Autonomous vehicles have long been touted as “just around the corner,” but the reality of bringing self-driving cars to the streets is far from simple. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 — October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco — Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana joins the Disrupt Stage for a wide-ranging conversation on the true state of AVs and where the industry goes from here. Inside the self-driving reality checkWhile headlines often highlight crashes, controversies, or overblown promises, Mawakana has sp ...

Waymo has spent years locked in back-and-forth negotiations with SFO, the biggest airport serving its home base of Silicon Valley. https://t.co/Ww0CONoJ6g ...

Core Points - Waymo has received a permit to test its autonomous vehicles at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), marking a significant step towards launching a commercial service [1][2] - The permit allows Waymo to conduct testing in three phases, starting with autonomous mode tests, followed by passenger service trials, and ultimately offering paid rides [3] - Waymo's expansion includes operations at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport since 2023 and plans to explore additional locations at SFO in the future [2][4] Summary by Sections Testing and Operations - Waymo has signed a "Testing and Operations Pilot Permit" with SFO after extensive negotiations, allowing the company to begin testing its autonomous vehicles [1] - The relationship between Waymo and SFO has improved since initial rejections in 2023, leading to the current permit for mapping the airport [2] Phased Approach - The testing will occur in three phases: 1. Testing in autonomous mode with a trained specialist [3] 2. Testing passenger service with employees and airport staff [3] 3. Offering paid rides at the airport's "Kiss & Fly area" [4] Future Plans and Expansion - Waymo aims to provide rides to and from SFO, which is a strategic location given its proximity to Silicon Valley [4] - The company has been expanding its service area and partnerships, indicating a growing presence in the autonomous vehicle market [4]

Group 1 - Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) experienced a significant stock increase of 10.94 percent, closing at $16.63, driven by investor optimism regarding potential government intervention in China's economy [1][3] - Recent data indicates that China's factory output and retail sales have shown their weakest growth since last year, prompting expectations for government initiatives to mitigate economic slowdown [2] - Pony AI has partnered with Mowasalat, a major transportation provider in Qatar, to deploy autonomous vehicles, with initial testing of robotaxis underway in Doha [3][4] Group 2 - The trials for Pony AI's autonomous vehicles are focused on adapting its technology to the specific weather, road infrastructure, and traffic conditions in Qatar [4]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese technology stocks, particularly Alibaba and Baidu, are emerging as attractive investment opportunities amidst economic uncertainty and potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in September 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The Chinese stock market is not typically favored for portfolio construction, especially with ongoing trade tariff negotiations and geopolitical tensions, but this environment may present unique opportunities before the market becomes overcrowded [2]. - A significant indicator attracting investor interest is the turnover rate in the Chinese stock market, which indicates strong liquidity and investor engagement, contrasting with the lower turnover seen in the U.S. market [4][5]. - The surge in trading activity in China reflects renewed interest and a favorable risk-to-reward ratio in the tech sector, as fundamentals and valuations appear dislocated [5][6]. Group 2: Company-Specific Insights - Alibaba Group is not only an e-commerce giant but also heavily invested in cloud computing and data center expansion, positioning it well for long-term consumer growth in Asia [8]. - Analysts have a positive outlook on Alibaba, with a consensus rating of Buy and a price target of $166.50, while some analysts suggest a higher target of $190, indicating a potential upside of 30% from current levels [9][10]. - Baidu is recognized for its growth in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, with recent unusual call options trading volume indicating bullish sentiment among investors [11][12]. - Institutional investor Primecap Management has increased its holdings in Baidu, reflecting confidence in the company's future prospects [13].

Core Viewpoint - Ares Acquisition Corporation II is urging its shareholders to support the proposed business combination with Kodiak Robotics, a leader in AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology [1] Company Summary - Ares Acquisition Corporation II (NYSE: AACT) is in the process of merging with Kodiak Robotics, Inc., which specializes in autonomous vehicle technology aimed at addressing challenging driving tasks [1] - The proposed business combination will result in AACT's securities being voluntarily delisted from the New York Stock Exchange [1]

Group 1 - Waymo is launching a new robotaxi service to compete in the autonomous vehicle market [1] - Meta is experiencing internal tensions regarding its AI initiatives, indicating potential challenges in its strategic direction [1] - Saudi Arabia is shifting its focus towards solar energy, reflecting a broader trend in renewable energy investments [1]

Group 1 - Aurora Innovation Inc. (NASDAQ:AUR) is currently trading near the bottom of its 52-week range, between $4.20 and $10.80, with a beta of 2.5 and daily volatility of 5.2% [1] - Canaccord Genuity's analyst George Gianarikas reiterated a Buy rating on Aurora with a price target of $15, reflecting a bullish outlook following the company's presentation at Canaccord's 45th Annual Growth Conference [2][3] - Aurora is making significant progress in its autonomous trucking strategy, having logged over 20,000 miles with driverless trucks on public roads since April [3][6] Group 2 - The company aims to launch a driver-as-a-service model by 2027, with pricing targeted at 65–85 cents per mile, supported by a partner ecosystem that includes major industry players like Uber Freight and FedEx [4] - Aurora ended Q2 with $1.3 billion in cash, providing operational runway into mid-2027, while Continental is investing over $300 million in engineering for development [5] - The company plans to expand into the Sunbelt region in 2026 and is scaling operations with a growing fleet based on Volvo's truck platform [5]

Core Viewpoint - WeRide has expanded its European operations by launching its autonomous shuttle, Robobus, in Leuven, Belgium, marking its entry into the eleventh global market [3][4][6]. Group 1: Project Launch and Collaboration - The Robobus project is a collaboration between WeRide, De Lijn (Flanders public transport company), Leuven city government, and mobility consulting firm Espaces-Mobilités [3]. - Testing preparations for the Robobus route from Leuven station to Heverlee will begin, connecting key transport hubs in a typical urban traffic environment [3]. - Public road testing is scheduled to start in mid-September 2023, with a safety operator on board during the initial phase [3]. Group 2: Future Plans and Goals - If testing is successful and approved by the Ministry of Transport, trial operations are expected to commence between mid-November 2025 and the end of January 2026, representing Belgium's first commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in complex traffic [4]. - The ultimate goal for the Robobus is to achieve fully autonomous operation, enhancing safety and efficiency in urban transport [4]. Group 3: Strategic Importance and Market Potential - WeRide's CFO highlighted that entering Belgium is a strategic move for international expansion, as Europe is a key market for autonomous vehicles, with Belgium being a notable innovation hub for mobility [6]. - The project aims to leverage autonomous vehicles to improve road safety, alleviate traffic congestion, and provide reliable last-mile connectivity, especially for rural areas and individuals with mobility challenges [6]. Group 4: Broader European Expansion - In addition to Belgium, WeRide is accelerating its expansion into other European markets, including participation in the Intelligent Automated Mobility project in Switzerland and launching the first public road Robobus operation in France [4][6].

Group 1 - Fluence Energy and DTEK Group have completed Ukraine's largest battery energy storage project, a 200 megawatt system capable of storing 400 megawatt hours, enough to power 600,000 homes for 2 hours [2] - The project was built in just 6 months and is Fluence's first to be commissioned entirely remotely, supported by advanced training of Ukrainian engineers in Europe [2] - We ride has launched its autonomous robo bus in Belgium, planning public road tests in mid-September with a safety officer on board [3] Group 2 - After the trial, the shuttles aim to enter regular service and eventually operate fully driverless, improving first and last mile connectivity within the city's transit network [3] - Redwire has opened a 15,000 square foot rapid capabilities facility in New Mexico to accelerate the development of space-based defense systems [3] - Blank Charging has joined the UK's POA platform, adding 850 public charging locations and about 3,500 connectors, expanding PA's network to over 67,000 connectors [4]