ANDREW J. HAWKINS | The Verge | 1/13/2026

Mercedes-Benz is pausing its Drive Pilot feature, a Level 3 automated driving system, due to low demand and high production costs. The new S-Class will not include this system when it arrives. Drive Pilot allowed hands-free driving at up to 40mph but faced limitations, such as specific operational conditions and legal restrictions.

The company plans to introduce a new Level 2++ feature called Drive Pilot Assist this year. Mercedes may combine Drive Pilot with this system in the future as technology and regulations evolve.

New York governor clears path for robotaxis everywhere, with one notable exception

KIRSTEN KOROSEC | Tech Crunch | 1/13/2026

New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to introduce legislation to legalize robotaxis in the state, excluding New York City. The proposal aims to expand the state’s autonomous vehicle pilot program, allowing limited deployment of commercial self-driving cars outside the city. Companies must prove local support and adhere to safety standards. More details will be in the governor’s executive budget, to be released on January 20.

Ford’s $30K EV Truck Will Have the World’s Cheapest Electric Motor

MARNUS MOOLMAN | Auto Blog | 1/11/2026

Ford is aiming to shake up the EV pickup market with a new electric truck priced around $30,000, made possible in part by what it calls the world’s cheapest electric motor. This move follows the recent discontinuation of the Ford F-150 Lightning. By aggressively cutting component costs and simplifying design, Ford hopes to deliver an affordable, mass-market EV truck by around 2027, narrowing the price gap with gas-powered pickups and better positioning itself against low-cost Chinese competitors.

Lucid’s CEO Gets Candid About The EV Mistake Automakers Won’t Talk About

PATRICK GEORGE | Inside EVs | 1/11/2026

Lucid Motors’ interim CEO Marc Winterhoff used a CES appearance to argue that the EV industry has historically focused too much on sustainability and environmental messaging and not enough on the performance, space, and real-world advantages electric vehicles can offer. Winterhoff said this marketing misstep has made it harder to connect with mainstream buyers and that companies need to better explain the inherent strengths of EV technology. To illustrate his point, he pointed to Lucid’s Gravity SUV as an example of an EV that competes on specs and driving experience with high-end internal-combustion rivals, not just emissions reductions.

Maine Gov. Mills vetoes bill to weaken car repair data access law

HENRY WELCH | PIRG | 1/9/2026

Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would have diluted the state’s 2023 automotive right-to-repair/data access law, preserving stronger data access rights for vehicle owners and independent repair shops. The veto came after opposition from independent mechanics and repair advocates. This is a state-level fight over who controls access to telematics and operational vehicle data, a proxy for broader national debates on data ownership, competition, and privacy. 

Tesla, Elon Musk sued by shareholders over Robotaxi claims (Jonathan Stempel — August 5, 2025)

Elon Musk and Tesla were sued by shareholders for securities fraud, accusing them of hiding the risks of their self-driving vehicles. The lawsuit followed a test showing dangerous behavior of robotaxis, leading to a drop in Tesla’s stock price. Shareholders seek damages from April 2023 to June 2025. Also, Tesla was recently found partially responsible for a fatal crash involving its self-driving software.

Trump’s deregulation of AI and autonomous vehicles: Revolution or risk? (Lauren Fix — August 6, 2025)

On January 23, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” signaling a dramatic shift away from the Biden administration’s cautious regulatory stance on AI. The directive calls on federal agencies to dismantle regulations viewed as obstacles to innovation, most notably in autonomous vehicle development. It streamlines NHTSA’s exemption process and could open the door for self-driving cars to operate without traditional safety features like steering wheels or pedals.

Proponents say the move will accelerate U.S. dominance in emerging sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and logistics, potentially saving thousands of lives and cutting costs through automation. But critics warn that the sweeping rollback comes with serious risks. Key concerns include the elimination of mandatory crash data reporting for AVs and the removal of protections against algorithmic bias. The order may also clash with existing state-level laws in places like California and Colorado, raising fears of a fragmented regulatory landscape that could erode public trust and compromise safety.

Ford opens massive EV development center in Long Beach, California (Susan Carpenter — August 5, 2025)

After a 65-year absence, Ford Motor is making a major West Coast comeback with the opening of a massive 250,000-square-foot Electric Vehicle Development Center in Long Beach, its first significant Southern California presence since closing an assembly plant in 1959. The repurposed aviation depot near LAX now houses 350 engineers, designers, and technicians, with plans to expand to 450 staff. The high-tech campus features design studios, fabrication workshops, EV labs, and specialized garage space for next-generation projects spanning electric drivetrains, software, and battery development.

Ford’s California team is laser-focused on developing a low-cost, midsize electric pickup truck set to launch in 2027, a crucial vehicle that could determine the automaker’s competitiveness in the mass-market EV space. The move signals Ford’s determination to attract top-tier engineering talent from California’s tech corridor while reinforcing its electrification commitment, even as the industry grapples with rising tariff pressures and supply chain challenges.

Tesla Wants To Bring Its Robotaxis To New York. Good Luck With That (Rob Stumpf — August 3, 2025)

Tesla’s Robotaxi service, after launching in California, is expanding by hiring “vehicle operators” in several U. S. cities, including Brooklyn, New York. Unlike competitors like Waymo, Tesla is rapidly expanding its service, though it still lacks full autonomous permits. The push raises safety concerns, especially in busy areas.

Lyft to partner with Chinese AI firm Baidu to bring robotaxis to Europe in 2026 (Euronews — August 4, 2025)

Robotaxis may be available in Germany and the UK on the Lyft app as soon as next year. Lyft is partnering with Chinese AI firm Baidu to introduce autonomous vehicles, pending regulatory approval. Baidu aims to scale its fleet in Europe, while Lyft expands its operations after acquiring the FREENOW app.

Lucid softens full-year production forecast as EV maker misses second-quarter estimates (Michele Luhn — August 5, 2025)

Lucid Motors posted mixed Q2 results, missing revenue expectations with $259.4 million and reporting a wider-than-expected 24-cent loss per share. The EV maker also lowered its 2025 production forecast to 18,000–20,000 units, citing rising tariffs and trade tensions. To offset supply chain challenges, Lucid is shifting to domestic sourcing—aiming to boost long-term stability despite near-term margin pressure. The company is betting on its upcoming Gravity SUV, a $50,000 midsize EV, and a newly announced six-year robotaxi partnership with Uber and Nuro, backed by a $300 million Uber investment.