<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Motional, an autonomous vehicle technology developer, is delaying its plans for a commercial driverless robotaxi service until 2026, instead of the planned 2024 launch. This is due to a restructuring aimed at refining its core technology and business model while conserving capital.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The restructuring will also result in a staff reduction. However, the company has not yet specified the exact number of staff that would be laid off.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The company also suspends its operations, including autonomous rides in Las Vegas via 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13614">
          Uber
        </a>
        , 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12419">
          Lyft
        </a>
        , and 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10438">
          Uber Eats
        </a>
         deliveries in Santa Monica.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>Analyst QuickTake:</b>
         Hyundai invested nearly USD 1 billion in Motional 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29057">
          earlier in May
        </a>
        &mdash;increasing its stake to 85%&mdash;following 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26156">
          Aptiv&rsquo;s decision
        </a>
         to reduce its investment due to the high costs of commercializing robotaxi technology. We believe the recent funding would help Motional to further refine its technology and relaunch operations in the future.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/07/motional-delays-commercial-robotaxi-plans-amid-restructuring/">
      TechCrunch
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/motional-puts-robotaxi-deployment-back-burner-focus-technology-development-2024-05-07/?taid=663a7a3f95a6aa0001fb0fab&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter">
      Reuters
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Last-mile Delivery Automation

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Autonomous vehicle technology developer, Motional, is postponing its plans for a commercial driverless robotaxi service from 2024 to 2026. This change is resultant from a restructuring process the company is undergoing in order to refine its technology, business model, and preserve funds.</p>
 <p>In addition to this, restructuring will also lead to a decrease in employee count. The company is yet to declare the exact figure of staff members affected by this decision.</p>
 <p>Motional is suspending its operations, including autonomous rides in Las Vegas which were provided through<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13614"> Uber </a> , <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12419"> Lyft </a>, and a delivery service in Santa Monica with<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10438"> Uber Eats </a>.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Hyundai invested nearly USD 1 billion in Motional <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/29057"> earlier in May </a> —increasing its stake to 85%—following <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/26156"> Aptiv’s decision </a> to reduce its investment due to the high costs of commercializing robotaxi technology. We believe the recent funding would help Motional to further refine its technology and relaunch operations in the future.</p>

Motional delays commercial robotaxi launch until 2026 to restructure operations and refine technology; suspends current operations

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

<div>
 <p>Autonomous vehicle technology developer, Motional, is postponing its commercial driverless robotaxi service launch to 2026 from the originally scheduled 2024 due to company restructuring. The restructuring is an effort to refine the company's core technology, business model and conserve capital.</p>
 <p>As part of the restructuring, a reduction in staff members is expected, though the exact number of layoffs hasn't been disclosed yet.</p>
 <p>In addition to the delay in launch and staff cuts, Motional is also suspending its operations. This suspension affects its autonomous rides in Las Vegas via <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13614"> Uber </a> , <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12419"> Lyft </a> , and its <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10438"> Uber Eats </a> delivery operations in Santa Monica.</p>
 </div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Hyundai invested nearly USD 1 billion in Motional <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/29057"> earlier in May </a> —increasing its stake to 85%—following <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/26156"> Aptiv’s decision </a> to reduce its investment due to the high costs of commercializing robotaxi technology. We believe the recent funding would help Motional to further refine its technology and relaunch operations in the future.</p>

From fast food to fine dining, everything but the kitchen sink is suddenly just a tap away.

Online Food Delivery

<div>
 <p>Uber Eats is trialling a new TikTok-inspired short-form video feed to promote food discovery and enable restaurants to showcase their dishes. This feature, presently available for free, appears as a carousel on various parts of the Uber Eats app including the home screen.</p>
 <p>The feature is currently under testing in three cities - New York, San Francisco, and Toronto.</p>
 
</div>

Uber Eats tests short-form video feed for restaurant discovery in app

<div>
 <p>Alphabet's self-driving tech development unit, Waymo, has expanded its collaboration with Uber Eats to provide autonomous food delivery in specific parts of Phoenix, Arizona. Uber Eats users in particular areas of Phoenix, such as Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler, can opt for their food to be delivered by an autonomous Waymo vehicle. The companies have collaborated with food retailers like Princess Pita, Filiberto's, and BoSa Donuts for this delivery service.</p>
</div>

Waymo and Uber Eats extends partnership to offer autonomous food deliveries in Arizona

<div>
 <p>Alphabet's self-driving tech division, Waymo, has expanded its collaboration with Uber's food delivery branch, Uber Eats, to provide autonomous food delivery in certain parts of Phoenix, Arizona. This service will be available to Uber Eats customers in selected Phoenix areas, such as Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler. They will be given the choice to have their orders delivered by a Waymo driverless vehicle. To facilitate automatic deliveries, Waymo and Uber have teamed up with food retailers including local favorites like Princess Pita, Filiberto's, and BoSa Donuts.</p>
</div>

Using online platforms, autonomy, electric and fuel-cell tech solutions to shape the future of trucking.

Truck Industry Tech

<div>
 <p>Uber Freight's drop-and-hook service, “Powerloop,” has expanded on a national level with added features designed to boost efficiency and freight activities visibility.</p>
 <p>The redefined Powerloop service now boasts a national carrier base of 95,000. Its new features include 1) a dedicated fleet offering that allows the assignment of full-time carriers to a specific shipper via a long-term contract; 2) the integration of AI-enhanced bundling to improve carrier routes; and 3) the implementation of 'smart' trailers, equipped with GPS, cargo and door sensors, along with 24/7 monitoring cameras for real-time trailer tracking.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Uber Freight has displayed a consistent commitment to enhancing and innovating its freight technology offerings. In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/22319"> September 2023 </a> , the company announced its next-generation product roadmap, which included new product launches and upgrades to its existing freight transportation management systems (TMS). In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/26344"> February 2024 </a> , the company also launched an automated scheduling feature for its TMS.&nbsp;</p>

Uber Freight scales ‘Powerloop’ nationally with enhanced capabilities

<div>
 <p>Uber Eats has introduced a live location-sharing feature to enhance delivery location accuracy. This feature, applicable when users choose "meet outside" or "meet at door" orders, will help couriers locate customers in hard-to-find areas like parks, playgrounds, and campus courtyards.</p>
</div>

Uber Eats launches live location-sharing feature to locate customers in difficult to find locations

<div>
 <p>Cartken, a company that produces autonomous delivery robots, has teamed up with Uber and Mitsubishi Electric to introduce a robot-based delivery system for Uber Eats users in Japan.</p>
 <p>The firms aim to initiate the service in selected Tokyo regions by the end of March, with customers able to access it via the Uber Eats application.</p>
 <p>Mitsubishi Electric personnel have the capacity to remotely monitor and control the robots if necessary.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Carken entered the Japanese market <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/7943"> in January 2022 </a> by partnering with Mitsubishi Electric to pilot a small fleet of droids at a shopping mall. Today’s partnership with Uber will help the company strengthen its presence in Japan and solidify its ties with Uber. Cartken first partnered with Uber to launch a delivery service to Uber Eats customers in Miami, Florida, in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/15373"> December 2022 </a> and expanded to include Fairfax, Virginia, <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/17895"> in April 2023. </a> Automating last-mile delivery is not entirely a new experience for Uber; the company has entered multiple similar partnerships with parties, including peer droid-maker Serve Robotics and autonomous delivery vehicle (ADV) providers Motional, Nuro, and Alphabet-owned Waymo.</p>

Cartken partners with Uber and Mitsubishi Electric to launch droid-based food deliveries in Japan

<div>
 
 <p>Uber Freight has announced a new scheduling Application Programming Interface (API) for its freight transportation management systems (TMS). This API aims to promote efficient communication across its network of shippers and carriers by enabling automated scheduling within the Uber Freight TMS. </p>
 <p>So far, the API has been tested within Uber’s brokerage division and has shown to make load coverage preparation 75% faster compared to manual scheduling. </p>
 <p>The company anticipates that the API will be fully accessible by the second half of 2024. </p>
 
</div>

Uber Freight to enable automated scheduling within Uber Freight TMS

New data privacy regulations have opened up space for a new wave of compliance-focused startups.

Digital Privacy Tools

<div>
 
 <p>The Dutch data protection authority (DPA) fined Uber €10 million (~$11 million) for mishandling its drivers' personal data. The investigation was initiated following a complaint by 170 French drivers. The case was handled by the Dutch authorities as Uber's European headquarters are located in The Netherlands.</p>
 <p>The DPA found that Uber did not clearly state in its terms and conditions how long it would hold the drivers' personal data, it did not detail the safety measures for data shared with third parties, and it complicated the process for data access requests. </p>
 <p>In response to the fine, Uber stated that the DPA acknowledged the company has addressed the minor issues raised by the drivers, and dismissed most of the other claims. </p>
 
</div>

All Updates

Motional delays commercial robotaxi launch until 2026 to restructure operations and refine technology; suspends current operations

Motional delays commercial robotaxi launch until 2026 to restructure operations and refine technology; suspends current operations

Uber Eats tests short-form video feed for restaurant discovery in app

Waymo and Uber Eats extends partnership to offer autonomous food deliveries in Arizona

Waymo and Uber Eats extends partnership to offer autonomous food deliveries in Arizona

Uber Freight scales ‘Powerloop’ nationally with enhanced capabilities

Uber Eats launches live location-sharing feature to locate customers in difficult to find locations

Cartken partners with Uber and Mitsubishi Electric to launch droid-based food deliveries in Japan

Uber Freight to enable automated scheduling within Uber Freight TMS

Uber fined EUR 10 million by Dutch DPA for data privacy violations