Rivian goes “AI first” on autonomy (and teases ride hail later)
Rivian used its first Autonomy & AI Day to outline a long-term strategy centered on vertically integrated AI, custom silicon, and expanded hands-free driving. The company announced that its next hands-free system, Universal Hands-Free, will launch in early 2026, covering more than 3.5 million miles of roads across the US and Canada. The feature will be offered either as a $2,500 one-time purchase or $49.99 per month subscription.
Rivian also detailed its “large driving model” approach, a new autonomy compute stack (ACM3), and a custom 5-nanometer processor designed to support higher-level autonomy. Executives emphasized that future systems will incorporate lidar alongside cameras and radar, signaling a more sensor-redundant path than some competitors. While Rivian’s near-term focus remains privately owned vehicles, leadership acknowledged that the same technology could eventually support ride-share or robotaxi applications.
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CNBC — Rivian Autonomy & AI Day
Robotaxis move toward scale through platforms and fleet partnerships
A popular ridesharing company’s CEO said autonomous vehicles could represent a trillion-dollar global opportunity, with Asia—particularly Japan—emerging as a key growth market. Rather than building its own AV stack, the popular ridesharing company continues to position itself as a platform that partners with multiple autonomous-driving developers, integrating robotaxis as they become commercially viable and regulator-approved. The company expects the market to support multiple winners rather than consolidating around a single dominant provider.
Separately, EV-only car-share company Zevo announced plans to add robotaxis to its fleet by purchasing up to 100 autonomous vehicles from startup Tensor. Zevo’s model blends traditional car-sharing with on-demand autonomous service, allowing vehicles to shift between human-driven and driverless use depending on deployment conditions. Tensor claims it could deliver a consumer-available fully autonomous vehicle as early as 2026, though details on regulatory approvals and large-scale operations remain limited.
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Business Insider — The popular ridesharing company sees robotaxis as a trillion-dollar opportunity
TechCrunch — Zevo plans to add robotaxis to its car-share fleet
US lawmakers target Chinese lidar in self-driving vehicles
A bipartisan US House bill would phase out Chinese-made lidar sensors used in autonomous vehicles and other critical systems, citing national-security concerns that the technology could be exploited or disabled remotely during a conflict. The proposal would prohibit new purchases of covered sensors after three years, while allowing up to five years for existing equipment to be replaced.
The legislation reflects growing concern about reliance on Chinese suppliers, which currently dominate large portions of the global lidar market. If enacted, the bill could force automakers and AV developers to rapidly reassess supplier relationships, particularly for vehicles intended for commercial fleets or government-regulated environments.
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Reuters — US bill seeks phase-out of Chinese sensors in self-driving cars
Are autonomous vehicles driving too aggressively?
A new discussion highlighted by Yahoo Finance suggests some autonomous vehicles may be driving more aggressively than early AV systems, with sharper lane changes and more assertive merging. Proponents argue this behavior is necessary for AVs to operate smoothly alongside human drivers, particularly in dense urban traffic where overly cautious systems can stall traffic or confuse surrounding vehicles.
Critics, however, warn that more assertive driving could undermine public trust if riders perceive AVs as unsafe or unpredictable. The debate underscores how driving behavior—once a purely technical calibration issue—is increasingly becoming a public-facing and regulatory concern.
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Yahoo Finance — Are autonomous vehicles driving more aggressively?
