TechCrunch Mobility: Embracing Autonomy with a Fresh Take on Blue-Green Hues

Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility, your go-to source for updates on the future of transportation and the significant impact of AI in this realm. Sign up here to receive our updates directly in your inbox!

In the ongoing discussion around autonomous vehicles, U.S. federal safety regulators are addressing a challenging issue with a new proposal aimed at enhancing public awareness of autonomous vehicle operations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has suggested new lighting standards for autonomous vehicles, recommending the use of cyan lights as an indication that a vehicle is functioning autonomously without a human driver monitoring the system.

Although the proposal does not enforce a mandate for these blue-green lights, they will be required when vehicles operate in autonomous mode.

Federal regulators seek a consistent method to identify these vehicles more clearly.

The proposal outlines specific requirements concerning the light’s placement, color, and activation methods, while also eliminating the need for manual controls for signals, high beams, and hazard indicators.

Under the new guidelines, the NHTSA recommends that these lights be steady rather than flashing, and visible from all sides of the vehicle.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize regulations that promote the integration of autonomous vehicles while ensuring safety, as emphasized by NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison.

The agency is also developing a federal framework for automated vehicles and updating existing motor vehicle safety standards, which currently do not apply to vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab or Zoox robotaxi that lack conventional equipment such as pedals and steering wheels.

While regulators focus on the future of vehicle operation, GM has announced its commitment to innovation during its annual GM Forward event, revealing further details about its AI initiatives.

The auto manufacturer is revamping the electrical systems and computational components of its upcoming lineup to provide improved software, upgraded automated driving capabilities, and a new AI assistant to enhance its longstanding OnStar service.

These advancements are set to be featured in the Cadillac Escalade IQ, launching in 2028, alongside an autonomous highway driving feature that will enable drivers to fully disengage from monitoring the road.

Furthermore, GM has implemented enterprise AI across its operations, aiming to reduce the typical four-to-five-year development timeline for new vehicles significantly.

Having observed past initiatives from GM and other traditional car manufacturers aimed at competing with Tesla, it appears that GM is gearing up for a more substantial challenge this time.

Deals!

Across various sectors, AI startups are attracting investments, including the transportation field. A notable instance is Rivian’s acquisition of Third Dimension, a U.K.-based startup comprising experts from gaming and autonomous vehicle industries, specializing in using AI to create realistic 3D environments from images and video.

This acquisition aims to enhance simulation capabilities, notably bridging the gap between real-world driving data and its virtual counterpart, as stated by Rivian’s head of autonomy, James Philbin.

Though some may argue that simulation is an outdated concept, it remains a crucial tool for AV developers, evolving alongside new technologies and making startups like Third Dimension highly desirable.

Details regarding the acquisition have not been disclosed, although previous funding rounds saw Third Dimension secure $7 million in seed capital and employ approximately 15 engineers, which Rivian did not categorize as a material transaction in SEC filings.

Other deals worth noting include…

The ride-hailing platform inDrive is collaborating with Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai and Nvidia to test robotaxis in Kazakhstan by 2027, following a formal agreement to integrate Pony.ai’s technology into its services.

Meanwhile, Reliable Robotics, a startup focused on making existing aircraft autonomous, raised $115 million in a Series D financing round, totaling $275 million, and elevating its valuation beyond $1 billion.

Notable reads and other tidbits

The Washington Post reported on a group with unclear origins opposed to robotaxis, reminiscent of a prior organization involved in anti-robotaxi efforts, the Coalition for Accountability and Road Safety, which had ties to a New York lobbying firm.

GM is shutting down a plant in southern Detroit that produced battery packs for the Cadillac Celestiq and the electric drive systems for the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, not due to its electric vehicle strategy, but because the lease was expiring.

Google is enhancing its Gemini platform with a new personal intelligence feature that draws data from various Google services to better understand users’ preferences and activities.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe envisions how autonomy will enable the creation of fundamentally different vehicles beyond their current offerings of the R1S electric pickup truck and R2 models.

Tesla and SpaceX recently reported their third-quarter financial results, with Elon Musk announcing that both companies’ boards are considering a merger following positive indications. SpaceX’s AI division has seen significant growth, contributing $7.5 billion to the company’s revenue.

Despite a flat revenue report for Tesla, rising expenses led to a 43% decrease in profits year over year. Musk remains focused on AI and robotics, announcing plans to begin production of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot while also revealing a surge in full self-driving subscription growth despite delays in the unsupervised version.

Waymo is expanding its services into new cities, revealing plans to launch a robotaxi service in Spain by 2027, while continuing operations at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

One more thing …

Fresh off TechCrunch Disrupt, I am gearing up for another event—the Founder Summit in Boston on November 4. This one-day event is tailored for founders, prospective founders, and investors, offering valuable talks from VCs and seasoned entrepreneurs along with great networking opportunities.

I will be in attendance, and I welcome readers of TechCrunch Mobility to join at a 30% discounted rate using the code mobility30.