Zoox Wins Robotaxi Approval as Uber Commits $10 Billion to AVs
Zoox wins approval to charge for robotaxi rides as Uber commits $10 billion to 120,000 driverless vehicles and Moove raises $250 million for AV fleets.
Summary
From August 10, Amazon-owned Zoox can charge for rides under a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration exemption covering 2,500 steering-wheel-free, pedal-free vehicles for two years. It already carries passengers in Las Vegas and San Francisco, with early-rider programs coming to Miami and Austin; the decision could benefit Tesla’s two-seat Cybercab. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi committed $10 billion “over the coming years” for 120,000 driverless vehicles. Dubai-based Moove raised $250 million at a $2.1 billion valuation to expand as Waymo’s fleet operator in Phoenix, Miami, Las Vegas and eventually London. It owns 42,000 vehicles in 13 countries, plans about 350 hires and Waymo robotaxi purchases, and owns an unnamed company’s robotaxi assets.
Hadrian raised $1.37 billion at a $7.87 billion valuation; River, $120 million Series C; Chargepoly, €23 million, or $26 million; Advanced Electric Machines Group, £16 million, or $21.5 million, plus Innovate UK loans; and Matel Motion & Energy Solutions, INR 130 crore, or $13.6 million, Series B. Accell Group Holding entered insolvency after a KKR-led consortium bought it for €1.56 billion, then $1.77 billion, in 2022.
Ford’s Fathom midsize EV starts at $28,350 in 2027. Blade Air Mobility lifted Joby Aviation’s revenue; losses narrowed to $245 million. Joby and Travis Kalanick’s Atoms plan air-taxi and autonomous-vehicle hubs in Florida, New York, Texas and California. Lucid CEO Silvio Napoli targets four priorities and $1.4 billion savings; its Uber and Nuro robotaxi program continues, but Cosmos slipped to late 2027. Nvidia released commercially licensed Alpamayo 2 Super on Hugging Face. Teamsters California sued California’s DMV over self-driving truck economic analysis; Waymo opened Dallas robotaxis to everyone. Tesla and SpaceX committed $16.8 billion initially to Texas chip factory Terafab. Uber faces more than 4,000 passenger sexual-violence lawsuits. Atoms raised $1.7 billion and hired former Uber finance chief Gautam Gupta as CFO.
Positives
- Zoox’s August 10 exemption permits commercial operation of as many as 2,500 purpose-built robotaxis for two years.
- Uber’s $10 billion commitment targets deployment of 120,000 driverless vehicles over the coming years.
- Moove’s $250 million Series C, led by Mubadala with Woven Capital and Ion Pacific, valued it at $2.1 billion and supports 350 hires.
- Nvidia’s Alpamayo 2 Super is commercially available on Hugging Face for adaptation and redistribution by vehicle developers and automakers.
- Waymo eliminated its Dallas waitlist, opening robotaxi service to all residents and visitors.
Risks & concerns
- Accell Group Holding entered insolvency four years after a KKR-led consortium acquired the bicycle maker for €1.56 billion.
- Lucid delayed its Cosmos midsize EV until the second half of 2027 while pursuing $1.4 billion in cost savings.
- Joby Aviation still recorded a $245 million net loss despite revenue growth following its Blade Air Mobility acquisition.
- More than 4,000 passengers have sued Uber, alleging it failed to protect them from sexual violence.
- Teamsters California sued the California DMV, alleging inadequate analysis and disclosure of self-driving trucks’ economic effects.
