Self-Governing and Autonomous Vehicles: Zoox, Torc, Daimler, Waymo, TIER IV, TRATON, Scania, MAN, International, dSPACE, and AWS
Amazon-Owned Zoox Set to Launch Driverless Robotaxis in San Francisco and Las Vegas
In a significant stride towards autonomous mobility, Amazon-owned Zoox is preparing to launch its fleet of driverless vehicles in San Francisco and Las Vegas in the coming weeks. The company plans to have several dozen robotaxis operating across geofenced areas in these cities, with ambitions to expand these areas "several fold" over the next year.
While details about Zoox's current status and future plans were not extensively available, it is known that they have achieved the internal safety readiness required to launch their service. The company is also working closely with safety regulators to ensure the new robotaxi service meets all local and federal standards.
Torc Robotics Leads in Autonomous Long-Haul Trucks
In a different sector, Torc Robotics, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, is making significant strides in autonomous long-haul trucking. The company is actively developing SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks with plans to commercialize within this decade.
Torc Robotics has successfully tested autonomous trucks without drivers on a multi-lane closed course at speeds up to 65 mph. They are also expanding their engineering and AI software capabilities, with plans to grow their team to 500 jobs and potentially build up to a million trucks over the next few years.
The partnership is preparing for phased commercial deployment starting in Texas, and they have engaged in collaborative AI safety research with Stanford Center for AI Safety and strategic partnerships like with Edge Case for production safety cases and regulatory readiness.
Other Companies' Progress in Autonomous Vehicles
Other companies in the autonomous vehicle sector, such as Waymo, TIER IV, TRATON Group (including Scania and MAN), International, and AWS, did not have specific 2025 updates regarding their current autonomous vehicle programs or future plans within the provided search results.
However, it is worth noting that TRATON GROUP brands Scania, MAN, and International have completed the first phase of their collaboration to develop driverless trucks. TIER IV's open-source Autoware software is designed to work across a range of vehicle models, aiming to support Japan's push for nationwide autonomous transport solutions.
In a separate development, Meta AI has open-sourced all designs and code for Digit 360, a new fingertip-shaped tactile sensor that captures touch data with human-like precision. GelSight, the company behind Digit 360, targets wide availability next year for the research community.
As the autonomous vehicle industry continues to evolve, it is expected that more updates and advancements will be announced in the near future.
The autonomous vehicle industry is witnessing progress from various companies, with Torc Robotics, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, focusing on autonomous long-haul trucks, aiming to commercialize SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks in the coming years. In the transportation sector, Amazon-owned Zoox is set to launch driverless robotaxis in San Francisco and Las Vegas, with plans to expand these operations "several fold" over the next year. The finance industry is also involved, as technology companies continue to invest heavily in autonomous vehicle development, with Torc Robotics planning to grow its engineering team and potentially build up to a million trucks.
