Yazılar

Stellantis partners with Pony.ai to develop self-driving vehicles in Europe

/in /tarafından

Stellantis and Pony.ai announced on Friday a new partnership to jointly develop and test autonomous electric vehicles across Europe. The collaboration aims to bring SAE Level 4 self-driving capabilities—meaning hands-off and eyes-off driving—to Stellantis’ next-generation electric vans.

The project will integrate Pony.ai’s advanced autonomous driving software with Stellantis’ battery-electric medium-sized van platform, beginning with the Peugeot e-Traveller model. Initial testing will take place in Luxembourg before expanding to multiple European cities starting in 2026.

Founded in 2016, Pony.ai operates fully driverless robotaxi services in several major Chinese cities and will manage the European initiative through its Luxembourg-based division.

The partnership will initially focus on light commercial vehicles (LCVs)—a segment where Stellantis’ Pro One division already holds a dominant market position in Europe. Both companies said the collaboration will prioritize safety, performance, and regulatory compliance, ensuring the technology meets Europe’s evolving standards for autonomous mobility.

The move underscores Stellantis’ ambition to lead the electrification and automation of commercial transport, blending software innovation from Asia with European engineering expertise.

Waymo to launch driverless ride-hailing service in London in 2026

/in /tarafından

Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Waymo, announced plans to launch its fully driverless ride-hailing service in London next year, marking its first major expansion into Europe. The company, which has been gradually scaling operations in the United States, aims to bring its robotaxi technology to one of the world’s most densely regulated urban environments.

Waymo said it will partner with vehicle financing firm Moove to manage fleet operations, facilities, and charging infrastructure in London. The company is also working closely with local and national authorities to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals ahead of the launch. According to a spokesperson, vehicles are already en route to London, where they will initially be tested with safety drivers before transitioning to full autonomy in 2026.

In the U.S., Waymo currently provides over 250,000 paid trips weekly across cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin, with a fleet of roughly 1,500 vehicles. The company has also been expanding internationally, collecting data in Tokyo earlier this year in collaboration with Japanese partners Nihon Kotsu and Go.

The move comes amid intensifying competition in the autonomous transport sector, as Tesla prepares to debut its long-promised robotaxi service and Uber plans to trial fully driverless rides in the UK in partnership with AI startup Wayve. Despite regulatory challenges and technical setbacks in the U.S., Waymo’s London project signals renewed momentum for commercializing self-driving technology.

Musk’s new Tesla pay deal could earn billions even without “Mars-shot” breakthroughs

/in /tarafından

Elon Musk’s record-breaking $878 billion Tesla pay package, pitched as contingent on “Mars-shot” achievements, could still grant him tens of billions of dollars even if he misses the most ambitious goals, according to a Reuters analysis of the deal’s structure and expert evaluations.

When Tesla’s board approved the 10-year compensation plan in September, it told investors Musk would only earn shares by transforming Tesla and society through advances in AI, robotics, and autonomy. Yet performance experts say the plan’s vague definitions and lenient milestones could see Musk earning massive payouts without revolutionizing the company.

By achieving only a handful of easier targets—such as modest vehicle sales and incremental growth in Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions—Musk could collect more than $50 billion in Tesla stock. Even two minor achievements, paired with a $2.5 trillion valuation, would grant him $26 billion, more than the lifetime pay of several top U.S. CEOs combined.

Critics argue that goals like selling 1.2 million cars annually or reaching 10 million FSD subscriptions are achievable without breakthroughs in autonomy or robotics. Experts also noted that definitions of “advanced driving system” and “robot” are so broad that Musk could qualify for payouts without delivering true self-driving or humanoid robots.

Tesla’s board insists the package is “worth zero unless value doubles,” yet corporate governance analysts warn that the structure grants Musk huge rewards with minimal accountability. The hardest targets—profit milestones up to $400 billion—may be out of reach, but Tesla’s market value could still reach $2–3 trillion over a decade with average stock growth.

Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said the company’s valuation already hinges on “future products that don’t exist today.” Whether Musk delivers them—or merely the promise—will decide if shareholders’ faith pays off.