PumpWatch will provide UK fuel price data to driving apps

The UK Government's new PumpWatch initiative aims to make fuel prices available to the public through price comparison sites and map apps. Fuel retailers will have to share prices within 30 minutes of changes under the proposed rules.

Ministers met with leaders from top motoring sites like RAC and The AA today to discuss sharing the new fuel price data. The new initiative aims to increase competition and reduce prices at the pumps by empowering consumers to find the cheapest...

11 March 2024 | Applications

Waymo expands robotaxi operations to Austin

Waymo – the self-driving technology firm under Google-owner Alphabet – is set to launch its Waymo One service in Austin, marking the latest expansion of its robotaxi operations.

Following successful ventures in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, Waymo's move into the Texas capital underscores its ambition to establish itself as a leader in autonomous transportation.

Announced in August 2023, Austin was designated as the fourth city for Waymo One and the company...

6 March 2024 | Applications

Self-driving shuttle arrives in Sunderland

The debut of the self-driving Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) aims to revolutionise urban mobility in the city.

SAMS, which arrived in Sunderland recently, promises to redefine how residents and visitors navigate the city streets. This autonomous shuttle, set to hit the roads this spring, represents a milestone in Sunderland's journey towards embracing self-driving technology.

Sunderland's Mayor, Councillor Dorothy Trueman, said: “We are thrilled to welcome...

4 March 2024 | 5G

San Francisco mob sets fire to Waymo vehicle

An angry mob destroyed a Waymo self-driving taxi in San Francisco on Monday night. The incident occurred around 9pm local time when a group of approximately 20 individuals surrounded the stationary Waymo vehicle.

https://twitter.com/SFFDPIO/status/1756581720399520077

While footage of the event has surfaced online, it remains unclear what prompted the mob to destroy the vehicle. Speculation has arisen following a recent incident involving a Waymo vehicle colliding with a...

12 February 2024 | Connected Vehicles

Key figures depart Cruise amid robotaxi incidents

Daniel Kan, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Cruise – the autonomous car firm backed by General Motors – has resigned. This development closely follows the departure of Cruise's CEO and fellow co-founder, Kyle Vogt, who made his resignation announcement just a day prior.

The departure of both key figures comes in the wake of a series of safety incidents involving Cruise's driverless cars on the streets of San Francisco, where the company is headquartered.

One...

21 November 2023 | Applications

Cruise enhances its robotaxis for safer emergency vehicle interactions

Smart mobility firm Cruise is aiming to improve safety by enhancing how its robotaxis handles interactions with emergency vehicles.

Cruise has amassed a wealth of data of over five million miles of driverless journeys that it uses to demonstrate the capacity of autonomous vehicles to enhance road safety when compared to conventional human driving. However, there are documented cases of autonomous vehicles getting in the way of emergency responders to various...

13 October 2023 | Applications

Cruise is ‘days away’ from Origin robotaxi mass production

General Motors' Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck are on the cusp of mass-producing the Cruise Origin, a driverless vehicle designed to transport up to six passengers.

Cruise is GM's self-driving subsidiary headquartered in San Francisco, which already operates in several cities across the US.

The Cruise Origin is devoid of manual steering controls or pedals and is designed to operate entirely through autonomous technology. However, that’s presented a significant...

8 September 2023 | Connected Vehicles

San Francisco robotaxis get the green light to operate 24/7

Google's Waymo and General Motors' Cruise have both received the green light from California's regulatory body to implement 24/7 fare-based services for fully driverless rides in San Francisco.

The pivotal decision was made by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which voted 3 to 1 in favour of granting the expansion of driverless services for the two tech giants. The CPUC says it meticulously evaluated the companies' adherence to licensing requisites and considered...

11 August 2023 | Connected Vehicles

Waymo announces Austin as its fourth major city

Waymo, the self-driving technology company under Google’s parent company Alphabet, has officially announced Austin as its fourth major ride-hail city.

Austin will be joining the ranks of Metro Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as Waymo continues to expand and accelerate its business.

Over the past few months, Waymo's team has been conducting extensive testing in and around downtown Austin, utilising their all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.

The goal of...

4 August 2023 | Connected Vehicles

DoJ charges former Apple engineer with stealing autonomous car secrets

A former Apple engineer has been charged by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for stealing trade secrets relating to autonomous cars.

The indictment was unsealed by a federal court in California, revealing the case as part of a broader crackdown on efforts by hostile nation-states to illicitly acquire sensitive US technology for their own purposes.

The accused individual, Weibao Wang, was hired by Apple in 2016 as a software engineer for their autonomous driving project...

17 May 2023 | Connected Vehicles