Waabi Innovation Inc. Embarks on Ambitious Autonomous Vehicle Journey
Raquel Urtasun, CEO and founder of Waabi, engages with BNN Bloomberg to elucidate the company’s pioneering advancements in artificial intelligence tailored for autonomous trucking and robotaxis.
Operating predominantly in Canada and the U.S., Waabi is navigating regulatory challenges to introduce its autonomous vehicle technology to Canada, following the acquisition of a monumental contract with Uber, according to Urtasun.
Based in Toronto, Waabi Innovation Inc. has inked a staggering US$1 billion agreement aimed at significantly enhancing its self-driving trucking operations while concurrently venturing into the burgeoning robotaxi sector.
“We are the preeminent force globally in self-driving trucking, which is exhilarating to achieve from Canada,” Urtasun articulated during her Thursday interview with BNN Bloomberg.
The visionary CEO established the company four and a half years ago. The partnership with Uber sets the stage for the deployment of 25,000 robotaxis.
“This substantial robotaxi contract indicates their enthusiasm; they are indeed tripling down… positioning Waabi as a critical contributor to the Uber network,” she noted.
Having formerly held a position at Uber, Urtasun revealed that the tech giant was an early benefactor of her enterprise. “They have truly recognized the capabilities of our technology,” she stated.
Urtasun expressed her aspiration to introduce similar technology in Canada but acknowledged the governmental obstacles confronting her efforts.
She pointed out that the United States offers a more conducive regulatory landscape, prompting the company to launch its operations there first, although it remains committed to collaborating with Canadian regulators to expedite technology implementation.
“We are proactively engaging with regulators to facilitate the safe deployment of our technology here as well,” Urtasun affirmed.
The company has been rigorously testing its vehicles on public roads, accompanied by safety drivers since 2022. “We can substantiate that our system is safe,” Urtasun asserted.
Urtasun emphasized that the same AI framework is adept for both self-driving trucks and robotaxis, ensuring a rapid and seamless transition into the robotaxi arena.
“Our autonomous system is genuinely performance-ready for driverlessness,” she declared. Waabi trucks and vans
She indicated that Waabi’s trucks are capable of navigating urban surface streets and have collaborated with some of North America’s largest shippers and carriers.
Urtasun elaborated that the company will harness the complete potential of AI and its analytical capabilities to ensure safety, functioning in tandem with a simulator to enhance learning.
Moreover, she asserted that the technology is capable of teaching its system to outperform human drivers in accident avoidance, thereby propelling Waabi towards readiness for the next operational phase.
In a landscape populated by competitors such as Waymo and Tesla, Urtasun confidently believes her company possesses “ample opportunity” to capture significant market share for the foreseeable future.
“We have the next generation of technology that will enable us to enter the robotaxi market quickly and efficiently. It’s a colossal market valued at $1 trillion in the U.S. alone,” she stated.
Urtasun noted that the company has been actively operating in Texas since 2023.
Source link: Bnnbloomberg.ca.
