Autonomous Vehicle

Waymo is under NHTSA investigation after a driverless vehicle struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school. The child sustained minor injuries. Regulators are examining the AV’s caution near schools and Waymo’s response. This incident follows recent scrutiny regarding Waymo vehicles speeding in Los Angeles and illegally passing school buses in Austin, leading to separate NTSB and NHTSA probes. These events highlight the challenges and intense oversight of autonomous vehicle deployment.

Uber launched fully driverless robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi in partnership with WeRide, marking its fourth market and the first in the Middle East. Riders can request WeRide robotaxis via the Uber app. This follows previous autonomous ride initiatives with safety operators in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Uber plans to expand WeRide’s service to 15 more cities. This initiative reflects Uber’s broader strategy of collaborating with specialized companies to advance autonomous mobility solutions.

Foxconn reported a 17% year-over-year profit surge in Q3, driven by strong AI server demand. The company beat net profit estimates (NT$57.67B vs. NT$50.41B expected) while meeting revenue expectations. Foxconn is diversifying into AI infrastructure, partnering with Nvidia to manufacture high-performance server racks. The company anticipates continued growth, fueled by AI server shipments and ICT product demand, while also expanding into autonomous vehicles and energy-efficient AI data centers.

Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service is rapidly expanding, achieving over 250,000 weekly driverless rides as of October 31st, rivaling Google’s Waymo. Operating primarily in China, Apollo Go also plans international deployments. The company has fulfilled 17 million ride orders and driven 240 million kilometers, including 140 million driverless kilometers. Baidu emphasizes safety, reporting a low airbag deployment rate. Investors await Q3 earnings to assess Apollo Go’s financial impact and long-term strategy, amid intense competition in China’s autonomous driving sector.

Pony.ai has secured a permit for fully driverless commercial Robotaxi services in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, making it the only company with such permits in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The initial rollout will focus on the Jinqiao and Huamu business districts, located near Shanghai’s financial center. The operating zone in Pudong spans nearly 1,400 square kilometers with over 5 million residents. This demonstrates increasing regulatory trust and represents a major milestone for the company.