Journey-hailing firm Lyft is trying to launch absolutely self-driving robotaxis in a single U.S. metropolis by subsequent yr, based on a press release from the corporate’s high govt.
On Monday, Lyft CEO David Risher stated in a put up on X that the corporate is planning to launch absolutely autonomous robotaxis in Dallas, Texas “as quickly as 2026,” as backed by expertise from Mobileye. The Mobileye automobiles can be bought and owned by Japanese firm Marubeni, and the manager additionally says it’s going to make the most of its Flex Drive subsidiary for fleet administration.
“As quickly as 2026, Marubeni-owned vehicles with Mobileye AV tech will launch in Dallas
on the Lyft platform, with 1000’s extra AVs/different cities to comply with,” Risher wrote within the put up.
Upon deployment, the automobiles will start displaying up on the Lyft app for riders, and Risher additionally says the corporate will share extra information within the months to return.
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Tesla, Waymo and others engaged on business robotaxis
The information comes as Tesla additionally goals to enter the rising business robotaxi business with its lately unveiled Cybercabs, backed by its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software program. Elon Musk and Tesla Head of Design Franz von Holzhausen have each stated that Tesla will deploy the primary unsupervised variations of the FSD software program in Austin, Texas in June, following the disclosing of its steering wheel-less Cybercab in October.
Musk has additionally stated that he expects to unveiling autonomous ride-hailing in “many cities in America by the tip of this yr,” following the launch of the companies in Austin. Through the Q3 earnings name in October, Musk additionally stated that Tesla workers had already began testing ride-hailing companies within the Bay Space, permitting staff to request a trip and be taken wherever within the Bay.
Alphabet-owned robotaxi firm Waymo can also be set to launch its driverless ride-hailing automobiles in Austin subsequent month, set to be hosted solely on Lyft competitor Uber’s cellular platform. The corporate has additionally been working paid driverless rides for a number of months now via its Waymo One app in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, and Phoenix, Arizona, and it’s trying to develop to Miami, Florida and over 10 different new cities in 2025.
Different firms, together with the Amazon-owned firm Zoox, are aiming to roll out robotaxis all through this yr, although Waymo presently stays the one firm providing absolutely autonomous paid ride-hails.
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