving fashions. As a substitute, CEO Elon Musk says will probably be devoted to “space-based AI compute.”
Waymo has opened its robotaxi service in Miami. Riders can be accepted on a rolling foundation, to the almost 10,000 native residents on its waitlist.
Yet another factor …
Alex Roy, who co-hosts the Autonocast with me and Ed Niedermeyer, simply traveled from Los Angeles to New York in a Tesla Mannequin S, wherein the car’s Full Self-Driving Supervised software program dealt with all the driving. This “Cannonball Run” route is one Roy is accustomed to; he set the transcontinental driving report in 2007 when he traveled the route in 31 hours and 4 minutes. He has gone on to make different Cannonball Run data in EVs. Others have adopted and since overwhelmed these data.
In response to Roy, who captured your complete run on video, the FSD (model 14.2.2.3) drove 100% of the three,081-mile journey. That included exiting the freeway and parking at EV chargers. The time was 58 hours, 22 minutes.
