California Expands Oversight of AVs: Weekly Connected and Autonomous Vehicle News
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles issued new rules that remove the 10,001‑pound gross‑vehicle‑weight limit for autonomous vehicle testing, opening the door for heavy‑duty self‑driving trucks and buses. The regulations also require AV operators to comply with existing commercial‑vehicle safety standards, creating a unified compliance framework. The change comes as Waymo pauses robotaxi services in several Texas cities due to flood risks and expands its fleet with Zeekr‑built units, while other industry players like Bolt, Stellantis and Pony.ai launch test programs abroad. Together, these moves signal a rapid evolution of both policy and commercial activity in the autonomous‑vehicle sector.
Waymo Recalls Thousands of Robotaxis: Weekly Connected and Autonomous Vehicle News
Waymo is recalling roughly 3,800 robotaxis after a software flaw that could misinterpret water depth and steer vehicles into flooded streets, highlighted by an incident in San Antonio. The recall triggers an over‑the‑air update and temporary fleet withdrawal. At the...
California’s New AV Rules: Weekly Connected and Autonomous Vehicle News
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles released a unified set of regulations governing autonomous‑vehicle testing and deployment, aiming to streamline permitting across the state. The move arrives as the industry hits milestones, with GM’s Super Cruise fleet logging a billion hands‑free...
HERE Technologies Expands China Partnerships to Drive Global Automated Driving
HERE Technologies announced a suite of strategic agreements at Auto China 2026, highlighted by a memorandum of understanding with Baidu Maps to fuse global and domestic map data for automakers. The company also unveiled an integrated Highway Navigation on Autopilot...
BMW and Mercedes Halt Level 3: Weekly Connected and Autonomous Vehicle News
BMW and Mercedes announced they are suspending development of Level 3 autonomous driving systems, citing prohibitive costs and weak consumer demand. The decision underscores the high expense of lidar‑based sensor suites required for Level 3 capabilities. In contrast, Tesla has long avoided...
NTSB Takes Aim At Level 2 Systems: Weekly Connected and Autonomous Vehicle News
The National Transportation Safety Board released a report blaming SAE Level 2 semi‑autonomous systems for two fatal 2024 crashes involving Ford Mustang Mach‑E models and called for tighter oversight. In parallel, Waymo halted its New York City robotaxi trials after its...
Geotab and Hyundai Partner on Hardware-Free Telematics, Delivering High-Resolution GPS Across Europe
Geotab and Hyundai Motor Co. have launched a native telematics integration across Europe that streams vehicle data directly from factory‑installed systems, eliminating the need for aftermarket hardware. The solution delivers high‑resolution GPS updates every 10 seconds for newer models and...