In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Tensor, Waymo,Guident, Circuit, Pony.ai, Cyngn’s, Hesai, Coco Robotics, ZAC, Baidu, Lyft, HEVO and STEER.
In this Article
Tensor World’s 1st Private Autonomous Robocar
Tensor, an emerging leader in agentic artificial intelligence, has announced the launch of the Tensor Robocar, the world’s first personally owned autonomous vehicle designed from the ground up for private ownership. Unlike traditional RoboTaxis or retrofitted autonomous cars, Tensor’s Robocar is purpose-built for Level 4 autonomy, integrating privacy, safety, and AI-driven independence into its core design. Developed over a decade of proprietary engineering and AI research, it represents a new category of vehicle—an embodied personal agent capable of navigating complex environments, making decisions, and adapting to its owner’s preferences. The vehicle is intended to give users “true ownership of their autonomy,” combining advanced AI systems with a philosophy of individual control over both transportation and data.
Equipped with over 100 integrated sensors—including 37 cameras, 5 lidars, 11 radars, and advanced ultrasonic and environmental detectors—the Robocar offers unmatched visibility and redundancy. Its architecture supports complete fail-operational performance, ensuring continued operation even if critical systems fail. The Tensor AI Foundation Model drives its decision-making, combining a fast, reflexive System 1 that learns from expert drivers with a reasoning-based System 2 powered by a multimodal Visual Language Model. This dual approach enables the Robocar to handle both routine driving and rare, unpredictable events. Beyond autonomy, Tensor emphasizes privacy by processing all user data locally, providing physical sensor covers, and allowing owners full control over stored information.
Tensor’s Robocar also boasts 28 “world firsts,” including the first foldable steering wheel, a sliding display, and native support for all autonomy levels from manual (L0) to full self-driving (L4). It can self-clean sensors, perform maintenance checks, charge autonomously, and protect its components when idle. Partnerships with industry leaders such as NVIDIA, VinFast, Bosch, ZF, and Oracle underpin its production and technology, with manufacturing taking place at VinFast’s Hai Phong factory in Vietnam. Delivery to customers is planned for 2026 in select markets across the U.S., Europe, and the UAE, positioning Tensor to disrupt both the automotive and AI industries with a self-sufficient, privacy-first autonomous vehicle for private ownership.
Waymo Spotify Streaming Integration
Waymo has elevated the in-car experience for passengers by integrating Spotify directly into its self-driving vehicles. Now, riders in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix can easily link their Spotify account through the Waymo app or via QR code from the vehicle’s in-car screen. Once connected, users can seamlessly play their personal playlists or podcasts, creating a curated, “your ride, your music” atmosphere with just a tap. Riders can even engage friends in the music experience—Spotify Premium users can start a “Jam” session, inviting others to queue their own tracks, and everyone has control through the in-car interface or their phones.
This integration not only provides a more personalized and immersive experience but also offers thoughtful audio features. Users can fine-tune sound using an in-app equalizer—adjusting balance, bass, treble, and more—to suit their preferences. At the end of each trip, music stops automatically, preserving privacy and ensuring that each ride feels uniquely yours. The move follows Waymo’s earlier collaboration with iHeartRadio and signals its intent to enhance personalization as autonomous ride-hailing becomes a more refined part of everyday life.
Boca Raton Autonomous Shuttles with Guident & Circuit
Guident Corp., a Boca Raton–based autonomous vehicle teleoperation company, has partnered with the City of Boca Raton and shuttle operator Circuit to introduce an autonomous, electric shuttle service starting fall 2025. Initially operating a 0.6-mile loop within Mizner Park, the route will later expand to a 2.6-mile circuit connecting Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place. Powered by the SAE Level 4 MiCa shuttle from Estonia’s Auve Tech, the project aims to showcase safe, driverless navigation in complex urban environments. City officials say the year-long pilot could be extended, positioning Boca Raton as a leader in smart, sustainable mobility.
Pony.ai Gen-7 Robotaxis & 76% Revenue Growth
Pony.ai reported strong Q2 2025 results, fueled by the mass production of over 200 Gen-7 Robotaxis from GAC and BAIC, targeting 1,000 units by year-end. Total revenue rose 76% year-over-year to $21.5M, with Robotaxi services up 158% and licensing revenue up over 900%, while Robotruck revenue dipped 10% due to a focus on higher-margin operations. Fare-charging Robotaxi revenue surged 300%, supported by expanded operations in China’s four tier-one cities, Dubai, South Korea, and Luxembourg. The company achieved fully-driverless, large-scale operations, extended service to 24/7 in key markets, and formed a strategic partnership to deploy 1,000 Robotaxis in Shenzhen. Gross margin improved to 16.1% from negative territory last year, driven by cost efficiencies in remote assistance and insurance.
Cyngn’s DriveMod Tugger
Cyngn Inc. (Nasdaq: CYN) has successfully deployed its autonomous DriveMod Tugger at Coats Company, the largest full-line wheel service equipment manufacturer in North America. Operating within Coats’ 150,000-square-foot facility in La Vergne, Tennessee, the vehicle automates the transport of wheel service components across production lines. Since going live, the system has already freed up over 500 labor hours by reducing manual hauling, allowing employees to focus on higher-value tasks.
Coats’ VP of Operations, Steven Finley, praised the technology’s seamless integration, noting its safety, efficiency, and ease of use. “The DriveMod Tugger is a normal part of our operation,” Finley said. “It provides a consistency to material delivery that our team depends on. It’s safe, secure, and works like it’s been here forever.” The autonomous tugger’s on-vehicle display offers intuitive control, and its reliable performance supports Coats’ goals for fast, flexible manufacturing.
The deployment reflects a broader trend in the automotive sector, which ranked among the top adopters of industrial robotics in 2023. Cyngn’s DriveMod Tugger addresses the growing demand for high-uptime automation in manufacturing, delivering scalable, real-world solutions for moving heavy parts efficiently. By automating repetitive tasks, the system enhances productivity, safety, and workflow consistency—key priorities for manufacturers seeking competitive advantage in a fast-evolving industry.
Title: Grab to Invest in WeRide, Partnering to Roll Out Robotaxis Across Southeast Asia
Summary:
WeRide, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, announced that Grab, Southeast Asia’s largest superapp, will make a strategic equity investment as part of a broader partnership to deploy Level 4 Robotaxis and shuttles across the region. The investment, expected to close in the first half of 2026, will support WeRide’s expansion of its commercial autonomous fleet and integration into Grab’s platform to enhance safety, scalability, and operational efficiency.
The collaboration aims to integrate WeRide’s AV technology into Grab’s fleet management, dispatch, and routing systems while developing protocols for safety, uptime, and customer support. Both companies will also focus on upskilling Grab’s driver-partners and communities for AV-related roles. Building on a prior March 2025 memorandum of understanding, the partnership represents a scalable approach to autonomous mobility, combining WeRide’s AV expertise with Grab’s unmatched regional reach to accelerate safe and efficient Robotaxi deployment across Southeast Asia.
Hesai Wins Toyota Lidar Deal
Hesai Technology (Nasdaq: HSAI) has secured a design win from Toyota for its long-range ATX lidar, to be featured in a new-energy vehicle produced by Toyota’s China-based joint venture starting in 2026. The collaboration underscores Toyota’s push toward electrification and advanced driver-assistance systems, combining global engineering with Chinese innovation. Hesai’s ATX offers compact, high-performance lidar capabilities and is already slated for multiple OEM lineups in 2025–2026. The partnership marks a significant expansion of Hesai’s presence in Japan’s auto industry and aims to set new standards for intelligent, safe, and comfortable driving experiences in the mass market.
Coco Robotics, Prime Video & Omnicom
Coco Robotics has partnered with Prime Video and Omnicom Media Group to promote The Pickup, a heist comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer, premiering globally on August 6. The month-long campaign, launched July 21, transforms Coco’s fleet of autonomous delivery robots in Los Angeles into moving brand activations. The robots are wrapped in themed designs inspired by the film’s armored money trucks and play voice lines from the movie, creating an interactive, cinematic experience on city streets.
This high-visibility, tech-driven campaign reimagines out-of-home advertising by using Coco’s mobile fleet to deliver both goods and marketing impressions. The initiative utilizes proprietary tracking and analytics tools to measure engagement and reach, offering brands unique, real-time consumer interactions.
Omnicom describes the campaign as a future-forward blend of storytelling, robotics, and media, while a custom commercial featuring Coco’s robots in a heist scene will expand the campaign across social and digital platforms leading up to the film’s release.
ZAC’s Brain-Inspired AI Poised 4 Level-5 Self-Driving
Z Advanced Computing, Inc. (ZAC), a pioneer in Cognitive Explainable AI (CXAI), is gaining recognition for its breakthrough approach to artificial intelligence that surpasses conventional deep learning techniques such as Neural Networks and Deep CNNs—especially for enabling Level-5 autonomous driving. As reported by Automotive World (July 25, 2025), ZAC’s brain-inspired Concept Learning algorithms offer superior situational awareness, allowing systems to understand and respond to rare or unexpected events—essential for full autonomy.
ZAC’s CXAI technology achieves high performance using only a few training samples (5–50), unlike other models that require thousands or billions. The approach also drastically reduces energy, computational resources, and carbon footprint, removing the need for tele-operators, geofencing, or exhaustive simulated data.
Validated by projects with the U.S. Air Force and Bosch/BSH, ZAC’s tech excels in detailed 3D image recognition from any viewpoint. The company owns over 450 inventions and 14 issued U.S. patents, recognized by The Royal Society for its “Key Patents in AI.”
Founded by Dr. Saied Tadayon, a Cornell prodigy and AI pioneer, ZAC is supported by a distinguished advisory board, including Nobel Laureates and inventors of foundational technologies such as LASIK and Fuzzy Logic. Its AI applications span autonomous vehicles, security, medical imaging, satellite analysis, manufacturing, and smart infrastructure—positioning ZAC as a transformative force in the next wave of intelligent systems.
Baidu and Lyft in Europe in 2026
Baidu and Lyft have announced a strategic partnership to deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) across Europe, marking Baidu’s international expansion and Lyft’s evolution into a major AV platform. The initial rollout is planned for Germany and the UK in 2026, pending regulatory approval, with thousands of autonomous, fully electric RT6 vehicles to follow across the continent.
Apollo Go, which has delivered over 11 million rides across 15 Chinese cities, brings its sixth-generation AV technology and real-world experience to the collaboration. Lyft will operate the AV service through its platform, leveraging its recent acquisition of European ride-hailing company FREENOW, which provides a local footprint in over 180 cities.
The partnership will focus on four core pillars: AV deployment at scale, leveraging Apollo’s proven operational excellence; Lyft’s control of the customer experience and marketplace; regulatory integration through existing local relationships; and advancing a hybrid network where human drivers and AVs coexist.
This alliance aims to position Europe as a global leader in safe, sustainable, and scalable autonomous mobility.
HEVO & STEER 1st Wireless Autonomous EV Charging
Wireless EV charging provider HEVO and autonomous vehicle technology leader STEER Tech have announced a groundbreaking partnership to create the first fully integrated wireless autonomous charging system for commercial fleets. The solution will merge HEVO’s patented wireless charging platform with STEER’s precision navigation and docking software, enabling driverless vehicles to autonomously park, align with charging pads, and recharge without human intervention. Targeting depot operations, the system aims to eliminate manual charging logistics, reduce labor costs, and maximize fleet uptime. The first integration—featuring a Ford E-Transit equipped with STEER’s technology—will take place at HEVO’s Brooklyn headquarters, with public demonstrations planned for Fall 2025.