In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Waabi, Volvo, Samsung, TIER IV, Nihon Kotsu, WeRide and Cenntro.
Waabi and Volvo Partner to Advance Autonomous Trucking with AI-Driven Innovation
Waabi, a leader in generative AI for the physical world, has announced a strategic partnership with Volvo Autonomous Solutions to accelerate the development and deployment of self-driving trucks. The collaboration brings together Waabi’s cutting-edge AI technology with Volvo’s expertise in automation and safety to revolutionize freight transportation with safer, more efficient, and sustainable autonomous trucks.
As part of this partnership, Waabi’s AI-powered “Waabi Driver” system will be integrated into the Volvo VNL Autonomous, Volvo’s autonomous truck designed with redundant safety systems. These trucks, built at Volvo’s New River Valley assembly plant, will operate on Volvo’s autonomous technology platform, supporting diverse commercial applications across the $1 trillion North American freight industry.
Waabi’s AV2.0 approach, which utilizes a highly interpretable and verifiable AI model alongside the industry’s most advanced neural simulator, aims to enable autonomous trucks to safely navigate complex real-world scenarios. This innovation, combined with Volvo’s purpose-built autonomous truck platform, is expected to drive broad commercial adoption of self-driving freight transport.
The partnership builds upon Volvo’s ongoing collaboration with Waabi, which began with Volvo Group Venture Capital’s investment in Waabi in early 2023, followed by further funding in Waabi’s $200 million Series B round. With the groundwork already laid for the integration of the Waabi Driver into the Volvo VNL Autonomous, testing is scheduled to begin in 2025.
By joining forces, Waabi and Volvo are positioning themselves at the forefront of the autonomous trucking revolution, aiming to redefine safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the logistics industry.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Unveils World’s First High-Voltage, Ultra-Small MLCC for Autonomous Driving
On February 5th, Samsung Electro-Mechanics introduced the world’s highest voltage ultra-small MLCC (CL05Y225KP66PN) in a 1005 size (1.0 mm x 0.5 mm), designed for autonomous driving applications. This MLCC features a 2.2uF capacitance and operates at 10V, marking a 60% increase from the previous 6.3V standard. It is the first of its kind to meet the AEC-Q200 reliability standard, ensuring high performance in LiDAR systems and other automotive applications such as ADAS, body, chassis, and infotainment systems. The breakthrough was achieved through proprietary additives and an advanced manufacturing process that enhances dielectric efficiency. Executive Vice President Choi Jeremy emphasized the company’s commitment to leading the high-performance MLCC market by innovating in materials, equipment, and processes.
TIER IV & Nihon Kotsu AVs
TIER IV, the leader in open-source autonomous driving software, and Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest taxi company, launched a project in February 2025 to enhance autonomous driving safety and ride quality using AI. The initiative equips Nihon Kotsu taxis with TIER IV’s data recording system (DRS) to collect large-scale driving data, which will be shared with industry partners to develop optimized AI datasets. Supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, this collaboration aims to accelerate Level 4 autonomous vehicle deployment. The project integrates TIER IV’s Co-MLOps platform for efficient data sharing and will scale from five to twenty taxis. Future efforts will focus on robotaxi pilot tests in Tokyo, contributing to Japan’s digital transformation in mobility.
WeRide Unveils Robovan W5: A Level 4 Autonomous Logistics Solution
WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving, has launched the Robovan W5, a cutting-edge Level 4 autonomous logistics vehicle designed for round-the-clock, all-weather operations. The Robovan W5 integrates vehicle, cloud, and operational management to address key challenges in urban and long-distance logistics, offering a cost-effective, unmanned delivery solution tailored for express delivery and point-to-point logistics.
Built on nearly 1,900 days of autonomous operations and 40 million kilometers of real-world driving, the Robovan W5 features WeRide’s self-developed sensor suite, delivering 360-degree perception with no blind spots. It boasts the largest cargo capacity in its class at 5.5 cubic meters with a 1,000 kg payload and an operating range of 220 km. Its intelligent path optimization system dynamically adjusts routes in real-time, avoiding congestion and improving efficiency.
Designed for scalability, the Robovan W5 supports multi-vehicle platooning, allowing a single operator to manage multiple vehicles, reducing operational costs. Safety features include a redundant drive-by-wire chassis, emergency braking, collision warnings, and real-time driving status monitoring. The cloud-based control platform enables intelligent scheduling, task optimization, and over-the-air updates, while WeRide offers 24/7 support, on-site training, and maintenance services.
Dr. Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide, emphasized the Robovan W5’s role in expanding WeRide’s autonomous ecosystem, joining the company’s GXR Robotaxi and Robosweeper to serve diverse urban mobility needs. With this launch, WeRide continues to push the boundaries of autonomous logistics, delivering smarter and more sustainable urban transportation solutions.
Cenntro Delivers 1K Autonomous Delivery Vehicles
Cenntro Inc. (NASDAQ: CENN), a leader in electric commercial vehicles, announced the delivery of more than 1,000 autonomous delivery vehicles incorporating the iChassis 100 platform to third-party contractors in China in 2024.
The iChassis 100 is a smart chassis designed for autonomous commercial vehicles. To support large-scale production, Cenntro established dedicated manufacturing and testing facilities, enabling the company to meet increasing demand.
Key highlights:
- Strong market demand for the iChassis platform following its initial production phase in 2023
- Expansion of autonomous vehicle production capabilities to serve third-party contractors
- Plans to grow operations in China, integrating proprietary autonomous driving software and hardware
CEO Peter Wang emphasized the positive reception of Cenntro’s autonomous vehicle technology, underscoring its role in the growing industry for self-driving commercial transport solutions.