Driverless cars aren't just an American or Chinese experiment anymore — they're packing their passports. This week, Uber revealed plans to bring robotaxis to Japan, teaming up with Nissan and Wayve for a trial run in Tokyo. The autonomous vehicle industry is hitting the gas on global expansion, and it's creating a slew of new partnerships. In this episode, Luna and Mimyo unpack the story — and five expressions worth adding to your vocabulary today.
⚡ 5 Key Expressions
Expression 01
Kick off
To begin or start something, usually an event, a project, or a trial. The phrase comes straight from sports—specifically, kicking the ball to start a soccer or football game. In business or casual conversation, it carries an energetic tone. You don't usually "kick off" a quiet evening at home, but you definitely kick off a new marketing campaign or a weekend festival.
- "Uber and Nissan are kicking off a robotaxi trial in Tokyo."
- "We are going to kick off the meeting with a quick round of introductions."
Expression 02
A slew of
A large number or quantity of something. It comes from an old Irish word meaning "crowd" or "army." It sounds much more natural and expressive than just saying "many" or "a lot of." We usually use it for abstract things or events, often when things happen all at once or in a rapid sequence.
- "We're seeing a slew of new global partnerships in the tech world."
- "After the software update, we received a slew of customer complaints."
Expression 03
Inflection point
A turning point; a moment of dramatic change where a situation takes a completely new trajectory. Originally a mathematical term for when a curve changes direction, it is now highly popular in professional and business English to describe moments where growth or decline suddenly accelerates. It means nothing will be the same after this moment.
- "The demand for autonomous vehicles has really reached an inflection point."
- "The invention of the smartphone was a major inflection point in technology."
Expression 04
Ferry around
To transport people or items repeatedly from one place to another. While a literal ferry is a boat crossing a river, using it as a verb implies a repetitive, back-and-forth motion, sometimes feeling like a chore. It's not just a one-way trip; it's the continuous act of shuttling.
- "These companies are ferrying riders around San Francisco and Beijing."
- "I spent my whole weekend ferrying my kids to soccer practice and piano lessons."
Expression 05
Make a foray into
To attempt to do something new, especially stepping into a new market, field, or career path. Originally, a "foray" was a sudden military raid into enemy territory. Today, it still carries that sense of bold exploration or "invading" a space where you haven't been before.
- "Chinese robotaxi companies are making forays into the Middle East and Europe."
- "Apple made a highly successful foray into the streaming market with Apple TV."
🎭 The Dialogue: Tech Talk at the Office
Maya and Alex are taking a coffee break at their tech consulting firm, catching up on the morning news. Listen for all five expressions.
📍 The office breakroom. Maya is pouring coffee while looking at her phone.
Maya: Have you seen the morning tech news? Uber and Nissan are kicking off a robotaxi trial in Tokyo later this year.
Alex: Yeah, it's wild! Analysts predicted this year would be huge, and now we're seeing a slew of new global partnerships.
Maya: Exactly. With Japan's severe driver shortage, the demand for autonomous vehicles has really reached an inflection point.
Alex: Right. These companies aren't just ferrying riders around San Francisco or Beijing anymore.
Maya: True. I read that Chinese robotaxi companies are also making forays into the Middle East and Europe.
Alex: It’s turning into a massive tech race. But partnering up definitely saves these networks billions of dollars.
Maya: For sure. Though there are still big regulatory hurdles to clear. New York still requires a human behind the wheel!
Alex: Give it time. Pretty soon, the steering wheel might just be for decoration.
🧠 Episode Quiz
Can you answer this?
Uber is actively expanding its robotaxi network right now. Which major US city are they currently adding new driverless cars to, partnering with companies like Zoox and Motional?
✅ Answer: B — Las Vegas! Uber is currently teaming up with autonomous vehicle providers to put driverless cars on its ride-hailing platform there. As for New York, the state still legally requires a human to be behind the wheel, keeping the largest US taxi market off-limits to robotaxis for now.
📚 Bonus Vocabulary
Autonomous — operating independently without human control or intervention. "The demand for autonomous vehicle solutions is rising."
Hurdles — obstacles or difficulties that must be overcome (often used with "regulatory" or "legal"). "The industry is growing, but some regulatory hurdles remain."
Ride-hailing — a service that lets customers order a customized ride online via a smartphone app (like Uber or Lyft). "Uber will work with a licensed taxi partner to offer rides on its ride-hailing network."
