In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Applied Intuition, Hesai, Plus, Tesla, Pony.ai and Wayve.
Applied Intuition Buys Ghost Autonomy Patents
“Our customers continue to be the top priority for us at Applied Intuition,” said Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition. “Acquiring Ghost Autonomy’s patent portfolio not only strengthens our competitive edge, but more importantly, it gives us greater freedom to innovate, grow our business, and accelerates our ability to push the boundaries of autonomous technology to better serve our customers.”
Hesai Tech for Leapmotor
Hesai Technology (NASDAQ: HSAI), a leader in lidar solutions, has secured an exclusive agreement to supply long-range lidar for Leapmotor’s next-generation vehicle platform, set for mass production in 2025. This partnership builds on their earlier collaboration and aims to enhance intelligent driving capabilities in multiple new models.
Leapmotor’s current C-series includes Hesai’s AT128 lidar, enabling advanced features like Navigation Assist Pilot. Leapmotor has begun selling in Europe, with plans to increase its dealer network from 200 to 500 by the end of 2025. The partnership focuses on advancing driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and global technology applications.
Plus Wins Reuters DRIVE
-Plus, a global leader in autonomous driving software solutions, has been named a winner of the 2024 Reuters Automotive D.R.I.V.E. Honours for its Level 4 AI-based autonomous driving software, SuperDriveTM, in the Innovation category. The judging panel awarded Plus this distinction because of the company’s vision, impact, and scalability, calling SuperDrive a “game changer for real life autonomy use cases–bringing the tech to life.” Plus is being honored alongside industry leaders such as ARM, Hyundai, Polestar, and Stellantis this year.
Built on state-of-the-art AI technologies, including Generative AI and open foundation models, Plus’s SuperDrive Level 4 self-driving software makes it possible for vehicles to drive on their own and respond dynamically like a human driver. Plus is preparing SuperDrive for series production and safe and scalable global deployment on autonomous trucks with OEM partners including Hyundai Motor Company, Iveco Group, and Scania/MAN/International brands of the TRATON GROUP.
Small Amounts of Self-Driving Confidence
The automotive industry is seeing small signs of increased consumer confidence in fully automated self-driving vehicles, although overall confidence remains low, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Mobility Confidence Index (MCI) Study,℠ released today. After a two-year decline, the index score for consumer automated vehicle (AV) readiness increases 2 points to 39 (on a 100-point scale), which is where it was in 2022.
While the index has started to move in the right direction, the pace with which consumers accept the technology remains relatively flat among the general population and safety continues to affect consumer confidence. To drive positive change, 83% of consumers say they want more safety statistics regarding the technology before riding and 86% say they want the ability to take control of the vehicle if needed. Until these issues are addressed and consumer expectations are met, gains in consumer confidence with the technology will remain low.
“This year’s improvement is minimal because there are still many unmet needs required to boost consumer confidence,” said Lisa Boor, senior manager of auto benchmarking and mobility development at J.D. Power. “Repeated and consistent reporting of safety findings over time—with independent oversight—will aid acceptance. Furthermore, addressing persistent concerns regarding insurance costs and data privacy also are paramount.”
Data privacy and hacking remain top concerns as 64% of consumers express concern that the data collected in the vehicle is not safe and secure and 80% want to understand what is being done to prevent fully automated, self-driving vehicles from being hacked. In fact, this issue is becoming so important to consumers that 40% (definitely and probably will) indicated that the automakers’ data protection policy will be a reason to purchase one brand over another when shopping for their next vehicle.
“Consumers are increasingly concerned with data privacy and this study shows a strong link to fully automated self-driving vehicles,” said Bryan Reimer, Ph.D., research scientist in the AgeLab at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics and a founder of MIT’s Advanced Vehicle Technology (AVT) Consortium. “Data security and transparency regarding data use are becoming increasingly important as a foundation for building trust in technology and connected digital solutions. Trust is built over time but can be quickly eroded. The news media’s attention to a recent failure by one automotive manufacturer to safeguard drivers’ privacy is likely provoking anxiety among automotive consumers.”
Following are some key findings of the 2024 study:
- Drones in demand: This year’s study also measures consumer confidence with various ways that automated self-driving technology may be deployed for air transportation, including drones and air taxis (i.e., aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities). Confidence in having packages delivered using an automated drone is 34%, more than double the rate of riding in a fully automated, self-driving air taxi (16%).
- Insurance per ride unexpected: Nearly three-fourths (71%) of consumers say they don’t expect to acquire insurance on a pay-per-ride basis when utilizing a robotaxi service. More than half (57%) agree that the vehicle owner will need liability coverage for any fully automated, self-driving vehicle.
- Parents of teens want ADAS technology: Parents of teen drivers are roughly twice as comfortable letting them drive the household vehicle (50%) than ride in a robotaxi (26%) or use Uber teen (29%). However, 39% of parents say they want the household vehicle to be equipped with Active Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technology for safety reasons.
Attorney Cautions Tesla FSD Riders/Drivers
Attorney Amy Witherite, a traffic safety expert whose firm specializes in motor vehicle accidents, cautions that the newly announced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation into Tesla’s controversial full self-driving (FSD) technology may be a case of “too little, too late” given that millions of vehicles equipped with this technology are already on the road.
In one accident under investigation, a Tesla in the FSD mode fails to slow down or stop when approaching an active railroad crossing with signals activated and a freight train on the tracks. While it is foggy the train and warning lights can clearly be seen in Dashcam video.
“It is the wild-wild west when it comes to self-driving technology, robotaxis and autonomous vehicles of all kinds,” says Witherite whose law firm has more than thirty cases involving Tesla vehicles. “Regulators and lawmakers are so enamored with the technology they have failed to take significant action to make sure that it is carefully regulated and safe before it is put into use on our highways.”
Currently, there are no federal regulations specifically focused on autonomous vehicles, although they must meet broader safety rules. The NHTSA has little power to review technology on vehicles before they are sold to the public.
One of the biggest challenges in terms of safety and regulation is that each company utilizes its proprietary technology for its self-driving systems. The use of proprietary technology will require extensive discovery by attorneys representing victims of accidents as well as technical expertise to interpret the data.
Tesla has twice recalled the FSD. “The ‘full self-driving’ recalls arrived after a three-year investigation into Tesla’s less-sophisticated Autopilot system crashing into emergency and other vehicles parked on highways, many with warning lights flashing. The NHTSA said it found 467 crashes involving Autopilot resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths.
“The bottom line is that these self-driving, autonomous and robotaxis are being tested on our nation’s streets and highways at the expense of public safety,” said Witherite. “Some commentators have suggested that the threat of lawsuits may be the only thing that reigns in companies bent on monetizing this technology since state and local governments seem unwilling to act.”
The Witherite Law Group specializes in vehicle accident cases and offers crucial support for individuals involved in accidents with driverless vehicles. For more information visit their website. www.witheritelaw.com.
Pony.ai Mou in Luxembourg
Pony.ai Europe, the European division of Pony.ai, held a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony today with Emile Weber, Luxembourg’s and the Greater Region’s leading transport company, to advance the development of autonomous mobility in the Grand Duchy. The partnership between Pony.ai Europe and Emile Weber will jumpstart the research, development, and deployment of autonomous vehicles in Luxembourg and follows a March 2024 MoU with the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to advance autonomous mobility in the country.
Emile Weber is one of Luxembourg’s leading providers of mobility solutions and combines quality service with an innovative and responsible spirit, with main areas of activity including public and private transport, taxi services, the rental of various vehicles without drivers (camper vans, vans, commercial vehicles, etc.), and tourism with travel agencies and tour operators. Pony.ai Europe and Emile Weber share the belief that autonomous mobility has an important role in the future of Luxembourg’s transportation ecosystem.
This MoU is another milestone in Pony.ai’s expansion into Europe in 2024. In March 2024, Pony.ai announced the signing of an MoU with the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to advance autonomous mobility in the country. In September 2024, Pony.ai formally established Pony.ai Europe and its European hub in Luxembourg, which will serve as a center for Pony.ai’s cutting-edge research and development of autonomous vehicle technology. Pony.ai’s Luxembourg-based hub will be pivotal in driving technological advancements and tailoring solutions for the European market. As a global leader in innovation and technology, Luxembourg presents an excellent opportunity for Pony.ai to further develop its leading autonomous mobility technology in Europe.
Wayve Opens Office in Silicon Valley
Wayve, a pioneer in Embodied AI for the automotive industry, has expanded its US operations with the opening of a new office in Silicon Valley and the start of a driver assistance testing program in San Francisco and the Bay Area. This marks Wayve’s first on-road trials outside the UK and an important step in developing AI software capable of powering various driving assistance and automation features for vehicles worldwide.
Wayve’s US testing will focus on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which aid drivers with enhanced functionality to improve the safety and convenience of urban and highway driving. The testing will help expand the geographic scope of Wayve’s AI Driver product, building the foundation for scalable driving software that can operate in diverse conditions across multiple countries.
To support this new testing and strengthen local partnerships, Wayve has expanded to a new office in Sunnyvale. Wayve’s Silicon Valley team will focus on software development, hardware integration, and deployment operations, driving the company’s commitment to innovation and growth in the US.
Wayve is redefining how AI is used in the automotive industry, developing AI software that enables automakers to deliver a full range of driver assistance and automation features. Designed to address the industry’s safety and scalability challenges, Wayve’s AV2.0 approach replaces rule-based systems and geofenced routes with an end-to-end AI system that learns from data to drive any vehicle anywhere. Backed by over $1.3B from investors like Softbank, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Uber, and Eclipse Ventures, Wayve is paving the way to scale its driving automation technology for consumer vehicles worldwide.
Wayve’s US expansion supports the company’s long-term vision to deliver AI-powered driving software that adapts to different environments and driving cultures. As Wayve continues to develop its Embodied AI products for automotive applications, further global expansion plans will be announced in the coming year.