Alphabet-owned Waymo on Tuesday opened its robotaxi service to some public passengers in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, the company announced. With the multi-city expansion, Waymo is now operating its service in 10 U.S. cities, extending its lead in the North American driverless ride-hailing market. The Google sister company is aiming to lock in loyal riders and win over skeptics, including six in 10 U.S. drivers who said they were fearful of driverless cars, according to a 2025 survey by the Ame ...

Core Insights - Xpeng is set to launch robotaxis in 2026, marking a shift from its previous stance that such a business would not materialize soon [1][4] - The company aims to position itself beyond just an electric vehicle manufacturer, similar to its competitor Tesla [1] Group 1: Robotaxi Development - Xpeng announced the launch of three robotaxi models utilizing four self-developed "Turing" AI chips, boasting the highest in-car computing power globally at 3,000 TOPS [2] - The robotaxi will feature an external display for speed and other information on the vehicle's sun visors, with testing planned in Guangzhou and other Chinese cities next year [4] - The strategy includes two categories of vehicles: commercial self-driving shared vehicles and fully autonomous personal cars for family use [6] Group 2: AI and Technology Integration - The Turing AI chips power Xpeng's "vision-language-action (VLA)" model, which is designed for applications in driverless cars and robotics [3] - A partnership with Alibaba's AutoNavi and Amaps app will enhance the robotaxi's digital mapping and ride-hailing capabilities [3] - Xpeng's co-president noted that advancements in AI and computing power have accelerated the timeline for robotaxis, indicating a near inflection point for the technology [5]

Regulatory Landscape & Consumer Sentiment - Regulators in many countries still have reservations about driverless cars [1] - Consumers also need to be convinced about driverless cars [1] Company Strategy - Uber will keep hustling to ensure it is the platform of choice when the robotaxi future eventually arrives [1]

Strategic Partnership - Tesla has selected Samsung to manufacture its next-generation AI6 chip [1] - The multi-year deal is valued at $165 billion for Samsung [1] - Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, signals a focus on driverless cars and robots, potentially impacting short-term profits [1] Technological Advancement - The A16 chip is integral to Tesla's self-driving vehicle initiative [2] - Tesla collaborated with Samsung to optimize the chip's manufacturing [2] Industry Impact - This contract is significant for Samsung, aiding in its expertise development [3] - Samsung has been facing challenges recently [2]