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Earlier this month, Waymo Chief Safety Officer Mauricio Peña provided testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee during a hearing regarding self-driving vehicles.

Much of the inquiry fell under the typical “let’s inform the public” category. However, it was Sen. Ed Markey’s inquiries regarding foreign workers, along with Peña’s replies, that drew significant attention.

When questioned about human workers who assist with the navigation or emergencies of Waymo vehicles, Peña disclosed that the company has remote guidance staff working from the Philippines. This prompted a quick backlash from Markey, who criticized Peña regarding the reliance on individuals lacking U.S. driver’s licenses to aid its vehicles on American roads, among other concerns.

Waymo responded through a blog post from Ryan McNamara, the head of global operations, published on Tuesday. The company also shared a letter sent to Markey’s office.

The post and letter offer new insights about its remote assistance operations. For example, Waymo emphasizes that it does not employ individuals to “remotely drive” the robotaxis; instead, the self-driving systems manage the operation.

Remote assistance (RA) workers are present to address specific information requests made by the Waymo self-driving system. The company also maintains Event Response Teams (ERTs), individuals certified for complex tasks who are exclusively located in the United States. According to Waymo, this team reacts to accidents, engages with law enforcement and passengers, gathers data for regulatory reporting, and coordinates towing.

Additionally, we now understand that Waymo has approximately “70 Remote Assistance agents available globally at any time.” These agents are situated in Arizona, Michigan, and two locations in the Philippines, a detail that has once again frustrated some lawmakers.

To grasp what this entails, note that Waymo operates a fleet of 3,000 vehicles, and its vehicles cover over 4 million miles weekly, providing more than 400,000 rides. Therefore, a small number of workers monitor many robotaxis.

I have maintained for years that AV companies ought to improve their transparency regarding behind-the-scenes operations, especially concerning remote guidance. Most companies, many of which no longer operate, have shunned this topic, possibly in an attempt to project a more magical and advanced image of their technology. Ultimately, obscurity breeds mistrust.

As the conversation surrounding remote guidance operators unfolds, Waymo continues to expand into new markets, with one exception.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has retracted a proposal that intended to revise vehicle and traffic laws to effectively legalize robotaxis across the state, excluding New York City. Hochul’s spokesperson, Sean Butler, informed me: “Following discussions with stakeholders, including legislative members, it became evident that the backing was insufficient to move this proposal forward.”

One last note before we delve into the rest of the updates. Mobility readers seem skeptical that the Rivian R2 will be available for $50,000 or less. Last week, I surveyed you all asking: “What do you think the starting price of the Rivian R2 launch edition will be?” I provided three options: under $50,000, over $60,000, and over $70,000. More than 54% selected “over $60,000,” with the remaining responses split amongst the other options.

To engage in our polls, sign up for the Mobility newsletter here.

A little bird

Senior Reporter Sean O’Kane received intel from some inside sources regarding layoffs at Lucid. Here’s what we’ve discovered. Lucid is letting go of 12% of its workforce, according to an internal memo that TechCrunch has accessed. We do not have an exact figure on those affected, but it likely entails hundreds.

Lucid has not yet reported its 2025 annual earnings, which would reveal the total number of employees at the year’s end. The company indicated it had 6,800 full-time employees globally at the end of 2024.

Following our report, O’Kane learned more details. Affected staff were notified early Friday morning, with some realizing something was wrong when they lost access to Microsoft Teams. They have technically been placed on a 60-day “administrative leave” and won’t be officially laid off until late April.

Have a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at [email protected] or my Signal at kkorosec.07, or email Sean O’Kane at [email protected].

Deals!

Amari AI, a startup that utilizes AI technology to assist customs brokers in navigating and modernizing President Trump’s trade policies, secured $4.5 million in funding co-led by well-known early-stage investors First Round Capital and Pear VC. The startup claims to have already attracted over 30 clients and facilitated the movement of more than $15 billion in goods for those firms.

Kavak, the online used car marketplace based in Mexico, closed a $300 million equity round led by Andreessen Horowitz, contributing $200 million. Other participants included WCM Investment Management, which co-led the funding, along with Foxhaven Asset Management.

LanzaJet, a producer of next-generation fuels and related technology, raised $47 million in the first close of a planned $135 million equity round. The company stated its pre-money valuation stands at $650 million. The round was co-led by IAG and Shell, with participation from Groupe ADP, LanzaTech, and Mitsui.

Metafuels, a Swiss startup focused on sustainable aviation fuel, secured $24 million in a Series A funding round led by UVC Partners. Additional investors included Energy Impact Partners, Contrarian Ventures, RockCreek, Verve Ventures, and Fortescue.

Notable reads and other tidbits

Ford is striving to shift shareholders’ attention away from the $19.5 billion loss it incurred late last year, aiming instead to present itself as an agile, technology-driven company crafting future profitable products that will herald a new era. The company, which has pledged to deliver an electric truck starting at $30,000 that can compete with Chinese manufacturers without sacrificing profit margins, outlined its strategy to achieve that vision. Will a mix of 3D-printed Lego-like components, Formula 1 strategies, and a rewards program suffice?

The enthusiasm surrounding AI data centers is evident. Consider Redwood Materials as an example. This battery recycling and materials startup launched an energy storage division last year, focusing explicitly on AI data centers. Redwood Energy has become the fastest-growing segment within the company. Read my complete article to comprehend the implications.

Rivian is unveiling a companion app that enables owners to carry out essential functions such as locking and unlocking doors, venting windows, and activating the vehicle alarm using their Apple Watch. The company also introduced a broader software update, incorporating numerous other new vehicle functionalities.

Tesla has lost its attempt to overturn a jury’s $243 million ruling in a fatal Autopilot crash trial. As a reminder: Tesla could have settled this situation for $60 million. Nevertheless, the company did secure a victory with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which announced it will not suspend Tesla’s sales and manufacturing licenses for 30 days since the EV manufacturer has ceased using the term “Autopilot” in its vehicle marketing in the state.

One more thing …

I periodically test vehicles to stay updated with the latest in-car technology, electric vehicles, and hybrid models — or their software updates. Coincidentally, I had a Lucid Air Touring sedan this week.

It’s been over a year since I last drove an Air, and I was eager to experience the company’s hands-free driver-assistance system that debuted last July. My previous encounters with the company’s advanced driver-assistance system, known as Dream Drive, left me unimpressed. The vehicle would frequently veer between lanes (indicating difficulty in centering itself) or stay too close to the shoulder, leaving me feeling uncomfortably near the large trucks I overtook on the highway.

I am pleased to report that Lucid seems to have addressed these concerns. Engaging the hands-free system was simple and did not allow for excessive misuse. As shown in the picture above, if I placed a phone in front of my face, a warning was nearly instantly triggered.