1. A popular robotaxi company launches Robotaxi app
A popular robotaxi company has rolled out a Robotaxi app for Apple users, allowing them to join a waitlist—though fully driverless vehicles are still not yet available. An Android version is in development. The app supports fare-based rides (initially priced at $4.20, later increasing to $6.90), with operations limited to places like Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, and supervised by safety drivers. The pilot uses Model Y vehicles running Full Self-Driving software, and expansion is a key next step amid growing regulatory scrutiny. Federal investigators are reportedly probing incidents involving erratic vehicle behavior with app-summoned rides. The company hopes for national expansion by year-end, contingent on regulatory clearance.
Read more (statesman.com)
2. NHTSA launches AV Framework to modernize safety standards
On September 4, 2025, NHTSA announced three new proposed rulemakings aimed at modernizing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to accommodate better vehicles with automated driving systems, standards written initially for human-driven cars. The agency seeks to advance safety, encourage innovation, and prevent a fragmented patchwork of state laws, reinforcing a single national standard. Among the targets are outdated FMVSS pertaining to transmission controls, windshield defogging systems, and lighting/equipment—rules no longer well-aligned with autonomous vehicle design. A key focus is streamlining the Part 555 exemption process, which allows deployment of non-compliant vehicles (up to 2,500 per year) more quickly and transparently—a significant boon for AV developers. NHTSA emphasized that innovation must be balanced with safety, and these changes are meant to both support technological advancement and maintain public trust.
Read more (nhtsa.gov)
3. Waymo introduces self-driving service in Denver
Waymo has initiated its self-driving robotaxi service in Denver, beginning with mapping efforts and coordination with local officials. Roughly a dozen electric vehicles—including Jaguar I-PACE SUVs and Zeekr RTs—are being deployed for early testing. Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston have publicly endorsed the initiative to modernize urban transit and enhance safety. Waymo already operates hundreds of driverless trips weekly across cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. However, concerns persist over issues like unprompted stopping, speeding, and erratic maneuvers—factors that could impede public trust. Safeguarding rider safety and trust is essential as the Denver deployment scales.
Read more (axios.com)
4. Avride readies robotaxi service for a popular ridesharing platform
Autonomous-vehicle startup Avride is accelerating vehicle testing in Dallas as it prepares to launch robotaxis on a popular ridesharing platform by late 2025. The collaboration began last October, starting with delivery robots on the platform in Austin and expanding to Dallas and Jersey City. The upcoming robotaxi fleet uses Hyundai IONIQ 5 EVs outfitted with Avride’s autonomous tech, rolled out via a March partnership. Beyond ride services, Avride also collaborates with Grubhub to deploy delivery robots on college campuses. Company leaders frame this robotaxi rollout as a key milestone in integrating autonomous transport into daily urban life.
Read more (reuters.com)
5. Waymo’s autonomous vehicles: rider experience and public trust
From the perspective of a rider, taking a trip in a Waymo autonomous vehicle can feel surprisingly ordinary—yet the absence of a driver in the front seat is a stark and uncanny reminder of the technology behind the wheel. In cities like Atlanta, operations occur within defined zones (e.g., a 65-square-mile area), and rides are typically hailed via the regular app—users don’t always request a self-driving option directly. Vehicles, equipped with Lidar and multiple sensors, tend to operate cautiously, avoiding freeway speeds and drawing significant public attention. Experts caution that while these systems perform well in stable-weather environments, they may be vulnerable in extreme or rapidly changing conditions. Meanwhile, trust remains a hurdle: by 2025, only 13% of US drivers expressed confidence in self-driving technology, and more than half were unwilling to ride in one.
Read more (thenationalnews.com)
