California’s rate review system is under fire again as Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara targets reforms to Proposition 103. His proposed rules would limit attorney fees and require conflict disclosures for consumer advocates like Consumer Watchdog, which has long challenged insurer rate hikes. Supporters say the changes will bring transparency and speed; critics warn they could silence the public’s watchdog.

California’s insurance code allows the public to review rate increase requests from insurers and receive compensation for their efforts. This provision, part of Proposition 103, has frustrated the industry, especially with the current Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara wanting to regulate it more strictly. Lara claims that the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has benefited disproportionately from the process and delayed reviews.

Consumer Watchdog defends its role, stating it has saved consumers billions and has been effective in challenging rate increases. Lara’s proposed changes would limit how many attorneys and experts intervenors can hire and require them to disclose conflicts of interest. The proposals aim to streamline the rate review process and address complaints about lack of transparency and delays. Public comments are being collected, and a hearing is set for November 20.

Tesla Autopilot visualization gets big upgrade with tons of new additions (Joey Klender, 10/13)

Tesla’s Autopilot visualization has been upgraded to better display objects around vehicles, including types of cars, pedestrians, and animals. New renders for vehicles like ambulances, firetrucks, and school buses will be available soon. Tesla is also working on using Unreal Engine for more realistic visualizations.

Tesla under investigation after cars with the self-driving feature drove on the wrong side of the road (The Associated Press, 10/10)

US federal regulators are investigating Tesla’s self-driving feature due to numerous incidents where cars ran red lights or drove incorrectly, causing crashes and injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is examining 58 incidents involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode. Critics question if the software works, and there are multiple ongoing investigations regarding Tesla’s safety practices and reporting. Tesla’s stock fell amid concerns over the FSD system’s reliability and competition from other electric vehicle manufacturers.

A New Road Safety Group Targets Self-Driving Cars (Aarian Marshall, 10/15)

A newly formed advocacy organization named SAVE-US (Safe Autonomous Vehicles Everywhere in the U.S.) is pushing for tougher state-level regulations on self-driving cars to prevent public safety from being sacrificed as companies rush to roll out emerging technology. The group’s recommendations include better disclosure of what automated systems can’t do, enhanced transparency in accident data, and requirements for vehicles to use multiple types of sensors rather than relying solely on cameras.

Tesla has become a primary target of SAVE-US, which labels the company “the worst actor in this space” and warns that weak oversight could enable any manufacturer to cut corners dangerously. The organization intends to begin its efforts in major states such as Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, where policy changes would have the most significant influence.

GM to take $1.6 billion charge as tax credit blow muddies EV plans (Utkarsh Shetti, 10/14)

General Motors revealed it will take a $1.6 billion hit to its third quarter earnings as the company reassesses its electric vehicle plans in response to softening market demand and changing federal policies. The charge breaks down into $1.2 billion in non-cash write-downs related to reduced EV production capacity, plus $400 million in costs from cancelled contracts and settlements.

The pivot comes after the elimination of the $7,500 EV tax credit and the easing of emissions regulations, changes that GM believes will dampen the pace of electric vehicle adoption. Although the company insists its existing electric offerings from Chevrolet, GMC, and

Cadillac will stay in production, it cautioned that further financial charges could emerge as it adjusts its operations to align with current market conditions.

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.

FRED LAMBERT 4-21-2025

Tesla’s recent settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit holds considerable implications, challenging its policy of not settling unless at fault. This approach, as stated by Elon Musk, means settling indicates an acknowledgment of wrongdoing, even without explicit admission. Historically, Tesla rarely settled cases, with Musk in 2022 emphasizing aggressive legal strategies. Despite this, Tesla settled a UK case last year involving false full self-driving claims and a wrongful death lawsuit for Walter Huang. Now, Tesla has settled another wrongful death case concerning Clyde Leach, whose Model Y allegedly experienced “sudden acceleration.” Although Tesla asserts driver error in these cases, the settlement

indicates potential fault and could influence future lawsuits against the company. The settlement terms remain undisclosed, leaving broader implications for Tesla’s legal challenges.

Elon Musk’s robotaxi fantasy is starting to unravel

ANDREW J. HAWKINS 4-23-2025

Elon Musk has once again made a familiar promise: that millions of autonomous Teslas will be on the road by the end of next year. It’s a claim he’s made before – and one that has yet to materialize. Musk himself has acknowledged the repeated delays, referring to himself as “the boy who cried FSD.”

Despite past setbacks, Musk says is Tesla is forging ahead with the launch of the “unsupervised” robotaxis in Austin as early as June of this year. The planned Tesla ridehailing service will reportedly use Model Y vehicles, supported by remote operators for emergencies.

“Teslas are…probably costing a quarter or 20 percent of what a Waymo costs and made in very high volume,” Musk stated. “So, you know, ironically, we’re the ones that made the bet that a pure AI solution with cameras… is the right move.”

Volkswagen is putting AI-powered driver assistance into its Chinese EVs

CAT DOW 4-17-2025

VW is enhancing its autonomous driving technology in China with a new AI-based driver assistance system, supported by a self-developed chipset for upcoming electric cars. Carizon, a partnership between Horizon Robotics and VW’s Cariad, has created the ‘Gaia’ platform, which processes data much faster than traditional systems.

Having tested over 62,000 miles, this AI allows vehicles to handle complex traffic like humans. The system will be included in VW and Audi electric vehicles in China starting next year. Carizon aims for Level 2++ autonomous driving, which will be further developed toward Level 3 by 2026.

Tesla Odometers Could Be Overestimating Mileage By As Much As 117%: Lawsuit

ERIN MARQUIS 4-15-2025

A Tesla owner in Northern California has filed a lawsuit against the carmaker, alleging that its vehicles may be overestimating mileage – potentially leading to premature warranty expirations. The plaintiff, Nyree Hinton, claims that his Tesla logged over 13,000 miles, despite only driving 6,086 miles.

The lawsuit points to a patented Tesla system called the “miles-to-electrical energy conversation factor,” which calculates mileage using variables like road conditions and charging behavior, rather than distance traveled. The suit suggests this algorithm could inflate mileage by anywhere from 15% to 117%. If the case proceeds to trial, discovery could reveal how Tesla tracks vehicle usage – and whether the practice is costing drivers valuable warranty coverage.

Navigating the future: Creating a compensation framework for autonomous vehicle incidents

MARTIN TOTARO and CONNOR RASO 4-17-2025

The advent of AVs holds enormous potential for improving road safety, reducing emissions, and enhancing mobility, especially for those unable to drive. However, significant liability and regulatory challenges could impede their development and adoption. Establishing a victim compensation fund, as seen in cases like the September 11 attacks and the Deepwater Horizon spill, could mitigate these issues by providing an alternative to the tort system for compensating victims of AV accidents, thus smoothing the transition to driverless technology. Such a fund could encourage industry investment by reducing liability fears while ensuring compensation for victims. Key considerations include fund administration, regulatory alignment, funding mechanisms, and participation criteria. By addressing these challenges proactively, policymakers can foster AV innovation while safeguarding those affected by accidents, ultimately helping to unlock the full potential of this transformative technology.

China cracks down on automated driving features after Tesla’s FSD launch

FRED LAMBERT 4-17-2025

Tesla launched its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) package in China, but shortly after, the Chinese government imposed new limitations on automated driving features. This followed Tesla’s introduction of the FSD for its latest “Hardware 4. 0” vehicles. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) highlighted the need for car manufacturers to understand and adhere to updated requirements, emphasizing safety and accurate product information. Car companies were advised to avoid misleading terms like “self-driving” and instead use “combined assisted driving. ” Tesla renamed its FSD to “Intelligent Assisted Driving” in response.

ALISA PRIDDLE 3-28-2025

Nissan and Infiniti will not offer Level 3 hands-free driving technology in North America any time soon, not due to a lack of capability, but because it is not a priority. The company faces challenges with new leadership and financial issues. Although Nissan can provide Level 3 systems and is testing Level 4 robotaxis in Japan, they are focusing on making Level 2 technology more appealing to consumers, who aren’t willing to pay extra for more advanced features. Research indicates that Level 3 driving is not a major consumer demand. Nissan continues to advance its technology and plans to test more robotaxis in Japan, hoping to address transportation challenges.

US Carmakers Crush It On Q1 EV Sales (Except You-Know-Who)

TINA CASEY 4-2-2025

GM and Ford are reporting strong electric vehicle sales for Q1 2025, as analysts suggest buyers may be acting before potential tariffs or changes to the federal EV tax credit. GM’s EV sales surged 94%, positioning the company as a strong contender for the #2 EV seller in the U.S., trailing only Tesla. “We’re the industry leader in trucks and affordable small SUVs, Cadillac is growing significantly in luxury, and we have the broadest portfolio in EVs in the industry,” stated GM executive VP and president of global markets Rory Harvey.

Ford also saw a boost, with hybrid sales up 33% and EV sales rising 12%, making up 15% of its total Q1 sales. While Tesla’s Q1 report has yet to be release, sales have reportedly been declining since Elon Musk took on a greater role in the White House.

Hyundai’s EVs are about to get smarter and more efficient with its new ‘Pleos’ brand

PETER JOHNSON 3-28-2025

Hyundai is evolving beyond traditional automaking with its new software brand, Pleos, aimed at creating advanced, software-defined vehicles. Launched at Hyundai’s developer conference, Pleos signifies Hyundai’s shift towards becoming a software-centric mobility provider. Derived from “Pleo,” meaning more, and OS, for operating system, this initiative promises high-tech connectivity. Hyundai’s platform integrates from the infotainment system (Pleos Connect) to the Vehicle Operating System and cloud infrastructure, enabling smart functions like autonomous driving. These features improve continuously via updates. Pleos Connect, based on Android, offers a smartphone-like interface with AI assistance. The first vehicle with Pleos Connect is expected in Q2 2026, with the goal of 20 million vehicles by 2030. By 2027, Hyundai plans to achieve Level 2+ autonomous driving, turning vehicles into self-learning systems, in collaboration with partners like Samsung and Google.

Rivian rolls out hands-free driving via software update

ERIC WALZ 3-27-2025

Rivian has introduced a hands-free driving feature called Enhanced Highway Assist through a software update for its second generation R1 vehicles. This system operates on 130,000 miles of roads in the U. S. and Canada, with plans for significant future expansion.

Rivian’s technology includes advanced cameras and radar, with AI-powered decision-making based on extensive data collection. The system is classified as Level 2, meaning drivers must stay alert and ready to take control. More capabilities are expected later this year, with a more advanced feature planned for 2026.

Tesla hypes ‘unsupervised full self-driving’ launch in June: here’s what it will actually launch

FRED LAMBERT 3-26-2025

Tesla is creating buzz around its upcoming unsupervised FSD launch in Austin this June, focusing on a paid ride-hailing service using self-driving technology. CEO Elon Musk announced plans for a no-driver-required launch at Tesla’s last earnings call. Current practices at Tesla’s Fremont facility include vehicles autonomously driving on private roads, unlike the planned public deployment. The transition to “unsupervised” is significant as Tesla’s FSD features have historically required supervision. Tesla’s Austin launch, using its existing vehicle lineup and potentially the new Cybercab, will operate within a geo-fenced area, offering services similar to Waymo, which uses lidar and other sensors. Though Tesla’s system relies solely on cameras, they may employ teleoperation for vehicle support. Despite Musk’s longstanding claims of imminent autonomy, the practical execution remains closely watched.

Self-Driving Car Firms Bleed Cash – WeRide CEO Says Only Regulation Can Steer Toward Profit

KURT ROBSON and SAMANTHA DUNN 3-31-2025

The U.S. autonomous vehicle market remains unprofitable, and industry leaders warn that slow federal regulations could put the country behind China. “If the federal government fails to act to advance sensible AV policies, we will cede our leadership in this economically crucial sector to China,” stated the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

Major autonomous technology companies, such as WeRide, Waymo, and Pony.ai have yet to turn a profit due to high software development, research, and maintenance costs.  WeRide founder Tony Han stresses that federal regulation will be a deciding factor. “What I want in the next five years is that, first of all, this company can become profitable…I think from a technology perspective, it will definitely support this within five years, but there are more commercial and policy considerations,” he told the Financial Times.