Waymo expanded LA service to the public, with Austin and Atlanta openings expected in 2025. Key risk: potential vehicle shortage as current Jaguar I-PACE fleet must last until Hyundai IONIQ 5s arrive mid-2026, which could slow expansion and benefit competitor Cruise.

Investor enthusiasm for autonomous vehicles surged post-election on expectations that a Trump administration will implement a national AV framework, enabling nationwide deployment and reducing state-level regulatory friction. Tesla stock jumped 35% as investors anticipate federal rules allowing products like the Cybercab to operate across all states.

Waymo now provides 150,000+ paid rides weekly, driving over 1 million autonomous miles, signaling transition from pilot to scaled operations. The autonomy sector is attracting billions in private capital, with GM's Cruise expected to raise $1B+ externally in 2025 as validation of its restructuring strategy.

UK-based Wayve has begun Level 2+ testing in California, marking its U.S. expansion with a vision-based, end-to-end AI approach that eliminates HD map dependency. This positions Wayve as a potential licensing competitor to Tesla and Waymo as multiple autonomy companies tap strong investor appetite via IPOs and funding rounds.

Chinese AV companies Pony AI and Horizon Robotics are preparing IPOs while expanding internationally, signaling China's global ambitions in autonomy. Meanwhile, US operators like Aurora and Kodiak are pivoting from R&D to monetization through freight and defense applications as investors demand profitability over growth.

Tesla's Cybercab/Robovan unveiling disappointed with lack of regulatory details and realistic timelines. Author expects FSD Unsupervised by 2030 (not 2025) and questions unanswered on liability, insurance, and pricing structure. Closed-course demos felt outdated versus public road testing competitors already conduct.

Tesla's October 10th "We Robot" event has driven significant investor speculation and stock buying ahead of anticipated robotaxi unveiling. Morgan Stanley expects Tesla may announce a dual rideshare approach combining robotaxis with FSD-supervised human drivers, though analyst predictions vary widely on actual announcements.

The U.S. Commerce Department proposed rules that would effectively ban autonomous vehicles with Chinese or Russian Vehicle Connectivity Systems and Automated Driving System software from sale or import. The rationale centers on protecting proprietary AV technology and trade secrets from potential theft, citing past examples of corporate espionage attempts targeting Apple's autonomous driving program.

Kodiak partnered with Textron to develop an autonomous military ground vehicle, advancing its diversified business strategy across trucking, defense, and off-road applications. Meanwhile, Waymo reportedly leaked manufacturing talks with Hyundai to preempt potential U.S. government restrictions on its Chinese-made Zeekr robotaxis.

Nuro shifted to a licensing business model, signaling a broader industry trend toward technology partnerships rather than fleet operations. This approach could accelerate autonomous vehicle adoption by enabling OEMs to integrate proven AV technology into personally-owned vehicles.

Komatsu became the first mining company with 10 autonomous trucks exceeding 100,000 operating hours each. Its 750+ autonomous truck fleet has hauled over 10 billion metric tons, demonstrating that off-road autonomy is scaling profitably while on-road applications still search for sustainable unit economics.

Applied Intuition partnered with Isuzu to develop autonomous trucks for Japan, adding to its client base of 18 of the top 20 global automotive OEMs. The company is positioned as one of autonomy's most profitable businesses, building a competitive moat through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.