DANA NUCCITELLI | Yale Climate Connections | 12/9/2025

The global EV market is accelerating while U.S. sales have stalled at around 10% since 2023, even as China and Europe continue to surge ahead. China now sells more hybrid and electric cars than gas-powered ones, and global EV sales are expected to reach 50% by the early 2030s. Despite earlier federal incentives, recent policy changes have slowed U.S. momentum, though upcoming lower-cost EV models may help.

Overall, EV adoption is projected to quadruple worldwide by 2030, with China firmly positioned to lead the transition and its associated economic and environmental benefits. 

Tesla Launches New Dashcam Tool for Viewing Vehicle Telemetry Data

KARAN SINGH | Not a Tesla App | 12/9/2025

Tesla has released an official “Dashcam Tool” in its 2025 Holiday Update that gives owners the ability to view full telemetry data embedded in dashcam videos. Instead of just seeing what the cameras captured, owners can now load clips into a simple web-based viewer that shows frame-by-frame data such as vehicle speed, steering angle, brake use, accelerator position, GPS coordinates, and autopilot (or FSD) status.

This effectively turns Tesla dashcam clips into a black-box recorder, making it far easier for owners to analyze what happened in a crash or near-miss with hard data rather than relying on visual estimation alone. And because the tool runs locally in a browser (no cloud upload required), all sensitive data remains on the owner’s computer, preserving privacy.

Amazon robotaxi service Zoox to start charging for rides in 2026, with ‘laser focus’ on transporting people, not deliveries, says cofounder

AMANDA GERUT | Fortune | 12/8/2025

Amazon’s robotaxi company, Zoox, plans to begin charging for rides in Las Vegas in early 2026 and in the San Francisco Bay Area next year, pending regulatory approvals. CEO Jesse Levinson highlighted the focus on transporting people rather than packages, citing the significant challenges involved. Zoox vehicles are designed specifically for autonomy and prioritize passenger comfort. Though revenues won’t be substantial for a few years, Levinson believes the opportunity for growth is considerable.

A new way to charge

Land Line Media | 12/8/2025

A stretch of highway in Indiana has become the first in the U.S. to wirelessly charge heavy-duty electric trucks while they drive, a major breakthrough for commercial EV transport. The roadway, part of U.S. Highway 52/231, uses a patent-pending system developed by Purdue University and implemented by Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and was successfully tested with a truck from Cummins. Proponents say this wireless-charging highway could ease the cost and logistical burdens of charging commercial electric fleets, potentially removing the need for long stops or heavy onboard batteries.

Tesla Introduces Early Eyes-Off Feature;

Allows to Text and Drive

KARAN SINGH | Not a Tesla App | 12/5/2025

Tesla’s newest FSD update now allows limited texting while driving, easing its driver-monitoring requirements and permitting short phone interactions based on traffic conditions. But Tesla accepts no liability for crashes or misuse, placing full legal responsibility on the driver—unlike certified Level 3 systems such as Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot, which have defined safety and liability frameworks. Although Tesla may add indicators to signal when driver attention is required, no such protections currently exist. Drivers are urged to stay fully alert, as FSD still does not outperform human drivers and distracted use could lead to significant safety and legal consequences.

Tesla has settled two more Autopilot-related wrongful death cases in California, just weeks after a Florida jury ordered the company to pay $243 million in the Benavides v. Tesla case. As we previously reported, court filings revealed that Tesla had initially rejected a $60 million settlement offer in the Florida case—a decision that ultimately cost them four times as much when the 2019 fatal crash went to trial.

The two California settlements, involving confidential amounts, were reached just before trials were scheduled to begin next month. One case involved the death of a 15-year-old boy traveling with his father when they were rear-ended by a Tesla Model 3 in Autopilot mode. The other centered on two Honda Civic passengers killed when a Tesla Model S allegedly failed to stop at a red light.

US opens probe into 174,000 Tesla Model Y cars over door handle failure (David Shepardson, 09-16-2025)

The U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into about 174,000 Tesla Model Y cars from 2021 due to reports of malfunctioning electronic door handles. Parents have reported being unable to open exterior doors to remove a child, sometimes needing to break windows to access their vehicles. NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation is the first step toward a possible recall if safety risks are confirmed. Initial reviews suggest the issue may be linked to insufficient voltage from the low voltage battery, which owners did not report warning signs for before failures.

Waymo gets green light for airport service in San Francisco (Andrew J. Hawkins, 09-16-2025)

After several years of negotiations, Waymo has signed a “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit” with San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The agreement allows Waymo to roll out its new services in multiple phases, first testing vehicles with a human driver, followed by testing without a driver, and then beginning commercial services with trips to and from the airport. SFO will become the second airport with Waymo robotaxi services, following Phoenix’s Sky Harbor. This new agreement is expected to be a very profitable opportunity for Waymo, as trips to and from airports account for approximately 20% of all human-drive ride hailing car services in the United States.

Cadillac’s new electric SUVs crush real-world EV range tests (Peter Johnson, 09-15-2025)

Cadillac’s new luxury electric SUVs may have longer driving ranges than their official EPA estimates suggest. The models, including the Optiq and Vistiq, show impressive real-world performances, with the Optiq reportedly reaching 339 miles and the Vistiq 334 miles. Cadillac has had a strong start this year, claiming leadership in the luxury EV market, excluding Tesla. The SUVs are built on GM’s Ultium platform, offering a range of at least 300 miles. The Optiq starts at $54,390 and the Vistiq at $79,090, with deals available before the federal EV tax credit expires.

Tesla’s ‘self-driving’ software fails at train crossings, some car owners warn (David Ingram, 09-16-2025)

Many Tesla owners are reporting a potential defect with the vehicles’ Full Self-Driving system when coming across railroad crossings. FSD doesn’t seem to be able to register the railroad gate arms and flashing redlights as signals to stop. Many Tesla drivers reported similar problems, as well as many other complaints online internet forums, such as Reddit, about railroad issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is aware of the issue, stating, “We are aware of the incidents and have been in communication with the manufacturer.” Many experts believe that Tesla engineers simply have not encountered enough railroad crossing examples to train the FSD software.

Amazon’s Self-Driving Zoox Vehicles Begin Ride-Hailing Service in Las Vegas (Caleb Miller, 09-12-2025)

Amazon subsidiary Zoox has launched a ride-hailing service in Las Vegas using its fully autonomous pod with no driving controls. Currently, the free rides are limited to specific locations, including Resorts World Las Vegas, AREA15, and Topgolf. Zoox aims to expand this service to San Francisco next, followed by Austin and Miami. The vehicle is designed specifically as a robotaxi, without a steering wheel or pedals, marking a significant step in making self-driving cars more mainstream. Paid rides will be introduced after regulatory approval.