In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Maryland, Hesai, Bonsai Robotics, Lyft, Mobileye, May Mobility and Panasonic.
Teamsters Push for Maryland Bill Requiring Human Operators in Heavy Vehicles
The Teamsters union is urging the Maryland House of Delegates to pass House Bill 439 (HB 439), which would mandate a human operator in any vehicle over 10,000 pounds. Union leaders argue the legislation is essential to protecting middle-class jobs and ensuring road safety.
Sean Cedenio, president of Teamsters Joint Council 62, criticized tech companies for prioritizing profits over workers and called on lawmakers to support the bill. Polling indicates broad public support for regulations on autonomous vehicles (AVs), with concerns over job security and safety.
Beyond state-level efforts, the Teamsters are advocating for federal regulations on driverless vehicles. Kendall Walker, a UPS driver and member of Teamsters Local 639, emphasized the importance of preserving career opportunities for future workers.
Hesai Expands BYD Partnership to Advance ADAS with Lidar
Hesai Technology (Nasdaq: HSAI) is strengthening its collaboration with BYD to supply lidar for over 10 vehicle models, with mass production slated for 2025. This move supports BYD’s “God’s Eye” ADAS, which will become standard on future models.
BYD sold over 4 million intelligent vehicles in 2024, leading the domestic market.Lidar adoption in China doubled in 2024, surpassing 1.5 million units.
Hesai produced over 100,000 lidar units in December 2024, aiming for 2 million+ units annually by 2025.
The company has secured 100+ design wins across 22 OEMs, including major automakers.
The ATX lidar, a compact high-performance model, will enter mass production in Q1 2025.
Hesai’s expanding partnerships reinforce its role in advancing smart mobility, safety, and autonomous driving technologies.
Topcon Agriculture and Bonsai Robotics Partner to Advance Agricultural Automation
Topcon Agriculture and Bonsai Robotics have announced a partnership to enhance automation in permanent crop farming. The collaboration integrates Bonsai Robotics’ vision-based autonomous navigation with Topcon Agriculture’s expertise in autosteering, telematics, and smart implements. This joint effort aims to automate labor-intensive tasks, improve data-driven decision-making, and optimize precision harvesting in challenging environments.
Bonsai Robotics CEO Tyler Niday emphasized the integration of AI-driven autonomy with Topcon’s precision sensors to boost efficiency and sustainability. Topcon Agriculture EVP Antonio Marzia highlighted the partnership’s potential to address key agricultural challenges, including labor shortages and resource inefficiencies.
This initiative marks a significant step toward global precision automation solutions for orchard farming.
Lyft to Launch Mobileye-Powered Robotaxi Fleet in Dallas by 2026
Lyft plans to introduce a fleet of robotaxis in Dallas by 2026, using self-driving technology from Intel’s Mobileye. The company aims to expand to thousands of vehicles in additional markets soon after. To support operations, Lyft has partnered with Japanese conglomerate Marubeni, which will own and manage the fleet.
Following a strategy similar to Uber, Lyft is focusing on providing a ride-hailing platform for autonomous vehicle developers rather than owning the fleet itself. Marubeni, despite limited experience in ride-hailing, brings extensive fleet management expertise, overseeing over 900,000 vehicles globally.
The move comes as Uber strengthens its own robotaxi partnerships with Waymo and other AV developers, while Tesla is set to launch its Cybercab service in Austin. Lyft, which previously attempted to develop its own AV technology before selling the division to Toyota in 2021, is now racing to solidify its place in the autonomous ride-hailing market.
May Mobility Launches First Commercial Driverless Transit Service in Peachtree Corners
summary: May Mobility has launched its first commercial driver-out autonomous transportation service in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, marking its third driverless deployment in the U.S. in partnership with Curiosity Lab, T-Mobile, and the city. Operating along an eight-stop route in the city’s smart infrastructure hub, the service features autonomous Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles equipped with May Mobility’s Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) AI technology, which adapts to unpredictable driving conditions.
The service is available to the public Monday through Friday and can be booked via the May Mobility app. Plans for expansion include additional routes in Peachtree Corners and metro Atlanta in collaboration with Lyft. May Mobility also recently announced a partnership with Tecnobus to develop an autonomous electric minibus capable of carrying up to 30 passengers.
Panasonic HD Pioneers Remote-Controlled Robot Fleet for Public Road Operations
Panasonic Holdings Corporation has become the first company in Japan to receive approval for operating 10 small, remotely controlled mobility robots simultaneously on public roads across multiple regions under a single operator’s supervision. This initiative aims to address labor shortages in the logistics sector, exacerbated by the increasing demand for home deliveries and the need for accessible goods.
The company has developed AI-assisted robotic solutions to enhance last-mile delivery, mobile vending, and information dissemination. Since 2022, Panasonic HD has expanded its remote-controlled robot operations, culminating in the ability to manage up to 10 autonomous delivery robots, named HAKOBO, across three locations in Japan.
By integrating AI and robotics, Panasonic HD seeks to improve service efficiency, reduce operational costs, and create a more flexible work environment. The company continues to develop its mobility service platform, X-Area, aiming to make remote work and automated logistics more accessible while improving overall convenience in daily life.