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 May Mobility, an autonomous driving technology company, has launched driverless shuttle operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan&mdash;its second city in the US. The company will initially deploy one to two autonomous Toyota Sienna minivans to transport employees and invited guests across a 2-square-mile area of the city.
 
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 The Ann Arbor expansion demonstrates the scalability of May Mobility's technology while extending its capabilities to more challenging conditions, including difficult weather, higher speeds, and busy traffic. The testing involves complex traffic patterns and high pedestrian density on public roads.
 
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 <li>
 
 The company plans to further expand its driverless testing to Peachtree Corners, Georgia in 2025 and is working with partners, including 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/8785">
 Toyota,
 </a>
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/1345397">
 NTT,
 </a>
 and 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/7855">
 Lyft
 </a>
 , to expand autonomous vehicle services across the US and Japan.
 
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 <li>
 
 Analyst QuickTake:
 Today&rsquo;s deployment marks May Mobility's second location for driver-out operations following its 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25063">
 December 2023
 </a>
 launch in Sun City, Arizona.
 
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 </ul>
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/may-mobility-expands-autonomous-driver-out-vehicle-operations-to-second-us-city-302310860.html">
 Press release
 </a>
 
 
 <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/20/may-mobility-to-test-driverless-shuttles-in-ann-arbor/">
 TechCrunch
 </a>
 
</div>

Auto Tech

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 May Mobility, a company specializing in autonomous driving technology, has initiated its driverless shuttle operations in its second US city, Ann Arbor, Michigan. For now, the company will be deploying one or two autonomous Toyota Sienna minivans to ferry employees and select guests within a region of the city that spans 2 square miles.
 The latest expansion in Ann Arbor testifies to the scalability of the technology developed by May Mobility, while also showcasing its adaptability to more challenging circumstances such as difficult weather, congested traffic, and higher speeds. The ongoing tests incorporate a diversity of traffic patterns and densely populated pedestrian areas on public routes.
 May Mobility aims to extend its driverless testing to Peachtree Corners, Georgia by 2025 and is collaborating with partner companies, including <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/8785"> Toyota, </a> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/1345397"> NTT, </a> and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/7855"> Lyft </a>, to widen the scope of autonomous vehicle services throughout the US and Japan.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Today’s deployment marks May Mobility's second location for driver-out operations following its <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/25063"> December 2023 </a> launch in Sun City, Arizona.

May Mobility expands driverless shuttle operations to Ann Arbor

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 Nuro, a company specialising in autonomous vehicle technology, has recently broadened its driverless testing operations which now include Mountain View, Palo Alto and Houston. The firm is utilising its third-generation R3 vehicles and retrofitted Toyota Priuses to conduct these enhanced testing programs.
 The expansion of testing territories notably includes an 83% surge in the deployment vicinity in Mountain View and Palo Alto, plus a 70% growth in Houston. The autonomous vehicles have been upgraded to operate at speeds up to 35 mph, function on multilane roads, navigate around emergency vehicles, traverse through construction zones, respond to school buses and continue operation at night without the input of safety drivers.
 Nuro's ongoing expansion ties in with the company's strategic shift <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33481"> from robot delivery operations towards licensing its autonomous vehicle technology</a> to automakers and mobility providers. The aim of the expansion is for the company to showcase its technology's capabilities to prospective clients, focusing on passenger vehicles and commercial applications.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Nuro, despite having raised <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/6370"> more than USD 2 billion </a> to date and being the most well-funded startup in the last-mile delivery automation space, faced financial strain and underwent restructurings and layoffs in <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/14788"> 2022 </a> and <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/18410"> 2023. </a> These conditions also signaled the strategic shift toward licensing its autonomous driving technology to extend its capital runway.

Nuro expands autonomous vehicle testing in Bay Area and Houston to demonstrate technology

<div>
 The transition team of Donald Trump is reportedly prioritizing the development of a federal framework for self-driving vehicles at the Transportation Department. The aim is to support their deployment, as current federal regulations hinder the proliferation of vehicles without human controls like pedals and steering wheels, which is a key point the team intends to address.
 The Transportation Department has the potential to set some regulations through The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), yet widespread adoption of self-driving cars might necessitate broader congressional action. Legislators from both sides are already beginning discussions for potential laws to accommodate this change.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 The push for a federal framework comes amid ongoing safety investigations into autonomous vehicles and driver-assistance systems, as well as past setbacks in the industry due to safety concerns and regulatory hurdles. However, if these initiatives were enacted, they would particularly benefit companies like <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/companies/1692"> Tesla, </a> which is developing fully driverless robotaxis without human controls.

Trump team plans to ease federal rules on autonomous vehicles

<div>
 The Sweden-based company, Terranet, known for developing anti-collision systems, has announced a partnership with a confidential global automotive industry leader. This is facilitated through the MobilityXlab accelerator program, and is specifically for testing Terranet's anti-collision system called “BlincVision”.
 This non-exclusive partnership's central goal is to test BlincVision in the vehicles produced by their partner, to discern its performance level compared to existing market solutions currently available.
 This new partnership is part of Terranet's 2025 roadmap strategy for BlincVision. Among the plans, there is a goal to replace the current BlincVision prototype with a more user-friendly minimum viable product (MVP) in the second quarter of 2025, potentially leading to volume production discussions towards the end of 2025.
 
</div>

Terranet partners with unnamed automotive company to test ‘BlincVision’ anti-collision system

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 General Motors' autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, has confessed to making false statements surrounding a safety incident. In a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Cruise has agreed to pay a fine of $500,000.
 This case is rooted in an incident that took place in October, wherein a Cruise robotaxi was involved in an accident, dragging a pedestrian for 20 feet after that person was struck by another vehicle. The accident has already led to other fines, including a $112,500 penalty imposed by California regulators, along with a $<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34156">1.5 million</a> fine by the NHTSA.
 In line with the DOJ agreement, Cruise is required to collaborate with government investigations, set up a safety compliance program, and submit annual reports on its implementation for a span of three years.
</div>

Cruise agrees to pay DOJ USD 500,000 fine for false reporting

<div>
 Cerence, a company specializing in AI voice assistant technology for cars, has launched "CaLLM Edge," a compact language model specifically designed for the automotive industry. This model can be integrated within the existing solutions provided by Cerence and is available to their auto maker clients and via the Microsoft Azure AI model catalog.
 The versatile new model is capable of managing a range of tasks, including processing car control commands, locating points of interest, providing navigation assistance, and supporting interactive conversations. It is designed to be compatible with key automotive platforms and can be employed in both standalone and hybrid deployments.
 According to the company, CaLLM Edge offers a number of key benefits, such as providing constant access to GenAI features even without connectivity. There is also an enhanced focus on data privacy, as all data is contained within the vehicle itself rather than being transferred. Additionally, the model offers a cost-effective solution for car manufacturers while simultaneously delivering GenAI-driven experiences for drivers.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Today’s release adds CaLLM Edge to Cerence’s recent language model launches, including <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/25033"> CaLLM </a> , introduced in December 2023, which leverages NVIDIA's large LLM technology and is designed to integrate within Cerence's in-car computing platform to support customizable applications through conversational voice interactions .

Cerence launches CaLLM Edge, an automotive language model

<div>
 Alphabet's self-driving tech unit, Waymo, has made its robotaxi service available to all residents of Los Angeles, California, eliminating the previous waitlist requirement. The service covers 80 sq mi of the county and can be accessed round the clock via the Waymo One app. Some of the areas covered include Santa Monica, Hollywood Boulevard, USC, among others.
 The robotaxi service operates fully autonomous electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles for ride-hailing. It has a user satisfaction rate of 98%, with a 4.7-star rating out of five, and 96% of the users finding the service useful. Currently, Waymo handles more than 150,000 paid rides weekly across its three markets: <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/10/now-anyone-can-hail-a-waymo-robotaxi-in-downtown-phoenix/"> Phoenix</a>, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21077"> San Francisco</a>, and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27179"> Los Angeles</a>.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Previously, Waymo was permitted to offer only free driverless rides in parts of Los Angeles, and it obtained approval to launch commercial robotaxi services in the area in <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/27179"> March 2024. </a> <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/32361"> In August 2024, </a> the company mentioned that the demand had increased in Los Angeles, with over 150,000 people on the waitlist.

Waymo opens robotaxi service to public in Los Angeles

<div>
 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently probing into Tesla's website content and social media communications. The investigation is focused on potential false claims concerning the capabilities of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) software. 
 NHTSA made critiques on the social media posts of Tesla, stating that they market the FSD as a 'robotaxi' scheme, veering from its actual designation as a driver-assist system, which necessitates unceasing vigilance. The agency pointed out examples where drivers utilized FSD when encountering medical crisis or going on extensive drives. 
 The agency has required Tesla to revise its communications to ascertain alignment with FSD's sanctioned instruction. Additionally, Tesla must provide answers regarding the functioning of their system by the specified December 18 deadline. 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 This investigation follows a probe into Tesla <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/35002"> in October 2024, </a> following three collisions and a fatal crash. The probe focused on FSD's performance in reduced visibility conditions. On a related note, California passed a bill to prevent deceptive advertising&nbsp;in <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/12749"> September 2022, </a> especially targeting Tesla’s FSD and Autopilot systems.&nbsp;Given the level of scrutiny from regulatory authorities about FSD and Autopilot, it seems likely that Tesla will have to revise its approach to branding and advertising its ADAS software.

NHTSA probes Tesla over misleading self-driving claims

<div>
 Luminar Technologies, a LiDAR manufacturer, has recently revealed new collaborations with Volvo Cars and a significant Japanese automaker. These agreements involve a new model win with Volvo Cars for standard LiDAR equipment, extending beyond their initial partnership on the Volvo EX90 model. Additionally, a LiDAR supply contract has been secured with a Japanese automaker for their forthcoming generation of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). 
 In addition to these partnerships, Luminar has managed a significant technical accomplishment with its next-generation Halo LiDAR. It has shown great range performance at a lowered cost and size in comparison to previous models.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Luminar's Q3 2024 update demonstrates significant commercial progress . It expanded its LiDAR supply agreements with Volvo Cars (it started producing and delivering LiDAR for Volvo EX90 <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/28711"> in April 2024) </a> and secured a new contract with a major Japanese automaker. This, along with technical advancements in its next-generation Halo LiDAR, underscores Luminar's growing position in the automotive LiDAR market.

Luminar Q3 2024 update: Expands business with two automakers; next-gen Halo LiDAR development underway

<div>
 Lyft, the ride-hailing company, has announced collaborations with Mobileye, May Mobility, and Nexar to enhance its autonomous vehicle offerings. May Mobility plans to roll out autonomous Toyota Sienna minivans on Lyft's platform in Atlanta by 2025.
 Mobileye, an autonomous driving tech provider, will offer its self-driving technology to fleet operators who use Lyft's network. Nexar, a smart dashcam company, is working with Lyft to merge Huge data resources, including Nexar's 45 petabytes of real-world footage and Lyft's marketplace data, which can be beneficial for autonomous vehicle development.
 These partnerships are a part of Lyft's initiative to give its network of 40 million yearly riders access to autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, it paves the way for a "Lyft-ready" turnkey solution for autonomous vehicle operators to seamlessly integrate their vehicles into the platform.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Lyft's new partnerships with Mobileye, May Mobility, and Nexar reflect a strategic shift following previous challenges with autonomous vehicle partners like <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/14050"> Argo AI, </a> which ceased operations, and <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/29174"> Motional, </a> which delayed deployments due to restructuring. On a separate note, Lyft’s rival Uber is also actively pursuing autonomous vehicle integration, forming partnerships with companies like <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/32858"> Cruise, </a> <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/33056"> Wayve, </a> <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/33593"> Waymo, </a> and <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/33992"> WeRide </a> to introduce autonomous vehicles on its platform in the US and the UAE.

All Updates

May Mobility expands driverless shuttle operations to Ann Arbor

Nuro expands autonomous vehicle testing in Bay Area and Houston to demonstrate technology

Trump team plans to ease federal rules on autonomous vehicles

Terranet partners with unnamed automotive company to test ‘BlincVision’ anti-collision system

Cruise agrees to pay DOJ USD 500,000 fine for false reporting

Cerence launches CaLLM Edge, an automotive language model

Waymo opens robotaxi service to public in Los Angeles

NHTSA probes Tesla over misleading self-driving claims

Luminar Q3 2024 update: Expands business with two automakers; next-gen Halo LiDAR development underway

Lyft partners with Mobileye, May Mobility, and Nexar for autonomous vehicle services

Auto Tech

May Mobility expands driverless shuttle operations to Ann Arbor

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