In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Waymo, Apple, Teamsters, BENTELER, Innoviz and Cyngn.
Waymo AV Hits Cyclist
A cyclist was hit and scratched by a Waymo vehicle in San Francisco.
“An oncoming large truck progressed through the intersection in our direction and then, at our turn to proceed, we moved into the intersection,” Waymo stated to the media “The cyclist was occluded by the truck and quickly followed behind it, crossing into the Waymo vehicle’s path. When they became unoccluded, our vehicle applied heavy braking but was not able to avoid the collision.”
The company notified police of the incident and stated the the cyclist left the scene with only minor scratches.
“We are making contact with relevant authorities surrounding this event,” the company said.
Crowd Smashes & Torches Waymo AV in SF
A crowd attacked and set on fire a driverless Waymo car in Chinatown, San Franciso. A skaeboarder holding a can of beer bashed the windows with a skateboard while many onlookers shot video. It was defaced with spray paint and set on fire while crowd cheered on.
happening NOW in SF. Waymo car vandalized & lit on fire 🤯@sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/OEZYFiy6mv
— Michael Vandi (@michael_vandi) February 11, 2024
Yesterday the San Francisco police wished the Chinese population “Have Lunar New Year” on Twitter. The event could have been part of new year celebration.
In preparation for the San Francisco 49er’s appearance in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11, 2024, SFPD is working with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies along with partner city agencies to ensure public safety.
Travelers should anticipate delays as there will be traffic closures in the Mission District and MUNI buses will be rerouted in some areas throughout the city. The California Highway Patrol will also close freeway off-ramps like they did for the NFC championship game.
“We want to remind everyone who plans to participate in Super Bowl festivities to do so respectfully and responsibly. Do not drive while intoxicated. Use a designated driver, public transportation, taxi, or ride-share…People should be free to celebrate and support their team. The SFPD will not tolerate violence, property destruction, or other criminal activity.” noted the police news release–
Apple AV Developer Sentenced & Fined
Meanwhile, a former Apple engineer, Xiaolang Zhang, who working on the Apple Titan self-driving car pled guilty to stealing secret materials was sentenced to 120 days in prison, 3-year probation and a fine of $146,984.00. He took the material prior to working for Chinese AV company Guangzhou Xiaopeng.
Teamsters Praise LA County Sups
The Teamsters Union commends the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for passing a landmark resolution in favor of Senate Bill 915 (SB 915), legislation that allows California’s local governments to regulate autonomous vehicles (AVs). SB 915 has strong bipartisan support and is part of the CARS legislative package on autonomous vehicles that the Teamsters are advocating for in Sacramento to protect good jobs and public safety.
“SB 915 is common sense legislation that would put safety first, and the Teamsters applaud the L.A. County Board of Supervisors for their unanimous support of this bill,” said Chris Griswold, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42. “We’d especially like to thank Supervisors Lindsay Horvath and Janice Hahn for sponsoring this resolution. AVs have wreaked havoc on our streets for too long and with too little oversight. It’s past time that local governments have a say in how this untested technology is deployed in their communities. The Teamsters urge all of California’s elected leaders to prioritize public safety by supporting the passage of SB 915 into law.”
SB 915 was introduced on January 9, 2024, by State Sen. Dave Cortese (D – San Jose), shortly after the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved Waymo’s application to expand its fleet to the suburbs of Los Angeles and San Francisco. If approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Waymo could operate 24/7 in any weather conditions and on any roads, including highways. Despite robotaxis running over pedestrians, blocking first responders from their jobs, reportedly coming within seconds of colliding with children, and causing traffic pileups, the CPUC and DMV have refused to implement significant AV safety measures.
“SB 915 comes down to local control and leveling the playing field. Local cities and counties know their communities best. Municipalities are used to regulating traffic, zoning and construction. We know our streets well and we’re able to work with our local public works departments and law enforcement partners to make our streets safe,” said L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “This is why cities and counties should have local authority to establish and enforce regulations on automated vehicle services.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Teamsters Support Human Operator Bill & Rally
To protect public safety and good jobs, the Teamsters and California lawmakers will announce the reintroduction of the autonomous vehicle (AV) human operator bill at a rally on Monday, February 12, at 2pm PT. AB 2286, formerly Assembly Bill 316, requires a trained human operator behind the wheel of self-driving trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds, putting safety first while preserving hundreds of thousands of good-paying trucking jobs. AB 316 was first introduced by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) in January 2023 and received overwhelming bipartisan support in the legislature, with more than 90 percent of the California lawmakers voting in favor of the legislation.
Since Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 316 in September 2023, robotaxis have wreaked havoc on California streets, with one Cruise robotaxi running over a pedestrian and dragging her 20 feet in San Francisco. In the wake of this safety incident, the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Cruise, while San Francisco has brought a lawsuit against the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for allowing for the expansion of robotaxis in the city.
Monday’s rally is the latest escalation by the Teamsters to keep unsafe autonomous vehicles off our streets, protect good-paying union jobs, and ensure local communities have a say in AV deployment. Earlier this month, the Teamsters held a rally to announce the introduction of SB 915, a bill that would give California’s local municipalities more authority over AV regulation. The growing statewide support for AV safety measures comes as Waymo seeks to expand its robotaxi operations in California.
***Please See Below for Details on the 2/12 Rally***
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WHAT: |
Reintroduction of AV Human Operator Bill, Rally for Good Jobs and Safe Streets |
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WHO: |
Teamsters and elected officials, including: |
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WHEN: |
Monday, February 12, 2024, at 2pm PT |
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WHERE: |
West Steps of the California State Capitol, near the California Peace Officers Memorial |
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1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814 |
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LIVESTREAM: |
Starting shortly after 2pm PT on facebook.com/teamsters. |
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INTERVIEWS: |
Available upon request |
TASARU Invests in BENTELER Group for AVs
The BENTELER Group is about to secure a multi-million-dollar investment to expand its autonomous mover business: TASARU Mobility Investments, a Saudi Arabian investment company specializing in automotive initiatives, intends to acquire a minority stake in the BENTELER subsidiary HOLON for a nine-digit sum. The management of both companies signed a respective agreement.
The planned acquisition of a stake of up to 38% in HOLON by TASARU will occur in several tranches, with the first one expected in April. The transaction is subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
The funds from TASARU will be used to further advance the series development and industrialization of the autonomous, fully electric, and inclusive mover. Specifically, the plan is to establish three production sites to market the vehicle worldwide: in Europe, Saudi Arabia and the USA.
Ralf Göttel, CEO of the BENTELER Group: “What a journey for HOLON: 2023 started with the successful world premiere of our autonomous mover at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. And now, 2024 starts with a strong partnership that will enable us to put the vehicle on the road as soon as possible. We are delighted that HOLON, one of BENTELER’s entrepreneurial successes, has also convinced external investors and that the series development as well as industrialization of our mover is now secured. Together with TASARU we will make mobility safer and more sustainable.”
The HOLON Mover is a fully electric, autonomous vehicle for use on public roads. It is one of the world’s first movers built to automotive standards – in other words, a leader in safety, ride comfort and production quality. The vehicle travels at a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour and can accommodate up to 15 passengers. Areas of application are on-demand services such as ridepooling and ridehailing, but also normal scheduled services.
Michael Mueller, CEO of TASARU: “HOLON’s revolutionary Mover aligns perfectly with TASARU’s vision for a smarter and more sustainable future, supporting the ambitious targets outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Together, we aim to unlock the Mover’s potential, bringing significant benefits to Saudi Arabia and other regions, establishing the Kingdom as a hub for autonomous mobility innovation and manufacturing.”
Henning von Watzdorf, CEO of HOLON, added: “This is a significant step for HOLON. The partnership with TASARU will allow us to accelerate the further development, industrialization and scaling of our Mover. In 2024, the focus will now be on prototype development and initial test drives. Our goal is to have the first vehicles in use as part of pilot projects by 2025. Customer interest is immense: our vehicle makes safe, inclusive, emission-free and sustainable passenger transportation possible and is therefore the answer to traffic problems in cities, climate change and demographics.”
The HOLON Mover is barrier free, offering an automated ramp, secured wheelchair space, and auditory and visual assistance for passengers. The design comes from renowned design company Pininfarina and the autonomous driving technology from the Intel subsidiary Mobileye. One of the first pilot projects for the use of the vehicle is the city of Hamburg, Germany. The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport recently provided €26 million funding for a corresponding project.
Innoviz Certified
Innoviz Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: INVZ) (the “Company” or “Innoviz”), a leading Tier-1 supplier of high-performance, automotive grade LiDAR sensors and perception software, tannounced its successful achievement of the IATF 16949:2016 certification, which includes the ISO 9001:2015 requirements and is a testament to the Company’s dedication to maintaining exceptional quality and standards in the automotive industry.
The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) was formed to provide improved quality products to automotive consumers worldwide and its members include world-leading automotive manufacturers. The IATF 16949:2016 is an internationally recognized standard for automotive quality management systems. It certifies that Innoviz has the process-oriented quality management systems to enable continued improvements, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain and assembly process.
Achieving this prestigious certification is a result of Innoviz’s relentless pursuit of excellence, stringent quality control measures, and continuous improvement initiatives across all facets of its operations. This milestone underscores the Company’s focus on enhancing efficiency and ensuring customer satisfaction in every aspect of its design and assembly of LiDAR solutions and perception software.
“We are thrilled to have attained the IATF 16949:2016 certification, which stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional quality in everything we do,” said Omer Keilaf, CEO and Co-Founder at Innoviz. “This accomplishment reflects the hard work and dedication of our team and reaffirms our promise to provide our customers with cutting-edge LiDAR solutions of high quality and reliability, while solidifying our ongoing position as a Tier-1 supplier within the automotive industry.”
In addition, Innoviz received the ISO 14001:2015 certification, an internationally- recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS) and the ISO 45001:2018 certification, an international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system.
Innoviz’s certified Quality Management Systems can be viewed here.
Cyngn Intros Auto-unhitch
Cyngn Inc. (the “Company” or “Cyngn”) (Nasdaq: CYN), has announced the release of its Auto-unhitch capability, a hands-off solution for our industrial autonomous vehicles to drop off cargo. This new feature enables organizations to automate the entire tugging workflow, enhancing operational efficiency and bringing greater value to customers.
Embedded within Enterprise Autonomy Suite (EAS), Cyngn’s fleet management and analytics software, Auto-unhitch seamlessly integrates with customers’ existing workflows. With just a simple touch of a button, a DriveMod Tugger can autonomously navigate to a designated stop, unload cargo without relying on staff, and then return to a central staging area for the pickup of new carts. The operators’ ability to activate this feature for any autonomous vehicle mission significantly enhances their capacity to streamline operational tasks while simultaneously addressing labor shortages.
“Implementing Auto-unhitch for our autonomous vehicle fleet represents a significant milestone in broadening our customer reach and catering to the diverse needs of businesses,” said Cyngn Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Lior Tal. “This advancement plays a crucial role in realizing the vision of fully autonomous workflows, eliminating the need to manually unload inventory. This not only allows customers to significantly improve productivity by minimizing vehicle idle time between stations but also empowers operators to focus on more valuable responsibilities.”
Cyngn’s Auto-unhitch capabilities include:
- Seamless Integration: Allows operators to incorporate automatic unhitching into existing workflows, which can be programmed before the shift begins.
- Safety Features: Includes audible tones and an on-screen alert to notify employees before the vehicle automatically unhitches cargo.
- Manual Mode: An on-vehicle toggle switch easily enables operators to manually open or close the hitch on their own.
Auto-unhitch represents one of many DriveMod-enabled skills that can help organizations revolutionize how work gets done. Recognizing that different companies have unique requirements, DriveMod offers a versatile set of capabilities, allowing businesses to tailor their autonomous solutions to not only specific environments, but also tasks. This flexibility ensures that Cyngn’s technology aligns seamlessly with the evolving needs of customers, providing a customizable end-to-end autonomous industrial vehicle solution.
ISEE AVs in Yards
ISEE, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology for transportation and logistics, announced the world’s first commercial fleet deployment of autonomous yard trucks at a Fortune 100 customer’s site. This cutting-edge deployment, located in Texas, represents a transition from pilots and testing to commercialization of autonomous yard trucks and ushers in a new era of safety, efficiency, and capacity for the supply chain.
The autonomous truck yard represents a significant milestone in the advancement of transportation logistics. By harnessing the power of AI, machine learning, and computer vision, ISEE has created and deployed a fully autonomous system that streamlines the yard movement of trailers and containers to reduce costs, improve safety, and give companies staffing predictability amidst ongoing labor shortages.
The deployment at the 1.7 million square foot distribution center, with 750 trailer staging bays, is the first of its kind using a fleet of autonomous yard trucks with the ability to operate across all shifts, day and night, rain or shine.
“This campus is the first facility to commercially deploy a fleet of fully-autonomous yard trucks. It validates that ISEE is leading the industry in autonomous yard truck technology,” said Yibiao Zhao, ISEE CEO and Co-founder.
“Recognizing revenue from a Fortune 100 customer for their full-facility deployment is only the beginning. We have a strong pipeline that we are excited to share when the moment is right,” said Debbie Yu, Co-founder of ISEE.
Key benefits and features of the autonomous truck yard include:
Enhanced Safety: The US National Safety Council reports that transportation and warehousing have the highest rate of worker injury of all occupations, and being struck by equipment is one of the most common causes. By eliminating the potential for human error, the autonomous truck yard can dramatically reduce accidents and collisions. ISEE uses cutting-edge sensor technologies and advanced algorithms to ensure tha
Plus Wins with More
Plus, a global autonomous driving technology company, has been named a finalist in the 2024 Edison Awards. The company is being honored in the Innovation category, innovative services and solutions, for its driver-in Level 2++ solution PlusDrive®. Not only does PlusDrive help OEMs and Tier 1s accelerate the deployment of semi-autonomous features in next-generation vehicles, the software paves the way to fully autonomous vehicles in the future.