Trip-hailing firm Lyft is trying to launch totally self-driving robotaxis in a single U.S. metropolis by subsequent yr, in response to a press release from the corporate’s high govt.
On Monday, Lyft CEO David Risher mentioned in a publish on X that the corporate is planning to launch totally autonomous robotaxis in Dallas, Texas “as quickly as 2026,” as backed by expertise from Mobileye. The Mobileye automobiles will likely be bought and owned by Japanese firm Marubeni, and the chief additionally says it can make the most of its Flex Drive subsidiary for fleet administration.
“As quickly as 2026, Marubeni-owned automobiles with Mobileye AV tech will launch in Dallas
on the Lyft platform, with hundreds extra AVs/different cities to observe,” Risher wrote within the publish.
Upon deployment, the automobiles will start exhibiting up on the Lyft app for riders, and Risher additionally says the corporate will share extra information within the months to return.
READ MORE ON LYFT: Lyft challenges drivers to modify to EVs with new incentive program
Tesla, Waymo and others engaged on business robotaxis
The information comes as Tesla additionally goals to enter the rising business robotaxi trade with its lately unveiled Cybercabs, backed by its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software program. Elon Musk and Tesla Head of Design Franz von Holzhausen have each mentioned that Tesla will deploy the primary unsupervised variations of the FSD software program in Austin, Texas in June, following the revealing of its steering wheel-less Cybercab in October.
Musk has additionally mentioned that he expects to unveiling autonomous ride-hailing in “many cities in America by the top of this yr,” following the launch of the providers in Austin. In the course of the Q3 earnings name in October, Musk additionally mentioned that Tesla staff had already began testing ride-hailing providers within the Bay Space, permitting employees to request a journey and be taken anyplace within the Bay.
Alphabet-owned robotaxi firm Waymo can be set to launch its driverless ride-hailing automobiles in Austin subsequent month, set to be hosted solely on Lyft competitor Uber’s cellular platform. The corporate has additionally been working paid driverless rides for a number of months now by its Waymo One app in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, and Phoenix, Arizona, and it’s trying to broaden to Miami, Florida and over 10 different new cities in 2025.
Different firms, together with the Amazon-owned firm Zoox, are aiming to roll out robotaxis all through this yr, although Waymo at present stays the one firm providing totally autonomous paid ride-hails.
What are your ideas? Let me know at [email protected], discover me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or ship us suggestions at [email protected].
Lyft, Motional to launch driverless IONIQ 5 ride-hailing fleet in Los Angeles
Want equipment on your Tesla? Take a look at the Teslarati Market:
