Robotaxis rise as Waabi secures US$750-million funding

Waabi Innovation raised US$750-million to expand autonomous long-haul trucking and said it will deploy a minimum of 25,000 autonomous vehicles on Uber's ride-hailing service.

Waabi Innovation announced a US$750-million fundraising round to expand its autonomous long-haul trucking business and to develop robotaxis in partnership with Uber. The Toronto company already operates autonomous trucks in Texas with a safety driver in the cab. Waabi said it will deploy a minimum of 25,000 autonomous vehicles on Uber's ride-hailing service, but has not specified where or when. This report sits alongside other technology and science developments, including a planned radio-astronomy project in British Columbia. Notable developments: - Waabi Innovation announced a US$750-million financing round to fund expansion in autonomous trucking and robotaxis. - The company operates autonomous trucks in Texas with a safety driver currently present in the cab. - Waabi plans to deploy at least 25,000 autonomous vehicles on Uber's ride-hailing service, with location and timing not disclosed. - The Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD) will place hundreds of antennas in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley with two outriggers in the United States to improve radio observations. - Other business items noted include rising precious metals activity, a recent India-EU trade deal, and upcoming central bank announcements. Summary: The new financing may accelerate Waabi's work in autonomous trucking and its planned robotaxi partnership with Uber, indicating growing investment in self-driving mobility. Deployment locations and timing for the robotaxi rollout have not been released, so timing is undetermined at this time.