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Avride Partners with Hyundai to Expand Robotaxi Fleet

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Self-driving technology startup Avride has announced a strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Co to expand its fleet of robotaxis. Under the deal, Avride will incorporate 100 Hyundai IONIQ 5 cars into its fleet this year, with plans to grow further by 2026 as the company seeks to enhance its autonomous vehicle services and expand into new regions.

Avride, based in Texas, is joining a growing group of companies advancing autonomous vehicle technology and expanding their fleet of robotaxis. This includes Tesla, which is preparing to launch its own autonomous ride-hailing service in California and Texas, and Alphabet’s Waymo, which recently rolled out its robotaxi service on Uber’s platform in Austin.

As part of the partnership, Avride’s IONIQ 5 cars will be retrofitted with the company’s self-driving technology and used exclusively on Uber’s platform in Dallas, Texas. These vehicles will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Metaplant facility in Georgia, and the two companies also aim to explore autonomous delivery services using Avride’s technology.

Avride’s connection with Hyundai is not new, as the startup was previously part of Russian company Yandex’s self-driving division and has collaborated with Hyundai’s automotive supply unit in the past to develop systems for autonomous vehicles.

Lyft to Launch Mobileye-Powered Robotaxis in Dallas by 2026

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Lyft (LYFT.O) has announced plans to roll out fully autonomous robotaxis in Dallas, powered by Mobileye’s technology (MBLY.O), “as soon as 2026,” according to CEO David Risher. The announcement led to a 4.6% rise in Lyft’s shares, while Mobileye’s stock surged by 17%.

As automakers and tech companies heavily invest in driverless technology, the move is seen as a significant step toward the future of mobility. Lyft’s larger competitor, Uber (UBER.N), has already partnered with Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, which plans to launch a self-driving taxi service in Austin, Texas, exclusively on Uber’s platform next month.

Marubeni, a Japanese conglomerate experienced in managing fleets, will finance and own the Mobileye-equipped vehicles, which will be available for rides through Lyft’s app. This partnership follows Mobileye’s announcement in November that it would collaborate with Lyft to bring autonomous vehicles to the ride-hailing network.

Waymo has already expanded its autonomous ride-hailing service to several cities, including Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin, with further plans for expansion in 2025. Meanwhile, Tesla (TSLA.O) is set to begin testing its driverless technology in Austin this June, though it has not yet outlined details for a paid service. Lyft’s robotaxi plans were first reported by TechCrunch.

Waymo to Expand Autonomous Driving Tests to Over 10 New Cities

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Alphabet’s self-driving unit, Waymo, announced plans on Wednesday to expand its autonomous driving technology testing to over 10 new cities in 2025. Following successful trials of its Waymo Driver in various locations, the company is now preparing to test its technology in additional urban environments, including San Diego and Las Vegas, among other cities to be revealed later.

Waymo has already conducted trials in regions such as Truckee, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Upstate New York, and Tokyo, and reports that its technology has successfully adapted to these diverse settings. The new expansion will involve a limited fleet of vehicles, with trained human specialists behind the wheel at all times. Testing will begin with manual driving through the most complex areas of each city, such as city centers and freeways.

Initially, fewer than 10 vehicles will be deployed to each location, where they will be manually driven for a few months to evaluate the technology’s performance. This marks a strategic move as Waymo aims to strengthen its autonomous ride-hailing services, having already expanded to Miami, Florida, in December. The company is under close scrutiny from safety regulators, following several incidents involving autonomous driving technology.

In October, Waymo closed a $5.6 billion funding round led by its parent company, Google, as part of its efforts to scale its autonomous services in an increasingly competitive market.