Across freight, airports, city streets and the sky itself, autonomous mobility did not just make headlines: it made moves. Real fleets, real passengers, real capital. Here are the five stories that defined the shift in February 2026.
1. Uber and Joby move urban air mobility closer to takeoff
February brought progress even in the skies. Uber and Joby Aviation revealed plans to integrate Joby’s all-electric eVTOL aircraft directly into the Uber app, with first passenger flights targeted in Dubai later this year.
Designed to carry four passengers at speeds approaching 200 mph with around 100 miles of range, the aircraft represents more than a technological milestone. The real breakthrough lies in distribution: urban air mobility will be bookable in the same ecosystem as ground transport. Multimodal integration is becoming a defining theme of the autonomy era.
2. WeRide and Uber turn Abu Dhabi into a robotaxi powerhouse
On February 12, WeRide and Uber officially launched commercial robotaxi service in downtown Abu Dhabi, bringing autonomous vehicles into the heart of the city for the first time. The fleet has quadrupled since the partnership launched in late 2024 and now covers roughly 70% of the city center, bookable directly through the Uber app alongside traditional ride options.
One nuance worth noting: while the Yas Island service has been fully driverless since November 2025, the new downtown expansion launched in February operates with a vehicle specialist on board, as part of a phased rollout toward full autonomy in the city center.
The bigger picture is compelling. WeRide and Uber have committed to deploying at least 1,200 robotaxis across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh by 2027.Â
3. Newark Liberty Airport becomes a testbed for autonomous shuttles
Airports are increasingly emerging as controlled yet complex environments suited for autonomous testing. This month, Newark Liberty International Airport announced plans to begin testing electric self-driving shuttles starting in March 2026.
The trials will evaluate three providers: Oceaneering, Ohmio and Glydways over a series of two-week periods in March, late March and May respectively. Each test is designed to simulate a high-capacity shuttle network using multiple vehicles simultaneously, with all operations taking place in a separate area of the airport not accessible by the public. The goal: qualify participating firms before a formal Port Authority request for proposals, expected in 2027.
4. Einride strengthens the autonomous trucking case with a $113M raise
Swedish freight-tech company Einride made headlines after securing an oversubscribed $113 million PIPE round in support of its merger with Legato Merger Corp. III. Combined with a previously announced $100 million crossover financing, total investor commitments reach approximately $213 million with gross proceeds expected to hit $333 million. The transaction values Einride at $1.35 billion pre-money, and the combined company is expected to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “ENRD” in the first half of 2026.
Unlike passenger robotaxis, autonomous trucking offers clearer near-term economics: fixed routes, labor shortages, electrification synergies and measurable cost efficiencies. Proceeds will fund Einride’s technology roadmap and global expansion across North America, Europe and the Middle East. Autonomous freight is no longer speculative it is becoming infrastructure.
5. Waymo reaches 10 U.S. Cities, expanding the robotaxi footprint
February marked another leap for Waymo, which opened its robotaxi service to the public in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, bringing its total to 10 U.S. cities. The latest update from the company announced more than 400,000 rides per week but the actual number is more likely to be higher with the new cities. Just a year ago, that figure stood at 200,000.
The expansion is backed by serious capital: $16 billion raised in a recent round valuing Waymo at $126 billion. And the footprint keeps growing: Denver, London and Washington D.C. are already on the roadmap.Â
A turning point for the industry
What February made clear is that the autonomy era is not arriving all at once: it’s arriving everywhere at once. Different cities, different use cases, different business models. The question is no longer whether autonomous mobility will scale. It’s whether the rest of the infrastructure -regulatory, physical, cultural- can keep up.
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Sources :
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/24/waymo-robotaxis-are-now-operating-in-10-us-cities/
https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/weride-and-uber-launch-robotaxi-service-in-abu-dhabi/
