In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Tesla, Torc, Kodiak Robotics, Helm.ai, Guiden & ADASTEC.
Tesla Robotaxis in Austin with Safety Drivers
Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla’s long‑anticipated robotaxi service will tentatively launch on June 22, 2025, in Austin, Texas, marking the company’s debut in fully autonomous ride‑hailing The pilot will feature a limited fleet of 10–20 Model Y vehicles, operating within a geofenced area, and available via an invitation‑only program running from 6 a.m. to midnight. Safety remains a top priority: each robotaxi will be remotely monitored, and onboarding includes a “Tesla Safety Monitor” in the passenger seat during this early phase.
Musk emphasized that the launch could shift slightly as they are “being super paranoid about safety.”
However, the launch has drawn scrutiny. Texas lawmakers have requested Tesla delay the rollout until September 1 to ensure compliance with incoming autonomous‑vehicle legislation. The NHTSA is also scrutinizing Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) software under adverse conditions. Despite these concerns, analysts remain cautiously optimistic: some see Tesla’s speedy fleet scaling and software‑centric strategy as potentially disruptive, though others warn of overpromising
Innoviz LiDAR for Top Automaker 2027
Innoviz Technologies (NASDAQ: INVZ) has signed a Statement of Development Work with a top-five global automaker to supply its InnovizTwo high-performance LiDAR sensors for a Level 3 autonomous driving system, with production slated to begin in 2027. The agreement includes delivering several hundred units beginning mid-2025, enabling integration and data collection for the automaker’s next-gen eyes-off driving platform. Innoviz will tailor hardware and software for seamless compatibility, strengthening its role as a key supplier for mass-market autonomous vehicle adoption.
Torc Joins Stanford Center
Torc, a leader in self-driving Class 8 trucks and a Daimler Truck subsidiary, has joined the Stanford Center for AI Safety. This partnership strengthens Torc’s commitment to developing safe and reliable autonomous trucking systems ahead of its planned U.S. market launch in 2027. As a member, Torc will collaborate with Stanford researchers, coauthor AI safety studies, and gain early access to cutting-edge findings to refine its machine learning safety protocols. The partnership aligns with Torc’s mission to deliver scalable, trustworthy autonomous freight solutions, leveraging over two decades of experience in safety-critical systems.
Kodiak Robotics & Roush
Kodiak Robotics has announced a strategic partnership with Roush Industries to scale production of its AI-powered autonomous trucks. Beginning in the second half of 2025, Roush will upfit Kodiak Driver-equipped trucks at its Livonia, Michigan facility, starting with orders for Atlas Energy Solutions. Roush will establish a dedicated production line capable of supporting Kodiak’s modular and vehicle-agnostic autonomous hardware, including proprietary SensorPods and AI-driven safety systems.
This collaboration enables Kodiak to accelerate from limited to full-scale deployment, leveraging Roush’s five decades of experience in vehicle systems integration and manufacturing. The partnership is expected to deliver manufacturing flexibility for diverse truck configurations and heavy-duty applications.
The news comes as Kodiak prepares to go public through a proposed merger with Ares Acquisition Corporation II, aiming to capitalize on the $4+ trillion global trucking market and expand its driverless freight operations.
Helm.ai Level 3 Urban Perception System
Helm.ai has launched Helm.ai Vision, an advanced AI-powered perception system designed for Level 2+ and Level 3 autonomous driving in urban environments. The system features real-time 3D object detection, semantic segmentation, and multi-camera surround-view fusion, eliminating the need for Lidar or HD maps. Built on Helm.ai’s proprietary Deep Teaching™ technology, it uses large-scale unsupervised learning to deliver high-accuracy perception. Helm.ai Vision meets ISO 26262 ASIL-B(D) safety standards and ASPICE Capability Level 2 for software development. Compatible with major automotive hardware platforms and fully integrated with Helm.ai’s E2E planning stack, it supports scalable and efficient production deployment for automakers worldwide.
Guident and ADASTEC Remote Teleoperation Bus
Guident Corp., in partnership with ADASTEC, has remotely teleoperated a SAE Level-4 autonomous electric bus at Michigan State University from over 1,200 miles away in Florida—marking the first known long-distance remote control of a full-size automated bus in an operational transit environment. Using Guident’s Remote Monitor and Control Center (RMCC) and ADASTEC’s flowride.ai platform, the system enabled real-time human oversight to handle complex edge cases beyond the AV’s automated capabilities. This milestone enhances safety, reliability, and scalability for autonomous public transportation, showcasing a breakthrough in human-assisted autonomy.