Image: MOIA

MOIA has launched passenger test operations of its autonomous ridepooling service in Hamburg, allowing registered residents to book rides in self-driving ID. Buzz vehicles as part of the ALIKE project.

MOIA has started the next phase of its autonomous mobility program in Hamburg on July 15th. Selected pre-registered residents can now book trips in all-electric autonomous Volkswagen ID. Buzz vehicles through the MOIA app. According to the company’s press materials, the booking option will also be integrated into the hvv app in the coming weeks. The launch marks the first time that autonomous ridepooling services are available to passengers in Hamburg’s urban traffic under the ALIKE pilot project.

The initiative represents the latest development in MOIA’s strategy to commercialize autonomous mobility technology. According to the company, the platform combines autonomy-enabled vehicles, Mobileye’s self-driving technology, a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) software platform, and operational services designed for fleet operators. MOIA states that the operational experience gathered in Hamburg will be used in the continued development of its technology platform for deployment in additional markets.

Beyond Hamburg, MOIA states that it is conducting autonomous mobility activities at locations in Germany, Norway and the United States, where additional passenger pilot operations are being prepared. According to the company, these activities contribute to validating the technology under different operating conditions.

Source: Sustainable Bus

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Image: Zag Daily

Skyports has widened its ambitions for electric air taxi services in South Korea by bringing aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies and local operator UI Helicopter into its plans for a national network.

The agreement brings together three of the main elements needed for commercial operations: aircraft, infrastructure and a local operator. It builds on UK-based vertiport developer Skyports’ earlier work with the Jeju Provincial Government, where it has already been planning the country’s first vertiport network.

Under the memorandum of understanding, South Korean helicopter operator and maintenance provider UI Helicopter has agreed to acquire up to 20 aircraft from Vermont-based electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies. The order remains non-binding and could include both the company’s conventional take-off aircraft and its vertical take-off air taxi variant, with deliveries targeted from 2029.

The partnership is expected to launch first on Jeju Island. Skyports said Jeju is the furthest advanced because it already has government backing but the long-term aim is to replicate the model in other parts of South Korea as additional locations come forward.

Source: Zag Daily

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US EV Sales Are Down, but Not Out. Here’s Why Automakers Won’t Pull the Plug

A quick glance at US electric vehicle sales might give the impression EVs are a niche product, unable to shake Americans’ love affair with gas-powered trucks and SUVs. The recent spike in gas prices did little to lift sales, and the elimination of some tax incentives last year cut into demand. Major auto brands have pulled back on American EV plans. US sales of new EVs fell 20% in the second quarter from a year ago, according to Cox Automotive.

country since 2020.

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Tesla's Robotaxi Just Launched in Miami. Here's How Small the Service Area Really Is

Tesla has been refocusing its business on robots, aiming to ramp up production of its Optimus humanoid robot. However, this is part of a broader push for autonomous machines, including self-driving cars. As usual, CEO Elon Musk has lofty aspirations, but investors need to put them into perspective. And the recent launch of Tesla's Robotaxi services in Miami offers just the opportunity.

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Could Facial Recognition Stop Illegal Taxi Driving? The Technology Dividing Opinion across the Trade

The idea of facial recognition in taxis might once have sounded like science fiction. Today, it is becoming a genuine talking point as parts of the industry search for ways to tackle illegal driving and restore confidence that the person accepting a fare is actually the licensed driver.

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TTC Launches Camera Pilot to Curb Illegal Passing of Streetcars

The next phase of the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) ongoing program to improve safety for customers launched with a nine-month test of cameras that will catch road users who illegally pass open streetcar doors. As of today, four streetcars equipped with technology from B.C.-based Gatekeeper Systems will roll out on five mixed-traffic routes. During the pilot, the cameras will measure how often illegal streetcar passing occurs and test the technology's reliability for future automated enforcement. Tickets will not yet be issued.

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Canadian Transportation Agency Approves Lac-Mégantic Bypass

The Canadian Transportation Agency has approved construction of the Lac-Mégantic Bypass, the project to reroute the main line now owned by CPKC away from downtown in the Quebec community devastated by a derailment and fire that killed 47 people in July 2013.

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Travellers Report Major Traffic Delays Driving to Montreal-Trudeau Airport

Travellers, taxi drivers and airport officials agree that getting to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport has become increasingly challenging during the busy summer travel season.

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Istanbul Hikes Public Transport, Taxi Fares by 10%, Effective July 20

Istanbul's municipal council approved a 10% increase in fares for public transportation, taxis and school services on Friday, with the revised pricing set to take effect on July 20. The latest adjustment comes after the city's previous 20% public transport fare increase in February, as fuel costs have climbed since the Iran war began on Feb. 28.

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Uber Has Launched Terminals in Warsaw for Ordering Taxis without the App

American taxi service Uber has launched Tap to Ride terminals at Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport, which allow passengers to book and pay for a ride without using a mobile app. This was reported writes Rzeczpospolita. The new format is primarily aimed at airport passengers and tourists who do not use the Uber app or do not have mobile internet access upon arrival in the country. In Poland, the Tap to Ride terminals have already been dubbed "Ubermats."

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Joby, Electra Executives Tout Massive Potential Market for Air Taxis

As advanced air mobility manufacturers race towards certification, executives from air taxi start-ups Joby and Electra highlighted the tremendous amounts of medium-distance trips potentially replaceable by flights. In March 2026, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the first eight participants in an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) pilot programme, which includes the two startups. With data from the programme, they hope to create a system in which the aircraft can safely operate commercially.

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Hong Kong Set to Invite Ride-Hailing Firms to Apply for Licences in August

Hong Kong authorities plan to invite ride-hailing platforms to apply for operator licenses as early as next month and will begin approving them in batches from the end of November, the city’s transport minister has said, with some leading operators expressing interest in joining the market.

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Dubai to Upgrade 63 Public Transport Stations under Major Walking and Cycling Expansion Plan

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has approved a five-year soft mobility plan covering 25 residential areas through 2030. Infrastructure upgrades will also improve access to around 63 public transport stations. RTA plans to connect residential districts, commercial centres and major destinations with metro and bus services.

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China’s Car Market Heads for Worst Year since 2021 As Sales Plunge 20%

China’s car market appears to be headed for its worst year since 2021, as consumer demand for passenger vehicles tumbles following record-high sales in 2025. After passenger vehicle sales fell by 20.2% in the first half of the year, the China Passenger Car Association lowered its 2026 full-year retail sales projection to a decline of 14% from an earlier forecast of flat year-on-year sales.

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Image: Bliq

Autonomous vehicle startup Bliq has received approval to operate its driverless cars on public roads in Finland and will begin testing in Helsinki in the coming weeks.

The approval makes Finland the second EU member state after Estonia to permit Bliq’s vehicles on public roads. The company told Zag Daily it will initially deploy “one or two vehicles” before expanding the fleet to “more than 10” by November, with plans to gradually extend operations beyond Helsinki.

Testing will begin with safety drivers behind the wheel while the company assesses how its system performs under local road conditions. After a few days of supervised driving, Bliq plans to invite early adopters who have joined its Helsinki waiting list to ride in the vehicles.

Chief Executive Officer Julian Glaab said Europe should begin introducing autonomous vehicles “step-by-step” so regulators, companies and the public can learn how the technology works in practice.

Source: Zag Daily

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