Mobileye, the Israeli technology firm and Intel subsidiary, has unveiled plans to enter the autonomous vehicle operating market with the launch of its own robotaxi service in a currently unnamed US city by 2027. This strategic pivot sees the company moving beyond its established position as a leading supplier of autonomous vehicle technology to become an operator in its own right, a significant development that could reshape the competitive landscape of the driverless transport sector.
The initial phase of Mobileye's robotaxi service will involve a fleet of 100 autonomous vehicles, which will be progressively introduced throughout 2027. Should this pilot prove successful, the company has ambitious plans to expand its fleet to approximately 17,000 robotaxis over the subsequent five years. This aggressive scaling indicates Mobileye's commitment to establishing a substantial presence in the nascent robotaxi market, leveraging its extensive expertise in self-driving systems.
Mobileye's founder and CEO, Amnon Shashua, highlighted the transformative potential of the robotaxi revolution, noting the industry's increasing reliance on a limited number of technology providers and business models. The company aims to address this by directly entering the operational side of the business. This new operating division will utilise Mobileye's proprietary self-driving system and will integrate Moovit, the transit and ride-hailing application owned by Mobileye, for the crucial consumer-facing aspects of the service.
The decision to become an operator represents a notable shift for Mobileye, which has historically focused on supplying advanced driver-assistance systems and self-driving technology to major automakers globally. The company has been instrumental in equipping millions of vehicles with computer vision chips designed to enhance safety features. Its self-driving system is currently supplied to partners such as Volkswagen and its MOIA subsidiary, raising questions about potential future competition with its existing client base.
However, Mobileye insists that this new initiative is an extension of its current partnerships rather than a replacement. Shashua affirmed the company's continued dedication to enabling automakers and mobility providers with its Mobileye Drive system. He added that operating its own service would allow Mobileye to accelerate the adoption of autonomous technology, gain direct operational experience, and effectively showcase the full capabilities of autonomous mobility solutions. While the specific vehicle platform for the robotaxi fleet was not named, Mobileye indicated it would collaborate with “AV-ready vehicle platform manufacturers.”