#autonomous-driving

#autonomous-driving

Wayve, the UK autonomous driving software startup, has raised $1.5 billion in funding at an $8.6 billion valuation as it prepares to go up against Chinese and US rivals to roll out self-driving taxis. The funding comprises $1.2 billion from lead investors Eclipse Ventures LLC, Balderton Capital and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Baillie Gifford and the British Business Bank among others.

It's tempting to frame autonomous driving as a single leap. In public transport, adoption tends to be incremental - because the system is built for reliability, and new capabilities have to fit into daily operations without disrupting service. That is why a practical strategy is evolution, not revolution: introduce autonomy in a defined domain, learn safely in real operations, and expand capability step-by-step.

General Motors has one of the broadest electric-vehicle lineups in the United States, spanning everything from compact crossovers to full-size trucks. But the manufacturer is already preparing the next stage of its EV evolution, and some changes will even appear on the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ. GM plans to roll out next-generation software with that model, which is also expected to be the first to feature lidar for more advanced autonomous driving capabilities and conversational AI.

The Estrel Berlin hotel hosted in 2025 around 1,500 participants, 150 speakers, and over 100 exhibitors, with more than 20 vehicles on display across 7,500 square meters of exhibition space. The event has grown from its origins as the "VDV Electric Bus Conference and Trade Fair ElekBu" into a hub where operators, manufacturers, service providers, public authorities, policymakers, and associations exchange ideas and explore the future of mobility.

Hyundai's decision to use its CES keynote to tout Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot sends a pretty clear message about how the auto industry is absorbing the bad news about EVs in the United States in 2025, and where it thinks things are heading in the new year. EVs are out, and AI and robotaxis are in. In addition to Hyundai, Mercedes announced its plans to roll out its Nvidia-powered Level 2++ driver assist feature in the US later this year.

The biggest macro factor for DRIV isn't consumer demand or battery costs. It's trade policy: tariffs and industrial incentives that determine where EVs get built and sold. DRIV holds $340 million in assets split between US tech giants and global automakers. When tariff threats emerge or federal EV tax credits shift, the fund's diverse holdings react differently. Watch for announcements from the Office of the US Trade Representative on Chinese EV and battery component tariffs. These typically surface quarterly or around major trade negotiations.

"Specifically, we are constantly reviewing sensor devices and layouts, further improving computing power, and making our End-to-End Driving AI stronger," said Izumi Kawanishi, president and COO of Sony Honda Mobility. "As a result, the cabin will evolve into a drive-less environment, reducing the task of manual driving, and providing more freedom to relax and enjoy entertainment content. In the future, the drive-less environment will transform the cabin into a true 'Creative Entertainment Space,'" Kawanishi said.

Here's the thing about CES, though: it showcases fantasies as much as it brings us what's next. People had VCRs (if you don't know what that is, go ask a grandparent or a nearby millennial) in their homes for decades. I am still waiting for flying cars to be a thing. Thus, it's good to take what you see at this show with a grain of salt. Or a gallon of it.

I opened the discussion by admitting that I have reversed my long-standing negative view on Ford and General Motors. Lee immediately agreed, pointing out that GM has been one of the strongest-performing auto stocks this year. The reason is simple. The EV growth narrative has cooled, and the market is refocusing on what actually sells cars in the United States.

The Gen.Urban is currently operating on a set route in Wolfsburg to observe passenger reactions to vehicles without a steering wheel. Volkswagen wants to enter the autonomous vehicle space and it plans to offer a self-driving ID. Buzz next year. More carmakers are looking at producing driverless robotaxis and Volkswagen wants to be at the forefront. The German giant has begun testing an autonomous cab in its hometown of Wolfsburg, Germany, without a steering wheel and pedals.

For months, Tesla's robotaxis in Austin and San Francisco have included safety monitors with access to a kill switch in case of emergency - a fallback that Waymo currently doesn't need for its commercial robotaxi service. The safety monitor sits in the passenger seat in Austin, and in the driver seat in San Francisco. Neither service is fully open to the public yet, relying instead on customer waitlists.

We had a fit-for-purpose car with a redundant architecture, with all the safety required for this type of application, Boussaid said.

I wake up between 6:30 and 7 a.m. I don't use an alarm clock because I hate them. The first thing I do is turn on the "Today" show, grab my phone, and have a cup of black coffee. Everyone says, "Don't get right on your phone in the morning," but I love getting on my phone for at least 30 minutes to check emails and catch up.