Vueron Newsletter
No. 201
2025.05.02
| Waymo to begin testing robotaxis on Tokyo public roads | ||
| Self-driving | Nissan’s 2027 self-driving tech promises to be more ‘human-like’ than ever | |
| LiDAR | RoboSense Ranked No. 1 in Global Passenger Car LiDAR Market Share, Annual and Cumulative Sales in 2024 | |
| Tariffs Are the Great Equalizer. Autonomous Trucking Will Be the Brand Differentiator | ||
| Rocsys shows off its tech with a new self-charging, self-driving electric truck |
1. Waymo to begin testing robotaxis on Tokyo public roads
- Waymo will start autonomous vehicle testing in central Tokyo, its first international deployment.
- The test will involve trained drivers from Nihon Kotsu manually operating the vehicles to gather data and refine Waymo’s system for local traffic conditions.
- This project is a continuation of Waymo’s partnership with Nihon Kotsu and taxi app provider GO.
- Waymo trained both companies on fleet management and emergency response protocols.
- Community engagement and collaboration with local authorities are part of Waymo’s expansion strategy in Japan.
- In the U.S., Waymo currently operates over 200,000 fully autonomous rides weekly in cities including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
- In 2025, Waymo expanded to Austin via the Uber app and plans to enter Miami, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.
- Despite the shutdown of Cruise, Waymo faces competition from Zoox and Nuro, both of which continue development in California and Nevada.
Waymo will begin testing its autonomous vehicles on public roads in Tokyo, marking its first deployment outside the U.S. and a major step in global expansion through partnerships with Nihon Kotsu and GO.
2. Nissan’s 2027 self-driving tech promises to be more ‘human-like’ than ever
- Nissan is developing a next-gen version of its ProPILOT autonomous driving system, set to launch in 2027.
- The system introduces a new capability called “Ground Truth Perception”, aimed at enabling real-time reaction to sudden road hazards.
- It will integrate advanced LiDAR, radar, and a wide array of cameras for high-level environmental perception.
- The core intelligence comes from Wayve’s generative AI driving engine, trained on massive data sets and virtual scenarios.
- Wayve’s AI enables the system to react with “human-like” decision-making, enhancing safety in unpredictable situations.
- The sensor suite includes nine cameras, LiDAR, multiple radars, and long-range rear sensing equipment.
- Key features include automatic lane changes and emergency evasive maneuvers such as hard braking or swerving.
- Nissan claims the new ProPILOT system could set a new industry standard for autonomous driving responsiveness.
3. RoboSense Ranked No. 1 in Global Passenger Car LiDAR Market Share, Annual and Cumulative Sales in 2024
- According to Yole Group’s latest report, RoboSense ranked No. 1 globally in 2024 for passenger car LiDAR market share with 26%.
- The company also led annual and cumulative ADAS LiDAR sales, with over 519,800 units sold in 2024 and more than 800,000 units sold between 2018–2024.
- RoboSense has established partnerships with over 30 OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, including BYD, Zeekr, IM, and Toyota, across 100+ vehicle models.
- LiDAR adoption is accelerating globally, with 1.6 million units deployed in 2024 and Chinese brands accounting for 92% of the global share.
- RoboSense is rapidly expanding outside China with 8 overseas and joint-venture OEM partners across Europe, the U.S., and Japan.
- In the L4 Robotaxi market, 6 of 10 top companies have adopted RoboSense’s LiDAR, supporting the transition from pilots to commercial deployment.
- The company offers the industry’s most complete LiDAR product portfolio, including mechanical, 1D/2D hybrid, and solid-state systems.
- RoboSense leads in full-stack chip development and was the first to ship over 1 million LiDAR units, reinforcing its position as a global tech leader.
RoboSense secured the top global position in 2024 for passenger car LiDAR market share, annual and cumulative ADAS LiDAR sales, highlighting its strong performance, expanding partnerships, and full-stack technology leadership.
4. Tariffs Are the Great Equalizer. Autonomous Trucking Will Be the Brand Differentiator
- Gatik CEO Gautam Narang emphasizes that in a margin-squeezed economy, brand loyalty is earned by protecting customers from rising prices, not by marketing.
- Rising tariffs and inflation are exposing inefficiencies in retailers’ supply chains, forcing them to seek new cost-saving strategies.
- Gatik’s autonomous middle-mile trucks serve as a cost-efficient solution by transporting goods between warehouses and retail stores along fixed routes.
- Major retail clients such as Walmart, Kroger, and Tyson use Gatik to improve logistics speed and consistency while reducing labor and fuel costs.
- Gatik helps establish operational loops in eCommerce logistics, enabling multiple daily deliveries to maintain stock availability and price control.
- U.S. consumer data shows that 70% of shoppers have changed grocery habits and 35% have switched retailers due to price volatility.
- Automation of the middle mile, which can account for up to 40% of delivery costs, presents a major opportunity for retailers to improve margins and reliability.
- Gatik’s autonomous fleet is positioned as a key differentiator for brands aiming to stabilize supply chains and retain consumer trust under economic pressure.
Gatik argues that autonomous middle-mile trucking can help retailers offset rising tariff-driven logistics costs, maintain pricing stability, and preserve customer loyalty in a volatile economy.
5. Rocsys shows off its tech with a new self-charging, self-driving electric truck
- Rocsys held a live demonstration of a self-driving electric truck that autonomously navigated to a robotic charging station for automated charging.
- The event was part of the MAGPIE Initiative, funded by European Horizon 2020, aimed at creating sustainable “green ports.”
- Rocsys specializes in hands-free charging solutions using soft robotics, computer vision, and data-driven systems for commercial EVs and autonomous fleets.
- The truck, manufactured by DAF Trucks, drove autonomously within the port before engaging in self-charging using Rocsys’ robotic arm.
- The showcased solution is the first interoperable robotic hands-free charging platform for autonomous vehicles.
- The demonstration was held at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in Rotterdam, with participation from government officials and international port stakeholders.
- Rocsys’ technology is designed to support full autonomy in logistics, with potential applications in robotaxi, logistics, and industrial automation sectors.
- The event is seen as a milestone in automating port logistics and a preview of future deployment of automated trucks in industrial and public environments.
Rocsys showcased a fully electric autonomous truck with robotic hands-free charging at the Port of Rotterdam, marking a key step toward fully automated logistics and green port development under the MAGPIE Initiative.
*Contents above are the opinion of ChatGPT, not an individual nor company
