Waabi introduces mixed reality testing system for autonomous truck safety

To view this email as a web page, click here

Waabi introduces mixed reality testing system for autonomous truck safety

(Photo: Waabi)

Waabi, an autonomous trucking technology leader, has introduced a new mixed reality testing (MRT) system that transforms the way autonomous vehicles are tested. The technology works by blending physical test environments with sophisticated virtual scenarios.

In an interview with FreightWaves, Raquel Urtasun, founder and CEO of Waabi, recently talked about how this technology creates virtual scenarios for autonomous trucks operating on physical test tracks.

“In the industry, we often talk about driving in the physical world as one type of testing, and we also discuss simulation, where we run scenarios in the cloud at scale,” said Urtasun. “But one aspect that’s discussed less is how safety testing is really done today, and that’s where mixed reality comes in.”

Traditional safety testing for vehicles has remained largely unchanged for a century. Testing teams bring vehicles to closed tracks and conduct a limited number of scripted scenarios that require complex coordination similar to movie stunts. A downside to this approach is that it yields minimal test diversity, offers poor repeatability and avoids truly dangerous scenarios to prevent damage to test vehicles. It’s also expensive.

Waabi’s MRT system overcomes these limitations by intercepting sensor data from the physical world and blending it with simulation. This creates an environment where autonomous trucks can safely encounter virtually unlimited dangerous situations without physical risk.

Read the full article here.

PlusAI and Goodyear team up to enhance autonomous trucks with intelligent tire tech

(Photo: PlusAI)

Autonomous truck technology maker PlusAI recently announced it is collaborating with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The collaboration will look at how tire data from Goodyear’s intelligent tire technology suite can enhance SuperDrive, PlusAI’s fully autonomous virtual driver.

Goodyear’s SightLine technology works by using sensors to deliver real-time information on tire health, road surface conditions and friction levels. This is done by continuous monitoring via a tire-road interface.

A goal of the collaboration is to use this data to further strengthen PlusAI’s SuperDrive virtual driver, using the data to optimize vehicle performance and improve reliability in a wide range of driving environments.

PlusAI has spent the last nine years developing its virtual driver software and has deployed autonomous driving technology across the U.S., Europe and Asia. The company notes in the release its software has logged more than 5 million miles of driving.

PlusAI’s autonomy partners include multiple global OEMs including Traton Group, Hyundai and Iveco — who will factory-build the trucks, validate, deliver, then provide support for the SuperDrive-powered autonomous vehicles.

The release notes that PlusAI and its partners are targeting the commercial launch of its SuperDrive-enabled, factory-built autonomous trucks in 2027, beginning in the United States and then expanding into Europe.

CATL continues global battery production expansion despite slump in EV sales

(Photo: CATL)

CATL, the world’s largest supplier of electric-vehicle batteries, continues its expansion with ongoing factory investments despite slowed growth in the global EV market, Nikkei Asia reports. The Chinese company posted a record-high 30.4 billion yuan ($4.22 billion) net profit in its January-June earnings, while revenue grew 17% in its core EV battery segment.

The battery manufacturer invested 9.7 billion yuan in factories during the first half of 2025, marking its third consecutive year of approximately 8-9 billion yuan in first-half capital spending on plants. However, this amount represents a decline from the same period in 2022, when the company invested 19.9 billion yuan. One reason behind the 2022 data was CATL’s rapid expansion in capacity to meet China’s booming EV demand.

“Capital spending this year will be higher than in 2024,” CATL executives told investors during a Wednesday conference call.

With domestic expansion in China largely complete across its 11 plants, CATL has shifted focus to international markets. The company began operations at its first overseas factory in Thuringia, Germany, in 2022, while construction continues on a Hungarian plant expected to cost up to 7.3 billion euros ($8.4 billion). Recently, CATL broke ground on an Indonesian factory, a $5.9 billion investment in collaboration with local partners.

CATL’s production capacity for batteries reached 345 gigawatt-hours during the first half of 2025, representing a 7% year-over-year increase and more than double the 154 GWh reported for the same period in 2022. An additional 235 GWh is currently under construction.

While CATL maintains its aggressive strategy, competitors have exercised caution. South Korea’s LG Energy Solution withdrew from a planned multibillion-dollar investment in Indonesia, while Panasonic Holdings has only partially activated its new Kansas factory and placed plans for a third U.S. facility on hold.

The strategic investments have yielded significant market gains for CATL, particularly in Europe. “Our share of the automotive battery market in Europe has expanded from 17% in 2021 to 38% in 2025,” CATL management noted.

CATL’s EV batteries claimed a 38.1% global market share from January to May 2025, according to South Korea’s SNE Research. This places it well ahead of second-ranked BYD at 17.4% and LG Energy Solution at 10%.

Briefly noted …

The Clean Truck Partnership is under stress after Congress overturned the EPA waiver for California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule via the Congressional Review Act. FreightWaves John Kingston writes Engine manufacturers cite low zero-emission vehicle demand and plummeting sales, urging talks, while environmentalists demand reaffirmed commitment to electric trucks.

Clean Trucking reports that Nikola Corp. creditors subpoenaed LG Energy Solution over claims that defective batteries supplied to the electric truck maker caused fires, leading to a 2023 recall. The subpoena, filed in bankruptcy court, seeks documents on defects and communications.

Most recent episode

As always, thanks for watching and reading.

Thomas Wasson

twasson@firecrown.com

Forward this to a friend

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here

To manage all your subscriptions, click here

Firecrown Media Inc. | 405 Cherry Street | Chattanooga, TN 37402 USA