As the world becomes more and more automated, the idea of self-driving cars has gone from science fiction to a reality that many people are looking forward to. This new form of transportation offers a number of advantages over traditional taxis. Most importantly, robotaxis offer a more sustainable form of transportation. They reduce traffic congestion and emissions and make it easier for people to get around without having to own a car. As the world becomes increasingly digitized, it is likely that more and more forms of transportation will become automated. Robotaxis are just the beginning. In Europe, many robotaxi pilots are already underway.

AutoX and NEVS

In 2019, AutoX and NEVS teamed up to launch Europe’s first robotaxi pilot service. The partnership immediately intensified the relationship between the two companies. The aim of the collaboration was to launch a robotaxi pilot service in Europe by the end of 2020 after rigorous testing of the technology integrated in the NEVS vehicles by the third quarter of 2019. The partnership’s ultimate goal is to deploy a large fleet of robotaxis across the globe.

Mobileye

Mobileye is a subsidiary of Intel. Mobileye’s autonomous taxis are a demonstration of the company’s self-driving technology. The taxis are equipped with sensors and cameras that enable them to navigate roads and safely transport passengers.

In September 2021, Intel announced a self-driving taxi pilot service for Munich and Tel Aviv. It was not a coincidence that Israel and Germany were chosen as test markets for the new technology. Known as the “Start-Up Nation”, Israel is a natural testing ground for new technologies. Mobileye unveiled its 6-passenger, electric autonomous vehicle at the Munich Motor Show. The electric Mobileye autonomous vehicles will operate under the MoovitAV service branding and will be used for commercial driverless ride-hailing services in Tel Aviv and Munich in 2022. The service will be operated in cooperation with international rental company Sixt SE.

Argo AI

Startup Argo AI, which is jointly backed by Volkswagen and Ford, tested an electric VW ID.BUZZ robotaxi on a track in Munich in 2021 with the ambition to start a service within 4 years.

The company, which is based in Pittsburgh, said it was teaming up with the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS in Stuttgart and the Technical University of Munich TUM to develop software for autonomous driving. The startup, which is based in Pittsburgh, plans to equip a fleet of about 100 vehicles with its self-driving technology in order to ferry passengers around the Bavarian capital. The company is currently in the process of raising a new round of financing.

Waymo

Google’s self driving unit Waymo had launched an autonomous pilot service called Waymo One in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona, in 2018. In 2019, Google announced that it plans to expand to Europe and launch its self-driving taxi service in Europe. This move is a part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its autonomous driving technology beyond the United States.

Waymo One is a ride-hailing service that uses self-driving cars. Customers can hail a car through the Waymo app, and the car will drive them to their destination. The cars are staffed by a human driver, who can take over if necessary. Waymo One is currently available to Phoenix-area residents who are part of Waymo’s Early Rider program. The service will be open to all residents in the Phoenix area in the future. The project is a joint venture between Waymo, Google’s self-driving car division, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), which supplies the minivans for the fleet.

The aim of the project is to have a fully autonomous taxi service that can compete with the likes of Uber and Lyft. Waymo One has already completed millions of miles of testing on public roads, and the company says its vehicles are now safer than a human driver. Phoenix was chosen for the trial because of its climate and large number of sunny days. The service will also be expanded to other cities in the near future.

The Future

The European Union is showing great interest in the autonomous vehicle technology and has plans to roll out more robotaxi pilots in Europe in the future. This would allow people to hail a self-driving taxi the same way they would hail a regular taxi. The goal is to reduce traffic congestion and pollution and make it easier for people to get around. There are still some challenges that need to be overcome, such as ensuring safety and regulating the industry. But if everything goes according to plan, we could see a lot more robotaxis on European roads in the next few years.