Lyft has integrated Waymo robotaxis into its application in Nashville, marking the company's first commercial service using fully driverless vehicles. Under this partnership, Lyft manages fleet maintenance and depot operations through its subsidiary Flexdrive. Previously, Lyft sold its own autonomous vehicle division to Toyota’s Woven Planet for $550 million in 2021.
The company plans to diversify its autonomous vehicle offerings in 2026, focusing on expanding partnerships with Waymo and Baidu. Lyft is prioritizing international markets where it can implement hybrid networks of autonomous and human-driven vehicles. Executive Jeremy Bird noted that the company is increasingly focused on global expansion.
The mobility sector saw significant investment activity, including The Boring Company raising $3 billion at a $23 billion valuation to expand tunnel projects in the UAE. Additionally, Kenyan startup ARC Ride secured $33.3 million, while Beep raised $20 million in a Series B round led by Mobileye.
Other notable transactions include Porsche selling its stakes in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group for €1 billion. Meanwhile, Poseidon Aerospace raised $60 million for its cargo plane project, and Stoke Space secured $1 billion in a funding round led by Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital.
In the defense and tech space, Tern received an $11.26 million contract from the U.S. Army for navigation technology. Uber invested $10 million in Carrum Mobility, valuing the startup at approximately $168 million. Furthermore, Beta Technologies, Joby Aviation, and Wisk have initiated flight tests under an FAA pilot program in Texas.
