Key facts
- Zoox received a two-year exemption from NHTSA to operate up to 2,500 driverless vehicles commercially.
- Zoox's custom-built robotaxis will begin charging for rides starting August 10.
- Uber plans to invest $10 billion to deploy 120,000 driverless vehicles.
- Moove raised $250 million at a $2.1 billion valuation to scale its AV fleet management business.
- Nvidia released its Alpamayo 2 Super AI model for commercial autonomous driving applications.
- Teamsters sued the California DMV over economic impact disclosures for autonomous heavy-duty trucks.
Amazon-owned Zoox is set to begin commercial robotaxi operations on August 10, following a crucial exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This exemption allows Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles that lack traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals, paving the way for other autonomous vehicle developers.
In parallel, Uber plans a significant expansion into autonomous vehicles, committing $10 billion over the coming years to deploy 120,000 driverless vehicles. This investment aligns with previous reports and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's statements. Moove, a company specializing in fleet management for ride-hailing drivers, has raised $250 million in a Series C funding round, valuing it at $2.1 billion. Moove intends to use these funds to scale its autonomous vehicle fleet management business and plans to purchase Waymo robotaxis.
Other developments in the mobility and tech sectors include Joby Aviation's earnings report, which showed revenue growth and a reduced net loss, alongside a new partnership with Travis Kalanick's startup Atoms to develop transportation hubs. Lucid Motors is implementing a $1.4 billion cost-saving plan and has delayed its midsize EV, the Cosmos, to late 2027. Nvidia has released its Alpamayo 2 Super AI model for commercial use in autonomous driving. Meanwhile, the Teamsters union has sued the California Department of Motor Vehicles, alleging inadequate disclosure of economic impacts from self-driving heavy-duty trucks, a move the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association has criticized.
Elon Musk's companies have also been active, with SpaceX reporting doubled revenue in its first earnings report as a public company, driven by Starlink and computing power rentals. Musk's discussions on Tesla earnings calls increasingly focus on artificial intelligence, robotaxis, and Full Self-Driving software.