Kia unveiled its full electric vehicle lineup, aiming to lead the EV market with new models like the affordable EV2 and the midsize EV5 SUV. The EV5 launches in Europe soon, while the EV4 hatchback will follow next year. Kia also showcased sporty models and introduced its first electric van. Visitors at the IAA Mobility Show can test drive several models, as Kia intends to popularize EVs further. The EV3 was the top-selling retail EV in the UK this year.

Can You Buy An EV From China As An American? (Nina Hernandez, 09-09-2025)

A woman showcased her new Chinese electric vehicle, the IM Motors L7, in a TikTok video. The vehicle features advanced displays and AI-controlled functions. Viewers expressed concerns about distractions while driving. In the U. S., importing such vehicles is complicated due to safety regulations, but Chinese brands may enter the market in the next five years.

Tesla gives up on Cybertruck wireless charging (Fred Lambert 09-09-2025)

Tesla has official scrapped plans to equip the Cybertruck with wireless charging, citing design challenges related to the truck’s high ground clearance. The gap between the vehicle and a wireless charging pad would significantly reduce charging efficiency, making the feature impractical.

This marks a shift from earlier signals, including owner’s manual references and 2023 prototypes that hinted at future wireless capabilities. While Tesla steps back from the idea, competitors like Porsche are moving forward with plans to offer optional wireless charging systems for upcoming EVs like the electric Cayenne.

NHTSA Rule Changes Favor Autonomous Cars (Steve Hanley 09-06-2025)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a major regulatory overhaul aimed at enabling the next generation of autonomous vehicles. Revealed on September 4, the proposed reforms would modernize outdated federal safety standards, many of which still assume a human driver is behind the wheel, requiring elements like steering wheels, pedals, and windshield defrosters.

The changes specifically target Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards related to gear shifts, windshield systems, lighting, and reflective devices, systems historically designed with human operation in mind. NHTSA officials emphasized the importance of establishing a cohesive national framework to avoid a patchwork of conflicting state laws. The goal is to streamline innovation while maintaining critical safety benchmarks, clearing a regulatory path for autonomous technology to advance responsibly and at scale.

Tesla’s U.S. EV market share falls to eight-year low amid rising competition (Ashby Lincoln 09-09-2025)

Tesla’s once-dominant hold on the U.S. electric vehicle market hit a new low in August, with market share dropping to just 38%, the lowest since 2017. While Tesla’s sales grew modestly (7% in July, 3.1% in August), the broader EV market exploded by 14% in August, outpacing any of Tesla’s gains with competitors like Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen gaining ground with aggressive incentives and new models that offer consumer compelling alternatives.

Industry insiders blame Tesla’s slide on an aging vehicle lineup, repeated delays in launching affordable cars, and Musk’s strategic pivot toward AI, robotaxis, and humanoid robots. Tesla built its empire by being first to market, but “first” doesn’t guarantee “forever,” and with rivals gaining momentum while Tesla’s refresh cycle lags, the EV landscape could look dramatically different in just a few years.

Qualcomm inks connected car deals with Google, BMW, and others (Ryan Daws 09-08-2025)

Qualcomm is enhancing connected cars through partnerships with companies like Google, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. With Google Cloud, they are integrating advanced AI to improve in-car voice commands and user experiences. Their collaboration with BMW has introduced the Snapdragon Ride Pilot for automated driving, while the Snapdragon Digital Chassis powers the digital cockpits in new Mercedes-Benz models. Qualcomm is also partnering with Valeo to create integrated solutions for a wider range of vehicles, streamlining the development of advanced driving features.

• BMW is the first car manufacturer to receive approval for the combination of Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous driving (Automotive World, June 25, 2024)

  BMW has received approval for a combination Level 2 driving assistance system and a Level 3 system in the same vehicle.  The new BMW 7 series is exclusively available in Germany. 

  Features of Level 2 BMW Highway Assistant allow drivers to enjoy taking their hands off the wheel for longer periods at up to seeps of 81 mph.  The sedan can make lane changes without the driver having to hold the wheel with the Active Lane Change Assistant.  The driver can initiate a lane change by simply looking in the exterior mirror to confirm it.

  In Level 3 BMW Personal Pilot, the driver can take their hands of the wheel and temporarily turn their attention off the road in certain conditions to other activities like reading, writing, making calls, working, or streaming videos.  When activated, BMW Personal Pilot is capable of completely taking over the driving in specific situations like traffic jams at speeds up to 37 mph.

  As with any automated driving system, the driver should be ready to take control of the car at a moment’s notice. 

• Tesla (TSLA) is expected to have tough quarter for deliveries again (Electrek, June 24, 2024)

  Tesla is anticipated to face another challenging quarter for electric vehicle deliveries as estimates decline. The previous quarter saw a significant struggle with 386,810 deliveries—a 20% drop from the previous quarter and an 8.5% decrease year-over-year. Production issues, including ramp-ups at the Fremont factory and supply chain disruptions at Gigafactory Berlin, impacted output. However, demand concerns persist as these issues don’t fully account for the 46,000-vehicle gap between production and deliveries. Wall Street projects 450,000 deliveries this quarter, down from 466,000 last year, with expectations likely to decrease further. Europe has shown significant underperformance, being 60,000 units behind its record year pace. Despite these challenges, Tesla’s prospects in China are improving due to new incentives, while the outlook in the US is less clear but potentially boosted by federal tax credits for certain models.

• Not quite ready for autonomous taxis? Teledriving could be a bridge (Tech Xplore, June 20, 2024)

  Teledriving, where remote drivers operate vehicles via video feeds, presents a viable alternative to driverless taxis, enhancing ride-sharing efficiency and affordability. A University of Michigan study published in Management Science underscores teledriving’s potential. Companies like Halo.Car and Vay are already utilizing this technology. Teledriving allows quick vehicle dispatch to high-demand areas without requiring drivers to be physically present. This method can reduce idle times and the number of required drivers by 30-40%.

  Teledriving could also transfer vehicle ownership costs to ride-share companies, making driving more inclusive and improving safety, particularly for women. Enhanced safety stems from separating drivers and riders, reducing risks of in-vehicle assaults. The study’s computer modeling shows teledriving can shorten wait times and reduce congestion. As full autonomy faces safety challenges, teledriving offers a practical bridge towards it, enhancing service accessibility and quality.

• Tesla execs Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel leave as company lays off 10% Tech Crunch, April 15, 2024

  Two high-profile executives, Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel, have left Tesla on the same day the electric automaker announced layoffs impacting more than 10% of its global workforce or approximately 14,000 workers. This move follows Tesla’s first year-over-year sales decline in three years, prompting cost-cutting measures to enhance productivity. Despite record EV shipments in 2023, Tesla continued slashing prices and backed away from plans to build a lower-cost EV, opting instead to use the underlying platform to power an alleged robotaxi that purportedly will debut on August 8. Tesla still faces significant headwinds like cooling demand for EVs and increased competition as it readies for its next growth phase.

• Driver in fatal Texas crash was using Ford’s auto driving system, officials say The Guardian, April 11, 2024

  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that a fatal crash in Texas earlier this year involved Ford’s partially automated driving system. The crash involved a 2022 Mustang Mach E SUV that was engaged in Ford’s “Blue Cruise” driver-assist system prior to the collision. The Blue Cruise system allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel, and autonomously brakes and accelerates on 97% of controlled access highways in the US and Canada.

  This marks the second fatal collision involving Ford Mustang Mach Es under investigation by the NTSB, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Ford has not yet commented on the NTSB report, but the carmaker continues to cooperate with the investigations.

• BMW is succeeding with electric cars while rivals like Tesla struggle Quartz, April 10, 2024

  EV sales are declining for many car manufacturers, but not for BMW. From January to March, BMW has seen growth of almost 28% compared to the same time a year ago. “The BMW Group is continuing on its [battery electric vehicle] growth path,” Jochen Goller, who oversees brands and sales for BMW’s board of management, said in a statement. “With the delivery of its one-millionth fully-electric vehicle since the market launch of the BMW i3, we have reached an important milestone that confirms the attractiveness of our product portfolio,” Goller added. Other automakers like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and even Tesla have reported a decline in sales this year, while Lucid and Rivian are reporting growth.  

Each year, tech junkies flock to Las Vegas and the Consumer Electronic Show (CES).  The world’s largest consumer tech show had more than 4,300 exhibitors, over 1,200 startups, and was visited by about 135,000 attendees over four days.  AI dominated the show with products ranging from binoculars that identify the birds you are viewing to glasses that project accurate closed captions of conversations that are only visible to the wearer, and what interested us most, EVs and automated vehicles. 

At CES, major car manufacturers like Ford and GM were absent, however Honda, Volkswagen, Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes, and Mitsubishi were among the most well-known names to debut concept cars and new technologies. There were also some surprise entries into the market like LG with their concept car LG Alpha-able.  Their concept car was on display to show what their idea of future mobility will look like.  With the automotive industry rapidly shifting towards electrification and automated driving, it will be interesting to see who else enters the fray. 

Last week, partner and founder, Mike Nelson attended CES and here is some of the technology that caught his attention.

Goodyear

• BMW to use Amazon cloud technology to build its autonomous driving features for new EVs (CNBC, September 5, 2023)

  BMW is turning to Amazon’s cloud computing technology to support ADAS features in a new line of EVs—the Neue Klasse range—set to launch in 2025. BMW also will incorporate Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride platform for its ADAS starting in 2025. BMW’s partnerships stands in contrast to other recently-announced collaborations between Polestar and Mobileye, for example, as well as reports that certain automakers may be looking to license Tesla’s FSD technology rather than develop their own ADAS.  

  As this article notes, “ADAS will require large amounts of data processing as the software relies on hardware sets, including cameras and semiconductors. … That’s where Amazon Web Services, or AWS, comes in. BMW will store and process lots of data in Amazon’s cloud servers.” In addition, “[d]eveloping these features in the cloud will allow BMW to update the software quicker and train new AI models that will carry out increasingly complex autonomous driving functions.”

• Do driverless cars feel safe? New study shows gradual introduction needed to build comfort among all road users (Science Daily, August 30, 2023)

  A new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia suggests that some consumers are not yet ready to wholeheartedly embrace self-driving vehicles (SDVs) and “will need a period of gradual transition before adoption.” The study, conducted by the Research on Active Transportation Lab (REACT), reveals “mixed perceptions of automated vehicles, particularly their effects on pedestrian comfort and safety.”

  Specifically, the study engaged 1,133 participants from across British Columbia and targeted their perception of the interaction between SDVs and pedestrians at public crosswalks. Interestingly, four out of 10 participants (41%) felt that pedestrians were exposed to increased safety risks in SDV interactions as opposed to human driven vehicles. Additionally, among those surveyed, 55% supported the use of shared SDVs, such as taxis or shuttles, on public roadways, while only 48% favored the use of privately owned SDVs in similar situations. Ninety-two per cent of those surveyed, however, agreed that SDVs should be clearly identified and accompanied by a human monitor during all times of operation.

  Based on the above findings, the researchers proposed “a gradual introduction of SDVs on city streets, combined with “robust public education campaigns to build familiarity and emphasize the potential benefits of self-driving cars.”

  “At this critical point in the introduction of automated vehicles, it is essential to understand and consider their effects on everyone who shares city streets—especially pedestrians,” said Dr. Alex Bigazzi, associate professor of civil engineering at UBC and REACT principal investigator.

• Lucid CEO has a plan to end Americans’ range anxiety (ABC News, September 3, 2023)

  Lucid’s CEO and industry veteran Peter Rawlinson, who previously engineered cars for Tesla, Lotus and Jaguar, recently sat down with ABC News to discuss how his new venture, Lucid Motors, hopes to revolutionize the EV industry from the ground up.

  Rawlinson explained how Lucid is overcoming one of the biggest hurdles to electrification—i.e., range anxiety—while transforming the way motorists drive with the Lucid Air, a sleek and futuristic EV that can travel an industry-leading 516 miles on a single charge. With a current starting price tag of $82,400, however, Rawlinson acknowledged that affordability remains a challenge. Rawlinson said that Lucid is targeting a price of approximately $50,000 for future models, with the hope of developing “vehicle efficiency” technology that will facilitate mass production of profitable and affordable EVs. He added, “I am not here to build an expensive car that only rich people can afford.”

  Rawlinson believes that the key to affordable EVs and mainstream adoption is a combination of battery technology advancement and overnight AC (Level 2) charging infrastructure development that emphasizes reliable, slower charging over less reliable, super-fast charging for EV owners that do not have access to home charging. In sum, Rawlinson’s future vision is roadways dominated by more efficient EVs with smaller batteries electrified by a mature charging infrastructure capable of servicing all drivers.

• Tesla Confirms Automated Driving Systems Were Engaged During Fatal Crash (Jalopnik, April 18, 2023)

  Tesla has advised investigators that Autopilot was engaged at the time of a fatal crash earlier this year involving a Tesla Model S and a first responder vehicle. The widely reported accident occurred during the early morning hours of February 18, 2023 when the Model S crashed into the back of a firetruck on I-680 in Northern California. The firetruck was heavily damaged, and the Tesla, whose driver was pronounced dead at the scene, had to be cut open using a Jaws of Life.

  According to Bloomberg, this marked the seventeenth reported fatality involving a Tesla where ADAS was engaged at the time of the accident since NHTSA began requiring reporting of such incidents in June 2021, and was one of 66 reported accidents from all reporting OEMs referenced in the most recent public release of data collected by NHTSA. 

  NHTSA’s investigation into the high incidence of Tesla/first responder vehicle collisions remains ongoing. NHTSA also continues to investigate several aspects of Tesla’s Full-Self Driving beta and Autopilot, as well as tweets by CEO Elon Musk that suggest FSD could be upgraded so as to disable an alert when drivers take their hands off the wheel.

• EPA proposed new tailpipe rules that could push EVs to make up two-thirds of new car sales in US by 2032 (CNN Politics, April 12, 2023)

  The Environmental Protection Agency proposed new car pollution rules last week that would elevate electric car mandates in states like California and New York to the federal level. If approved, the EPA rule would “require electric vehicles to account for up to two-thirds of new cars sold in the US by 2032.” The requirements would apply starting in model year 2027, and would likely significantly accelerate EV adoption rates in the US.

  EPA Administrator Michael Regan touted the proposed rules for their expected cost and environmental benefits to the public. Thomas Boylan, former EPA official and regulatory director at the Zero Emission Transportation Association, added that the proposal “is really going to set the tone for the rest of the decade and into the 2030s in terms of what this administration is looking for the auto industry to do when it comes to decarbonizing and ultimately electrifying.”

  But while government administrations and industry groups continue to push EV adoption, a new Gallup poll suggests Americans are not yet sold, with 41% of respondents indicating they would not buy an EV. Responding to this hesitation, Boylan noted that recent tax credits should act as a carrot while the proposed rules would offer a stick to encourage purchases.

  The docket, associated documents, and comments for the proposed rule can be accessed here.

• Some electric vehicles from BMW, Nissan, Hyundai and Volkswagen will no longer get federal tax credits (CNBC, April 18, 2023)

  Earlier this year, a loophole emerged in implementation of The Inflation Reduction Act, as the Treasury Department delayed issuing guidance on the so-called “battery rule,” creating a window of eligibility for many EV manufacturers that were not eligible for federal tax credits at the end of 2022, having already sold more than 200,000 EVs at that time.

  Last week, Treasury closed the loophole in announcing “stricter rules for battery sources that will prioritize domestically manufactured models.” Some vehicles will continue to qualify for the full $7500 credit (including models manufactured by Tesla, Ford, GM, and Stellantis) while others will only qualify for half that amount or no credit at all (including models from BMW, Hyundai, Nissan, Rivian, Volkswagen, and Volvo).  To qualify for the tax credit, the vehicle must have been made in North American and a certain percentage of its battery materials and the value of its battery components must be domestically extracted, process, recycled, or manufactured.

  As this article notes, the new tax incentive rules “may undercut the Biden administration’s proposed tailpipe emissions limits [discussed immediately above], which could require as many as 67% of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2032 to be all-electric—the country’s most ambitious climate regulation yet.”

]]> https://nelson.legal/what-were-reading-april-19-2023/feed/ 0 https://nelson.legal/do-i-really-own-my-car/ https://nelson.legal/do-i-really-own-my-car/#respond Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:56:55 +0000 https://nelson.legal/2022/10/07/do-i-really-own-my-car/ As vehicle connectivity becomes more prevalent, OEMs are increasingly migrating to a business model where consumers may own the wheels, engine, and seats in their new cars, but not the critical software that operates them. Because software “ownership” is directly related to profitability and control of key vehicle features, it is no surprise that an ownership battleground of sorts has emerged between OEMs and their customers.