[250812] #Zoox #Mercedez-Benz #Volkswagen

Vol. 243 | 2025.08.12

Category	Company	Article
Autonomous driving	Zoox	Amazon Zoox’s self-driving taxi gets NHTSA green light
Self-driving	Mercedez-Benz, Nvidia	Autonomous surprise as Mercedes-Benz + Nvidia testing spotted in Hell’s Kitchen
Autonomous driving	Volkswagen, Bosch	Volkswagen and Bosch want to democratize autonomous driving
Autonomous trucking	PlusAI, Goodyear	PlusAI and Goodyear collaborate to enhance the safety and efficiency features of autonomous trucks
Autonomous trucking	Komatsu, Pronto	Komatsu, Pronto partner for autonomous haulage in North American quarries

Amazon Zoox’s self-driving taxi gets NHTSA green light

📌 Regulatory progress positions Zoox closer to commercial deployment of its purpose-built autonomous taxi.

• NHTSA granted Zoox an exemption under the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program, enabling public road demos without conventional driving controls.

• This marks the first U.S.-built vehicle approved under the expanded AVEP, previously limited to imported AVs.

• The decision removes a regulatory barrier for Zoox, though commercial operation is not yet authorized.

• Zoox has tested in multiple U.S. cities and formed partnerships with venues in Las Vegas.

• Its website says services in San Francisco, Miami and Austin are “coming soon”.

• NHTSA closed a prior investigation into Zoox’s self-certification as part of the exemption terms.

• The ruling signals faster review and approval for innovative autonomous vehicle designs in the U.S. market.

 

Autonomous surprise as Mercedes-Benz + Nvidia
testing spotted in Hell’s Kitchen

📌 Mercedes-Benz and NVIDIA are extending autonomous testing to NYC, aiming for Level 3 automation readiness.

• A Mercedes-Benz sedan equipped with advanced sensors and NVIDIA DRIVE Orin was spotted testing in Manhattan.

• NVIDIA’s DRIVE Orin chip provides the computing power necessary for advanced AI-based driving.

• The system, integrated with the MB.OS platform, targets Level 3 conditional automation in the near future.

• This marks a geographic expansion from the companies’ primary testing base in California to New York City.

• The vehicle was operating with a safety driver and passengers, not yet in fully driverless mode.

• State law in New York still prohibits fully autonomous operation.

• The partnership focuses on developing software-defined vehicles with scalable autonomous capabilities.

 

Volkswagen and Bosch want to democratize autonomous driving

📌Volkswagen and Bosch aim to democratize automated driving with scalable AI-driven solutions for everyday vehicles.

• Volkswagen’s Cariad software unit and Bosch are jointly developing AI-based automated driving technology for mass-market vehicles.

• A test VW ID.Buzz successfully drove at 110 km/h on a busy freeway in poor weather conditions.

• The partnership, called the Automated Driving Alliance, targets Level 2 automation in 2025 and Level 3 in the future once legal frameworks allow.

• The project emphasizes affordability and scalability, aiming to move beyond premium-only ADAS offerings.

• Plans include using data from 20 test vehicles globally and potentially from 45 million VW cars with owner consent.

• The collaboration also seeks to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on U.S. tech suppliers.

• Their approach focuses on bundling and optimizing existing technologies rather than inventing entirely new solutions.

• Volkswagen’s high production volume enables cost-effective deployment to a broad customer base.

PlusAI and Goodyear collaborate to enhance
the safety and efficiency features of autonomous trucks

📌PlusAI and Goodyear are combining autonomous driving and tire intelligence to advance next-gen autonomous freight.

• PlusAI is partnering with Goodyear to integrate SightLine intelligent tire technology into its SuperDrive autonomous trucking system.

• SightLine provides real-time data on tire health, road conditions, and friction to improve safety and efficiency.

• The collaboration aims to enhance SuperDrive’s performance for factory-built autonomous trucks ahead of a 2027 commercial launch.

• PlusAI has accumulated over five million autonomous miles across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

• The company partners with major OEMs such as TRATON, Hyundai, and IVECO for scalable deployment.

• The OEM-led approach enables factory-built, validated autonomous trucks rather than aftermarket retrofits.

• PlusAI’s ecosystem of collaborators supports rigorous validation and real-world performance.

• The integration targets reduced operating costs, increased reliability, and optimized performance in varied environments.

Komatsu, Pronto partner for autonomous haulage
in North American quarries

📌Komatsu and Pronto are bringing scalable, safer autonomous haulage to quarries, boosting efficiency and safety.

• Komatsu partners with Pronto to introduce an autonomous haulage system for quarry operations in North America.

• The Komatsu Smart Quarry Autonomous system integrates Pronto’s AI and sensor suite into haul trucks, supporting retrofit and factory-equipped options.

• The solution aims to enhance productivity and safety by removing operators from hazardous quarry environments.

• Autonomous trucks enable continuous 24/7 operations with improved fuel efficiency and operational consistency.

• The system integrates with Komatsu’s Smart Quarry analytics for better operational visibility and control.

• Pronto’s platform makes advanced autonomy accessible to quarries of all sizes, not just large mines.

* Contents above are the opinion of ChatGPT, not an individual nor company

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