The Pioneers of Innovation in Robo-Taxis

The automotive industry is currently experiencing a surge in patent innovation, driven by the increasing demand for autonomous vehicles, reduced operational costs, and enhanced support for passenger transport services in urban areas. Over the past three years, there have been over 1.7 million patents filed and granted in the automotive sector. According to a report by GlobalData on Robotics in the automotive industry, the intensity of innovation is being assessed through the analysis of over one million patents, identifying more than 300 innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry. One of the primary innovation areas highlighted in the report is the development of robo-taxis – autonomous vehicles capable of transporting passengers without a human driver, utilizing sensors, algorithms, and machine learning to navigate roads and reach their destination.

GlobalData’s analysis has identified 30 companies leading the development and application of robo-taxis. These companies include technology vendors, established automotive companies, and emerging start-ups. They are evaluated based on the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity in various applications and geographical areas. Notably, Nuro, a prominent company, has filed a patent for Orchestrator, a fleet management system that monitors the completion of assigned tasks by autonomous vehicles. The company has also established a long-term partnership with Uber for food delivery operations. Other significant patent filers in this space include State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, INRIX, and Alphabet.

In terms of application diversity, Aptiv is at the forefront, with INRIX and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance following closely in the second and third positions. When considering geographic reach, Nuro holds the top position, followed by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance and INRIX. To gain further insights into the disruptive themes and technologies in the automotive industry, GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive provides valuable information and data for informed decision-making and future-proofing your industry advantage.