Today's Automotive Pulse
Waymo suspends driverless rides in Atlanta and Texas amid severe storms
Waymo announced a temporary suspension of its driverless‑car services in Atlanta, Georgia, and multiple Texas cities after a vehicle became stranded in flood‑water. The company said the pause is an "abundance of caution" as flash‑flood warnings, severe thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds threaten safety.
Also developing:
By the numbers: LTM Ltd acquires Randstad’s Europe and Australia units for $186M
China Trade Deal Has Canadians Looking Forward to Cheaper Electric Vehicles
Canada’s January trade deal with China slashed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to 6.1%, down from over 100%, and opened a 49,000‑vehicle annual import quota. Major makers such as BYD, Geely, Nio and Xpeng are gearing up to launch showrooms across the country, with BYD targeting up to 20 locations by summer. The agreement defines “affordable” EVs as priced below C$35,000 (≈US$25,500), a level many Canadians hope will bring new models under the current C$30,000 (≈US$21,894) ceiling. While the federal government backs the move, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly condemned the deal.
'It's Just Scale': Local Mom-and-Pop Car Dealerships Are Growing or Dying Amid Industry Consolidation, Rise of Mega-Retailers
Family‑owned Sylvester Chevrolet in rural Pennsylvania was sold to New York‑based Matthews Auto Group, marking another deal in a wave of dealership consolidation. The top 150 U.S. dealers now account for 27% of new‑vehicle sales, up from 24.3% in 2021, while...
Think Fast-Charging Ruins EV Batteries? Look At This 111,000-Mile Tesla Model Y
An ex‑taxi Tesla Model Y with 111,000 miles was examined after being charged almost exclusively on DC fast chargers. Diagnostic data shows the vehicle used just 36 kWh from home charging and 32,684 kWh from fast chargers, yet its battery retains 92%...
Tired of Waiting for Your EV to Charge Up? One Chinese Company Has a Novel Solution
NIO Power has rolled out a fully automated battery‑swap system that replaces an EV’s depleted pack in just over three minutes. The Chinese automaker now operates roughly 4,000 swap stations, primarily in China, and has logged more than 100 million swaps...
Rolls‑Royce CEO Charts Course Amid Tariffs and Middle East Tensions
Rolls‑Royce Motor Cars chief executive Chris Brownridge told FOX Business that the brand is actively shaping its strategy to offset tariff volatility and geopolitical strain in the Middle East. The interview highlighted the maker’s focus on preserving its premium positioning...
Rising New‑Car Prices Leave One‑Third of Buyers Upside‑Down on Loans
A J.D. Power forecast shows the average new‑car price hit $50,000 last year and that roughly one in three buyers are now underwater on their loans. Longer financing terms—averaging 69 months and stretching to 84 months for over 20% of...
Waymo Launches Autonomous Ride‑Hailing Trials in London with Safety Drivers
Waymo has started autonomous ride‑hailing trials in London, deploying its Waymo Driver equipped with trained safety drivers. The rollout follows extensive closed‑course testing and leverages 170 million U.S. autonomous miles to ensure safety as the company expands its European footprint.
GAC Aion Unveils Battery-Electric Saloon with Swappable Battery From CATL
GAC Aion has introduced the Aion RT Super, a battery‑electric sedan equipped with CATL’s 54 kWh LFP “Chocolate‑Swap” pack that can be exchanged in roughly 90 seconds. The vehicle is priced at ¥88,800 (about $12,200) with the battery sold as a lease, lowering...
Japan's Sony, Honda to Pursue New Opportunities After Scrapping Afeela 1 EV, Reports Nikkei
Sony Group and Honda Motor announced they will abandon development of the Afeela 1 electric vehicle within their 50‑50 joint venture Sony Honda Mobility. The cancellation follows Honda’s overhaul of its EV strategy and forces the venture to decide the fate...
The Mighty Engine That Jaguar Built, and Built Jaguar
For four decades the XK engine was Jaguar’s engineering cornerstone, powering everything from post‑war sports cars to luxury sedans. In 2024 the British automaker announced a bold pivot to an all‑electric lineup, a move echoed by its Formula E program. Last...
India: Switch Mobility to Deploy 25 Electric Intercity Coaches
Switch Mobility, the Hinduja Group‑owned e‑bus maker, has begun deploying 25 electric intercity coaches on the high‑traffic Mumbai‑Pune corridor for private operator Purple Bus. The first batch of ten EiV12 coaches was flagged off last week, with the remaining units slated...
EV Maker Polestar's Fourth-Quarter Revenue Jumps, Loss Narrows
Polestar reported a 54% jump in fourth‑quarter revenue to $887 million and narrowed its net loss to $799 million, a significant improvement from the $1.18 billion loss a year earlier. The Swedish EV maker credited the turnaround to a Europe‑focused sales strategy, aggressive...
Ola Electric Rolls Out Festive Offer with Discounts up to ₹50,000 Ahead of Akshaya Tritiya
Ola Electric launched the "Ola Sona" weekend promotion ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, offering discounts of up to ₹50,000 (~$600) on select scooters and motorcycles, with entry‑level models starting at ₹49,999 (~$602). The Roadster X+ 9.1 kWh is priced at ₹1,39,999 (~$1,690)...
Lutnick Shuts Down Talk of Any Chinese Investment in US Autos
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Semafor audience that Chinese automakers, including BYD, will not be allowed to invest in U.S. auto manufacturing, responding with a firm “no.” He reiterated the stance in remarks to Bloomberg, saying “not cars,...
Quehenberger Goes All-Electric for Dm Store Deliveries in Vienna
Austrian logistics firm Quehenberger has completed full electrification of its delivery fleet for dm drugstore locations in Vienna, deploying ten Volvo FM Electric trucks to serve roughly 100 stores daily. The transition, which began with three electric trucks earlier in...
The Battery Recycling Paradox: VC’s Next Big Underrated Bet
Battery recycling is emerging from a niche, low‑margin segment into a multi‑billion‑dollar industry as the first wave of EV batteries reaches end‑of‑life. The market, valued at $28.62 billion in 2025, is projected to expand to $91.72 billion by 2034, driven by an...
Why Your Car Key Can Cost $3,000 in 2026: The Hidden Technology Behind Modern Vehicle Security
A lost Land Rover Discovery key fob in Honolulu was quoted at nearly $3,000, illustrating how modern car keys have become encrypted digital credentials rather than simple metal tools. Today’s keys contain rolling codes, secure microcontrollers, and VIN‑locked immobilizer links...
2026 Beijing Auto Show to Feature 1,451 Vehicles and 181 Premieres
The 2026 Beijing Auto Show will run April 24‑May 3, featuring a record‑breaking 380,000 sq m exhibition space across two venues. Organizers say 1,451 vehicles will be on display, including 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars. International marques such as BMW,...
Microsoft, Stellantis Ink Five‑Year AI Deal to Transform Vehicle Software
Microsoft and Stellantis announced a five‑year strategic partnership to co‑develop more than 100 AI initiatives, migrate the automaker’s IT to Azure, and boost cybersecurity. The deal aims to close the technology gap with software‑centric rivals and give Stellantis a unified...
Robot Assistants Will Soon Be Affordable for Everyone
Anyone will be able to hire a robot (or team of robots) to perform tasks for them at a very low cost the robots will show up in a robotaxi, do the work they need to do, then move on...
BYD, XPeng Explore Canadian EV Entry via New Quota
BYD & XPeng to Canada? EVwire brief: Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s International Trade Minister, met with BYD, XPeng, and GAC in Guangzhou to discuss possible EV market entry into Canada under a new import quota system. https://t.co/oWfsY4skR6
Viewpoint: Handling Autonomous Risks
Waymo’s driverless fleet now operates about 100 vehicles in Atlanta, part of a 3,000‑vehicle national rollout, while Serve Robotics’ Kaito and Margo sidewalk bots deliver restaurant orders in roughly 18 minutes. The city’s streets also host e‑scooters, e‑bikes and other...
Germany's BEV Fleet Triples that of the Netherlands
Roughly speaking, Germany has three times the amount of BEVs (fleet) compared to The Netherlands #alwaysbecharging chart: Hassan Ashgir 📈📈📈 https://t.co/07dEE5Ar4T
Smart Summon Integrated Into FSD 14.3.1 Stack
Can confirm Smart Summon in FSD 14.3.1 appears to be on the FSD 14 stack Feels like it’s activating much faster, and the UI say Self-Driving like V14 but where the profile is it says summon They’re preparing for banish...
Mangrove Lithium Opens North America’s First Commercial Electrochemical Lithium Refinery
Mangrove Lithium commissioned a 1,000‑tonne‑per‑year electrochemical lithium refining plant in Delta, British Columbia, the first commercial facility of its kind in North America. The plant can produce battery‑grade lithium for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles annually, signaling a shift toward a...
CATL's Battery Delivers 12‑Minute Charge, 1.8M
Charge in 12 Minutes. Drive for 1.8 Million km. CATL Just Changed #EVs by @IntEngineering #Innovation #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #Technology https://t.co/av6jYJVUNE
CATL Launches Autonomous Robot for On-Demand EV Charging
CATL Unveils #Autonomous #Robot That Drives to Your #EV for On-Demand Charging by @IntEngineering #Robotics #Engineering #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/DHLkTbuFk2
XCharge Launches First European EV Charger Assembly Plant in Spain
XCharge has opened a 3,000‑square‑meter assembly line in Silla, Valencia, marking its first European manufacturing footprint. The plant will begin full‑scale production of the GridLink battery‑integrated fast charger in 2027, strengthening local supply chains and supporting Spain’s EV market growth.
Tesla to Offer Control‑Free Model 3/Y and Unsupervised
Versions of the Model 3 & Y without physical controls will be available as well as unsupervised FSD scales
$999 Dash Device Turns Any Car Driverless
This is the future of the industry. A $999 dash mounted device that can take practically any car and make it driverless Tesla should make something like this too https://t.co/32vT7EEodZ
These Fatal Tesla Autopilot Crashes Can Tell Us a Lot About Self-Driving Tech
Tesla’s Autopilot, launched in 2015 and expanded to all models by 2019, has been linked to multiple fatal crashes over the past decade. Notable incidents include a 2016 Florida crash where the driver ignored wheel‑hand alerts, a 2021 California Model X...
Xiaomi SU7’s $30k Allure Fuels Bearish View of Rivals
Seeing the cars here in China has me bearish basically on all other brands. The Xiaomi SU7 is a beautiful looking car. Only $30,000 new. Crazy.
North America Just Got Its First New Kind of Lithium Refinery
Mangrove Lithium has inaugurated North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refinery in Delta, British Columbia, capable of processing 1,000 tonnes of lithium annually. The facility, dubbed the Single Stack Plant, can supply battery‑grade lithium for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles each...
Rivian R2 Brings Clean, Fun Electric Driving to Colorado
Sneak peek 👀 at Rivian’s (@rivianofficial) new R2. We are proud that Coloradans have a variety of options for going electric - a fun, quiet, clean way to get around while cutting pollution. This addition is great news for Colorado families...
Sweden’s Helsingborg Leads with Ultra‑Cheap Dynamic Power
Sweden is simply so next level Helsingborg 📍 #alwaysbecharging #MOREPLUGS ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #einride photos: Thorsten Bunz € 0,50/kWh by the time you read this early afternoon :) #dynamicpricing #monta https://t.co/LMcEHrNLRs
APES 2026 Auto Parts Expo to Host 2,000+ Manufacturers in Shanghai, Aug. 5-7
APES 2026 announced its Auto Parts Expo in Shanghai, scheduled for Aug. 5‑7, 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. The three‑day event will feature more than 2,000 premier manufacturers across 60,000 sqm, linking global buyers directly with China’s key industrial...
State Threatens to Intervene over EV Charging Tariffs
State to “step in” if regulator and network fail to remove EV charging “handbrakes and sort out tariffs #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/TnXmAWWV3C https://t.co/qdFWboEvmI
Tesla Semi Launches New Site Ahead of Mass Production
Tesla Semi has a new website https://t.co/kqEvfHlLjX This beast is about to start mass production
Wayve Secures $60 Million From AMD, Arm and Qualcomm to Accelerate UK Robotaxi Push
London‑based Wayve announced a $60 million (≈£44.2 million) investment from chip leaders AMD, Arm and Qualcomm Ventures. The funding follows a $1.2 billion round that valued the company at $8.6 billion and is aimed at expanding its embodied AI driver across multiple vehicle compute...
Noodoe Appoints Ex‑KYMCO Chair Ko Sheng as CEO to Drive AI‑powered EV Charging
Noodoe Group Inc. announced that former KYMCO chairman Ko Sheng will serve as both chairman and chief executive officer. The move is intended to accelerate the company’s AI‑driven electric‑vehicle charging platform as it expands into new markets worldwide.
Infiniti Officials Pondering Move Away From Alpha Numeric Vehicle Names
Infiniti is weighing a shift away from its two‑decade‑long alphanumeric naming scheme as Nissan executives voice frustration with the confusing model tags. The change is being discussed alongside the launch of the new QX65 SUV at the Tennessee plant. Nissan...
Modern Assembly Lines Are Too Specialized for Model Swaps
This isn’t 1942. These lines are heavily specialized. An F-150 line can only build F-150s or a vehicle of similar size and wheelbase
Self‑Driving Tech Will Define Trucking Competitiveness in Five Years
Big flex from @chris_urmson, ceo of @aurora_inno onstage at @humanxco last week discussing how the self-driving truck co is going from R&D to profitable business. "Within five years, if you're not using our technology, I expect you won't be competitive...
Acura Is Reportedly Considering Dropping Its IMSA GTP Program
Acura’s factory-backed IMSA GTP effort, launched in 2023 with the ARX‑06 hybrid, has secured marquee wins including the 24 Hours of Daytona. Recent reports from Sportscar365 and Racer suggest the brand may discontinue its direct partnership with Meyer Shank Racing after the...
Podcast: GM Energy, Tesla HW3 Reckoning, Ford Reshuffles EVs, Donut Lab Probs, More
Electrek’s weekly podcast highlighted several pivotal EV developments, including Tesla’s ongoing HW3 Full Self‑Driving delays, the final Signature Series Model S/X Plaid priced at $159,420, and the approval of supervised FSD in the Netherlands. Ford announced a major reshuffle, dissolving its...
Hyundai’s First EREV Spotted with an Interesting Design Ahead of Its Debut
Hyundai confirmed that its flagship Santa Fe SUV will become the company’s first extended‑range electric vehicle (EREV), slated for a 2027 launch. Spy shots in South Korea show a camouflaged prototype equipped with a gasoline‑powered generator and dual charge ports. Hyundai...
FSD Should Use Gentle Braking for Passing Birds
FSD 14.3.1 sometimes brakes moderately hard for birds flying by… usually the birds can handle that. A very light deceleration / no action is appropriate in all but the most extreme cases. Don’t want someone to get rear ended because...
$25,000 Buys Plenty of Used EVs: Here Are some Options
The used‑electric‑vehicle market now offers a robust selection in the $20,000‑$25,000 price range, despite the Trump administration’s repeal of the used clean‑vehicle tax credit. A Deloitte report notes that EV residual values lag behind expectations, but this depreciation translates into...
Europe Outraged: Tesla Blocks FSD on Older Cars
Anger rises in Europe as Tesla's Full Self-Driving system isn't available on older vehicles, despite years of promises https://t.co/PqQzSq2tgJ
Replace Basic Autopilot with Free FSD‑Based Version by 2026
Kill basic Autopilot and replace it with a free basic version built on the FSD stack. Nobody should be allowed to use basic autopilot in 2026