Mobility Monitor

Autonomous Vehicles

• Waymo announces the Waymo World Model for autonomous driving simulation and begins fully autonomous operations with its 6th-generation Waymo Driver Waymo Blog
• Wood Mackenzie projects autonomous EV operations or testing in 39 markets by end of 2026, with global AEV sales expected to expand tenfold between 2026 and 2030 Technology Magazine
• NVIDIA announces Alpamayo family of open-source AI models and tools to accelerate safe, reasoning-based autonomous vehicle development NVIDIA News
• Tesla begins Cybercab production at Gigafactory Texas Electrek
• US Senate Commerce Committee holds hearing on the future of self-driving cars Senate Commerce

Electric Vehicles

• 41 new electric vehicle models to watch for in the U.S. in 2026-2027 Top Electric SUV
• Multiple vehicles approaching full self-driving capabilities in 2026 US News

Rideshare Industry

• Lyft launches teen accounts more than two years after Uber, aiming to address social isolation and screen time concerns CNBC / Fortune
• Lyft reports transformation to global transportation platform across six continents with $1.12 billion in free cash flow and announces $1 billion share repurchase program LinkedIn / Markets Financial Content
• Lyft records busiest Super Bowl ever with 13%+ more rides and improved service metrics LinkedIn
• Shared mobility market projected to grow at 17% CAGR through 2031 driven by ride-hailing and micromobility platforms PR Newswire
• New unlicensed rideshare app "Empower" launches in NYC promising lower fares through driver subscriptions instead of commissions CBS News
• Uber for Business partners with Mazda to provide on-demand courtesy rides for dealership customers across the U.S. LinkedIn
• Federal employees enrolled in GSA's Rideshare Program gain access to Uber One benefits through November 2027 LinkedIn

AI/Automation

• Uber launches Cart Assistant, an AI-powered grocery assistant in the Uber Eats app that builds baskets from text or image prompts LinkedIn
• Sabre, Mindtrip, and PayPal partner to launch agentic AI assistant for travel, set for Q2 2026 launch Phocuswire
• Marriott plans to deploy natural language search across Marriott.com and Bonvoy mobile app in first half of 2026 Phocuswire
• IHG plans AI-compatible hotel content platform, grouping AI initiatives into guest acquisition, commercial optimization, and cost efficiency Phocuswire
• Lufthansa Group partners with Amadeus to implement AI-native retailing solution Nevio across multiple airlines Phocuswire
• DirectBooking and DeepYou partner to build AI-native hotel booking platform targeting 100,000 hotels in three years Phocuswire
• Expedia Group sees double-digit growth in revenue and gross bookings as AI push continues Phocuswire
• TripWorks lands $6M for AI-driven pricing and revenue optimization tools Phocuswire
• Indicio launches technology allowing AI agents to verify digital passports, creating bidirectional trust Phocuswire
• WebMCP standard from Google and Microsoft offers path for travel sites to become "agent-ready" Phocuswire
• Travel executives from Amex GBT, Kayak, Expedia Group, and Airbnb adjust leadership teams to account for AI evolution Phocuswire
• Accenture study shows only 12% of airlines link AI directly to revenue, indicating tentative approach compared to other industries Phocuswire
• World Economic Forum explores how transport industry can harness AI for decarbonization WEF

Airline Industry

• Tripadvisor pleased with experiences revenue contribution of $204 million in Q4, up from $186 million, and early AI MVP tests Phocuswire

Travel & Hospitality

• Booking Holdings sees 20% rise in travelers booking multiple trip components with continued growth in U.S. and Asia Phocuswire
• Airbnb confirms hotel expansion plans amid strong early momentum and expands Reserve Now, Pay Later globally Phocuswire / Phocuswire
• Vrbo partners with WeatherPromise to add weather-guarantee option for select U.S. reservations Phocuswire
• Mexican OTA Daypass.com lands $2M for international expansion to 26 countries Phocuswire
• Indian OTA Ixigo acquires majority stake in Spain's Trenes for global expansion Phocuswire
• Capital One acquires spend management platform Brex, which added corporate travel management in 2023 Phocuswire

Transportation Infrastructure

• UK sets out vision for open, interoperable connected vehicle services Traffic Technology Today
• U.S. Transportation Department moves to Google Workspace with AI tools Nextgov
• DOT's National Transportation Digital Infrastructure could reshape freight operations Transport Blog