Latest news with #ridehailing
CNA
a day ago
- Automotive
- CNA
Waymo to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Dallas next year
Alphabet's Waymo said on Monday it will roll out its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas in 2026, accelerating its U.S. expansion as electric vehicle maker Tesla pushes to grow its recently launched robotaxi business. After years of cautious growth, Waymo has recently increased its pace, launching in new cities through partnerships with ride-hailing platforms and fleet operators. In Dallas, Waymo will operate through a new multi-year partnership with car rental company Avis Budget Group, which will manage fleet operations, including maintenance and depot infrastructure, Waymo said in a blog. Waymo currently serves more than 250,000 paid trips every week with about 1,500 vehicles in cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. This year, Waymo began its service in Austin exclusively on the Uber platform, months before Tesla started a limited robotaxi trial in the city with about a dozen Model Y SUVs and a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company will rapidly expand its robotaxi services to other U.S. cities and is seeking regulatory approval from California, Nevada, Florida, and Arizona. Commercializing autonomous vehicles has been challenging, with several companies such as GM's Cruise shutting down after collisions, recalls, and federal investigations. Amazon-backed Zoox is among the few still operating, preparing to launch commercial services later this year. Until Tesla's Austin trial, Waymo was the only company to operate paid driverless taxis in the United States. Rides will be available through the Waymo app. The company is also planning launches in Miami and Washington, D.C., in 2026 as part of its broader national rollout.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Waymo to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Dallas next year
(Reuters) -Alphabet's Waymo said on Monday it will roll out its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas in 2026, accelerating its U.S. expansion as electric vehicle maker Tesla pushes to grow its recently launched robotaxi business. After years of cautious growth, Waymo has recently increased its pace, launching in new cities through partnerships with ride-hailing platforms and fleet operators. In Dallas, Waymo will operate through a new multi-year partnership with car rental company Avis Budget Group, which will manage fleet operations, including maintenance and depot infrastructure, Waymo said in a blog. Waymo currently serves more than 250,000 paid trips every week with about 1,500 vehicles in cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. This year, Waymo began its service in Austin exclusively on the Uber platform, months before Tesla started a limited robotaxi trial in the city with about a dozen Model Y SUVs and a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company will rapidly expand its robotaxi services to other U.S. cities and is seeking regulatory approval from California, Nevada, Florida, and Arizona. Commercializing autonomous vehicles has been challenging, with several companies such as GM's Cruise shutting down after collisions, recalls, and federal investigations. Amazon-backed Zoox is among the few still operating, preparing to launch commercial services later this year. Until Tesla's Austin trial, Waymo was the only company to operate paid driverless taxis in the United States. Rides will be available through the Waymo app. The company is also planning launches in Miami and Washington, D.C., in 2026 as part of its broader national rollout. The collaboration is part of Avis' broader strategy to evolve from a traditional rental car company into a mobility services provider. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
a day ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Waymo to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Dallas next year
July 28 (Reuters) - Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Waymo said on Monday it will roll out its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas in 2026, accelerating its U.S. expansion as electric vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab pushes to grow its recently launched robotaxi business. After years of cautious growth, Waymo has recently increased its pace, launching in new cities through partnerships with ride-hailing platforms and fleet operators. In Dallas, Waymo will operate through a new multi-year partnership with car rental company Avis Budget Group (CAR.O), opens new tab, which will manage fleet operations, including maintenance and depot infrastructure, Waymo said in a blog. Waymo currently serves more than 250,000 paid trips every week with about 1,500 vehicles in cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. This year, Waymo began its service in Austin exclusively on the Uber platform, months before Tesla started a limited robotaxi trial in the city with about a dozen Model Y SUVs and a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company will rapidly expand its robotaxi services to other U.S. cities and is seeking regulatory approval from California, Nevada, Florida, and Arizona. Commercializing autonomous vehicles has been challenging, with several companies such as GM's Cruise shutting down after collisions, recalls, and federal investigations. Amazon-backed (AMZN.O), opens new tab Zoox is among the few still operating, preparing to launch commercial services later this year. Until Tesla's (TSLA.O), opens new tab Austin trial, Waymo was the only company to operate paid driverless taxis in the United States. Rides will be available through the Waymo app. The company is also planning launches in Miami and Washington, D.C., in 2026 as part of its broader national rollout. The collaboration is part of Avis' broader strategy to evolve from a traditional rental car company into a mobility services provider.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi: Ride-hailing apps complete over 32mln trips in Q2 2025
RIYADH — The Transport General Authority (TGA) announced on Sunday that ride-hailing applications in Saudi Arabia recorded over 32 million completed trips during the second quarter of 2025, marking a 104% increase compared to the same period last year. According to the TGA's latest sector index, more than 263,000 drivers are now registered on ride-hailing platforms — a growth rate of 81% — underscoring the rising popularity of digital transport services in the Kingdom. The number of operating platforms reached 15,300, reflecting an 87% year-on-year increase. Regionally, Riyadh accounted for the highest share of total trips at 41%, followed by Makkah at 22.5%, the Eastern Province at 15.7%, and Madinah at 6.1%. Other regions included Asir (3.4%), Qassim (3.2%), Tabuk (2.7%), Hail (1.9%), Jazan (1.3%), Najran (0.7%), Al-Jouf (0.6%), Northern Borders (0.3%), and Al-Baha (0.3%). The authority emphasized its ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and reliability of ride-hailing services across the Kingdom. The initiative aims to ensure high standards of efficiency and user satisfaction in response to growing demand nationwide. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla fans want in on the latest exclusive club: Robotaxi access
Access to Tesla's robotaxi service is limited to invites only. Some of the invites have gone to Tesla influencers with large online followings. Tesla investors told Business Insider that Robotaxi represents a pivotal moment for the company. There's a new hot ticket in Tesla fandom, and there's no surefire way of getting it: access to the company's autonomous ride-hailing service, Robotaxi. At the end of June, Tesla deployed a pilot launch of the much-anticipated robotaxi platform in Austin. The service started small, with about 10 to 20 Model Ys. A safety monitor sits in the front passenger seat, and a geofence initially covered about 30 square miles of the city. Though people in Austin can already try a robotaxi with Alphabet's Waymo on the Uber app, that hasn't stopped some of the lucky few who snagged access to Robotaxi from traveling more than a thousand miles just to experience Tesla's service. "I did about seven rides," John Stringer, a San Francisco Bay Area resident and founder of Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley, told Business Insider. "I was [in Austin] for like 48 hours." Stringer told BI that he experienced Robotaxi on the first day of its launch about a month ago. He said he did a ride-along with other Tesla influencers who received Day One access. About a week later, Stringer said he also received an invite. "I was just speechless," he said of his experience. "Not that I teared up or anything. I've been following Tesla hardcore for seven years, and it's just a big moment." On X, Tesla influencers and fans with large followings proudly announced their invitations on the social media platform, almost like a rite of passage. Posts are often accompanied by a screenshot of the email, proving its authenticity. "You're Invited to Early Access to Tesla Robotaxi!" the subject line reads. Though some Tesla fans who received an invite have made it a point to avoid speaking to reporters, Business Insider was able to try Robotaxi through a local Austin resident who invests in Tesla and received early access. BI previously reported that the rides were mostly smooth but encountered three disengagements, or moments when a remote Tesla rider support agent had to address an issue. A 'big moment' for owners and investors On Friday evening, hundreds of Tesla owners and fans gathered at the San Mateo County Event Center, 20 miles south of San Francisco, for a two-day festival dedicated to "Tesla, EVs, and SpaceX enthusiasts." Stringer's club organized the event. With rows of Tesla sedans and Cybertrucks parked in unison, the empty lot of the center began to look like a Tesla dealership. Starman, the astronaut dummy SpaceX launched into space in 2018, floated above the cars. "If you've been a Tesla owner and investor, this is a big moment," Stringer said of Robotaxi's arrival. "This is the moment where it's no longer Amazon bookstore. This is like the Tesla car company going fully autonomous." For Stringer and other Tesla fans who spoke with BI, the arrival of Robotaxi almost represents a vindication of their choice to believe in a company that has faced near bankruptcy and is, in their view, a constant target of negative media headlines. "I think the mainstream media is so skewed toward any news about Tesla," Rhajib Bhakat, a San Francisco-based engineer and Tesla investor, said. "For somebody who is not experiencing [Tesla] on a day-to-day basis, they have no way of knowing: Is he right? Or are these Tesla fanboys? How do you evaluate it?" "If I'm an investor, I would want to understand where this industry is headed. Am I putting my money in the right place?" Bhakat continued, "So the only way to experience it, for me, is to try it out." Read the original article on Business Insider
