车东西1月29日消息，当地时间28日晚间，自动驾驶汽车初创公司Waabi官宣融资10亿美元（约合人民币70亿元），并与优步深入合作。 据了解，该笔融资由两部分构成，分别是Khosla Ventures和G2 Venture Partners共同领投的7.5亿美元（约合人民币52.5亿元）C轮融资，以及Uber额外承诺 的一笔2.5亿美元（约合人民币17.5亿元）的追加投资。 此次融资后，Waabi还与Uber达成了一个独家协议。在未来由Waabi Driver驱动的RoboTaxi将在Uber平台独家部署，目标规模被定在了2.5万辆，不过目前 尚未给出具体的落地时间表。 此前，Waabi和Uber Freight的货运业务已经有了比较深入的合作，在达拉斯至休斯敦的线路上进行自动驾驶货运任务。 双方合作进一步扩展到乘用车领域，也可视为合作升级。 01. 业务重心在重卡货运 主打物理AI 在实际业务层面，Waabi目前主营的业务区域在德克萨斯州，除了达拉斯外，还在多伦多，旧金山、凤凰城和匹兹堡设立了物流中心，并在进行车内有人 类安全员的商业化试点。 截至目前，Waabi的运输路线已经覆盖纵贯美国东海岸、西海岸、美 ...

Core Insights - Waabi and Volvo Autonomous Solutions have achieved a significant milestone by integrating the Waabi Driver with the Volvo VNL Autonomous, marking a major step in the advancement of autonomous trucking [2][3][5] Group 1: Partnership and Integration - The integration of the Waabi Driver with the Volvo VNL Autonomous highlights the strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the development and adoption of autonomous trucks [5] - This collaboration is essential for building a broader ecosystem that supports commercial deployment of autonomous technology [6] Group 2: Technology and Safety - The Waabi Driver is described as the only interpretable and verifiable end-to-end AI model capable of true generalization, which is crucial for scaling autonomous driving across various geographies [8] - The Volvo VNL Autonomous truck is designed with redundant systems for safety-critical functions, ensuring safe autonomous operations [9] Group 3: Future Developments - Waabi is on track to launch driverless software by the end of the year, demonstrating readiness for driverless operations while maintaining safety protocols [11] - Other companies in the autonomous trucking space, such as Aurora and Gatik, are also making significant strides towards commercialization, with plans for extensive deployment of driverless trucks in the near future [13][16]

Core Insights - Waabi and Volvo Autonomous Solutions have successfully integrated the Waabi Driver with the Volvo VNL Autonomous truck, marking a significant milestone in their strategic partnership [1] - The future of autonomous trucking relies on safe and scalable technology, purpose-built hardware, and a commercial deployment model that addresses supply chain issues [2] - Volvo's VNL autonomous truck features redundant systems for fully autonomous operations, enhancing safety and reliability [3] Company Developments - Waabi is preparing for a driver-out milestone by the end of the year and has appointed former Uber Freight CEO Lior Ron as COO to scale operations for commercial launch [5] - Volvo Group Venture Capital has been a strategic investor in Waabi since January 2023, participating in a $200 million Series B funding round [6] Industry Trends - The integration of Waabi's technology into Volvo's platform emphasizes the importance of vertical integration for autonomous vehicle technology [4] - The collaboration between Waabi and Volvo is part of a broader trend towards commercialization in the autonomous trucking sector [5]

Core Insights - Waabi has launched a new autonomous truck, the Volvo VNL Autonomous truck, in partnership with Volvo, marking a significant step in the commercialization of self-driving technology [1][4] - The company aims to be the first to commercialize self-driving trucks without a human safety driver, positioning itself against competitors like Aurora [2] - Waabi's self-driving system, the Waabi Driver, is designed to operate across various geographies, enhancing scalability and integration within existing logistics operations [5] Company Developments - Waabi's CEO, Raquel Urtasun, highlighted the company's capability to operate in generalized surface streets in Texas, with plans for nationwide expansion in the coming years [3] - The Volvo VNL truck has been engineered for safety and redundancy, allowing for the removal of a human driver [6] - Waabi's partnership with Volvo includes Volvo's investment in the startup, participating in Waabi's $200 million Series B funding round in 2024 [9] Competitive Landscape - Waabi's competitor, Aurora, has a similar partnership with Volvo and has already launched a commercial service with a human observer on board [4] - Aurora's service operates on a route between Dallas and Houston and is expanding to El Paso, showcasing the competitive dynamics in the autonomous trucking sector [4]