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.

Federal autonomous vehicle legislation introduced (SJ Munoz — July 28, 2025)

Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., introduced the America Drives Act to establish a national framework for autonomous vehicle trucking. This legislation would override state laws, allowing deployment of Level 4 and 5 autonomous commercial vehicles across state lines without human drivers. The Act aims to empower the Department of Transportation to implement practical regulations to scale this technology, enhancing supply chain efficiency and U.S. competitiveness. It includes exemptions from human-specific requirements like hours of service and drug testing. The OOIDA calls for greater transparency and mandatory safety testing. Concerns were raised about potential risks, such as phantom braking. The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association supports the bill, emphasizing its benefits for supply chains and safety. The bill seeks to maintain U.S. leadership in transportation innovation while advancing policies prioritizing safety and technological progress.

Mercedes just pressed pause on EV orders in the US (Peter Johnson — July 30, 2025)

Mercedes-Benz has paused all US orders for its EQS and EQE electric vehicles, citing “current market conditions” as the company navigates anticipated policy chances under the Trump administration. The move follows the recent announcement that federal EV tax credits will expire at the end of September. While new domestic orders are no longer being accepted, Mercedes has sharply discounted its remaining US electrical vehicle inventory, slashing prices by as much as $15,000 in a final push to move product.

In a further shift, production of the EQS and EQE SUV models at the Mercedes Alabama production plant will be suspended beginning September 1. However, the facility will continue manufacturing electrical vehicles for export to internal markets.

Dealers and consumers in the US are no longer able to place new orders for these models, marking a significant pivot in the luxury automaker’s EV strategy.

China issues autonomous driving guidelines (Teresa Moss — July 28, 2025)

China has released ethical guidelines for autonomous driving technology, emphasizing transparency and data collection limits. Issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, these guidelines require algorithms and models to be accessible and mandate that data collection stays within the necessary scope for driving functions. They also delineate liability, specifying whether the driver or system is responsible based on the system’s advancement. Dongfeng Motor and Huawei played roles in drafting these rules. In response to a fatal crash involving Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan, China banned terms like “autonomous driving” in ads. Preliminary findings indicated the car crashed after the driver took over from the ADAS system. Similar to the UK’s 2024 Automated Vehicles Act, China aims to prevent misleading language in marketing, ensuring drivers understand their car’s capabilities.

Lyft to add autonomous shuttles in 2026 as Uber inks more self-driving deals (Sean O’Kane — July 25, 2025)

Lyft plans to add autonomous shuttles from Benteler Group to its network in late 2026, in partnership with U. S. cities and airports. The shuttles will have no steering wheel or pedals and can carry up to nine seated and six standing passengers. Lyft is also working on adding autonomous vehicles from May Mobility in Atlanta this year.

US closes probe into Waymo self-driving collisions, unexpected behavior (David Shepardson — July 25, 2025)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded its 14-month investigation into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles late last week, closing the probe without taking further action. The investigation began after 22 reports of Waymo robotaxis potentially violating traffic laws, which led to 17 collisions. NHTSA noted that Waymo issued two recalls during this period, including the May recall affecting over 1,200 vehicles. This recall updated software to improve object detection and better avoid roadway barriers. The federal agency said that it relied on data from Waymo in reaching its decision to close the investigation.

Driverless Cars Are Changing the Future of Claims (Chris Bakes — July 24, 2025)

The rise of autonomous vehicles brings both promise and uncertainty in the automotive industry. As of 2025, only 13% of U. S. consumers trust autonomous cars due to concerns about control and unpredictability. However, statistics show that these vehicles cause fewer claims than human errors, which account for 90% of accidents. The shift toward automation is changing liability from drivers to manufacturers and software developers, requiring new insurance models and claims processes. Advanced technologies are reducing crashes, leading to fewer claims and a focus on improving claims handling and customer experiences in a safer, smarter future.

DAVID SHEPARDSON and AKASH SRIRAM 1-7-2025

On Tuesday, NHTSA opened a probe into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles across the US after several reports of crashes involving Tesla vehicles using the Actually Smart Summon feature. According to the reports, the vehicles haven’t been detecting other parked cars and obstacles in parking lots, leaving the drivers with “too little reaction time to avoid a crash, either with the available line of sight or releasing the phone app button, which stops the vehicle’s movement,” according to the NHTSA report.

The driving assistance feature launched this past fall, and it allows drivers to remotely move their vehicle through a phone app. NHTSA intends to investigate the system’s maximum speed and line-of-sight requirements and will determine whether an engineering analysis is needed. NHTSA’s investigation will also cover the remote connection through the app, including connectivity delays, and the system’s performance in unexpected conditions. Tesla did respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Is your car spying on you? What it means that Tesla shared data in the Las Vegas explosion

BERNARD CONDON 1-4-2025

Tesla’s detailed data tracking after a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas highlights modern vehicles’ ability to collect and utilize extensive personal data. This event demonstrated Tesla’s capacity to swiftly analyze the driver’s movements and the incident’s cause, aiding police investigations. While law enforcement benefits from such data for public safety, privacy experts express concern over potential misuse by companies. Most contemporary vehicles, like Tesla’s, gather comprehensive data, including location, personal contacts, and communication logs, through smartphone synchronization. This raises ethical concerns about privacy rights and data usage, with some companies, such as General Motors, facing legal challenges for allegedly misusing customer data. Privacy advocates argue for new legislation to safeguard consumer data, given the cars’ increasingly digital nature. Amidst these debates, experts emphasize the need for consumer control over personal data in connected vehicles.

Beijing Introduces New Rules as China Pushes Self-Driving Tech

GRAHAM HOPE 1-6-2025

Beijing has announced new regulations to promote the use of autonomous vehicles (AVs), effective later this year. These rules aim to boost investment and innovation in the automotive sector and cover areas like infrastructure planning and traffic management. They also set safety standards for AV operation and inspections. The High-Level Automated Demonstration Area in Yizhuang has become a key site for AV testing, with positive feedback from operators. Additionally, four districts in southern China have signed an agreement to allow self-driving taxis to operate across different cities, enhancing connections in the Greater Bay Area.

Autonomous Vehicles: The Outlook for 2025

GRAHAM HOPE 12-27-2024

The AV industry remains unpredictable, characterized by missed deadlines, technological advancements, and strategic shifts, like General Motors’ decision to halt funding for Cruise. Entering 2025, this uncertainty persists, intensified by potential regulatory changes under Donald Trump’s presidency, possibly influenced by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. This environment could benefit Tesla as it advances its Cybercab for the self-driving taxi market. Meanwhile, Waymo leads with substantial growth, planning expansions in Miami and collaborations with Uber in Austin and Atlanta. Self-driving taxis are gaining traction on ride-hailing platforms, with companies like Lyft and Europe’s Bolt exploring this option. The public’s confidence in AVs remains low, but increased deployments may gradually change perceptions. Other players like May Mobility and Amazon-backed Zoox are progressing with innovative offerings. In the self-driving arena, AI integration is crucial, with companies like the UK’s Wayve pushing forward. Abroad, Chinese firms like Baidu and WeRide are expanding globally. Traditional automakers, including General Motors, face challenges and prioritize EVs over expensive AV projects. Mercedes, however, continues to enhance its Level 3 “hands-off” technology. In trucking, driverless testing progresses, signaling a potential commercial rollout in 2025.

Americans more likely to embrace driverless cars, but still skeptical: Survey

TARA SUTER 1-2-2025

A YouGov survey shows that while 35 percent of Americans are enthusiastic about driverless cars, 70 percent still have concerns about them. This is a slight decrease in concerns from a previous survey. Additionally, Uber is partnering with Cruise to introduce self-driving Chevy Bolt vehicles starting in 2025, with Uber CEO highlighting the potential benefits of this technology.  “As the largest mobility and delivery platform, we believe Uber can play an important role in helping to safely and reliably introduce autonomous technology to consumers and cities around the world,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote in a statement. “We’re thrilled to partner with Cruise and look forward to launching next year.”

Tesla to fix software for 77,650 China-made vehicles, says market regulator

REUTERS 12-31-2024

Tesla is recalling over 77,000 vehicles in China over software issues that have reportedly been failing to display vehicle tire pressure. According to China’s market regulator, the product recall will cover China-made Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. It has not yet been clear whether drivers will be able to return the Tesla vehicles for refunds. In addition to the product recall, Tesla is also recalling 63 imported Tesla vehicles over driver-side airbag issues.