LURAH LOWERY | Repairer Driven News | 1/15/2026

Last week, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a hearing to consider the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, a bill aimed at ensuring vehicle owners and independent repair shops have access to the diagnostic, maintenance, and repair data needed to service modern cars. Supporters, including aftermarket groups and insurers, argued that as vehicles become increasingly software-driven, restricted access to that data threatens competition, raises repair costs, and limits consumer choice, while opponents from major automakers warn it could disrupt the industry and raise safety or intellectual property concerns. The testimony highlighted deep divisions over how to balance consumer repair rights with industry safeguards as Congress weighs how to modernize motor vehicle policy.

China’s industry ministry revises EV safety rules for automakers

Investing .com | 1/21/2026

China’s industry ministry announced new rules for approving automakers and vehicles, effective in 2027, emphasizing electric vehicle safety monitoring. Manufacturers must create platforms to track the safety status of their electric vehicles, with the data used to enhance vehicle design and performance.

Canada’s Industry Minister Meets Auto Giants BYD, Chery in Beijing

 CLÁUDIO AFONSO | EV | 1/18/2026

Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly met with Chinese automakers BYD and Chery during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing to finalize a trade deal. The agreement allows up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles per year at a reduced tariff of 6.1%. A new Auto Plan, expected next month, may let Chinese firms assemble vehicles in Canada under certain conditions. The deal has faced criticism from US officials but aims to boost Canada’s manufacturing and export potential.

Hyundai hires Tesla Autopilot pioneer for top driverless role

PAUL MYLES | Wards Auto | 1/16/2026

Hyundai Motor Group has hired a former Tesla Autopilot pioneer to lead its autonomous driving and software efforts, signaling a renewed push into driverless technology. The executive, who helped build Tesla’s early Autopilot vision system and later worked on autonomous platforms at Nvidia, will oversee Hyundai’s advanced vehicle and software strategy, including its global software unit, 42dot, as the automaker looks to accelerate development of next-generation driver-assist and autonomy features.

Tesla granted more time in US investigation into its self-driving tech

MATT OTT | AP News | 1/16/2026

U.S. auto safety regulators have granted Tesla a five-week extension to respond to an investigation into allegations that its “Full Self-Driving” system has violated traffic laws, including running red lights and driving into oncoming lanes, with at least 62 reported incidents across 2.9 million vehicles. Regulators say some drivers received no warning before erratic behavior, while Tesla argues it has consistently told users that FSD is only a Level 2 driver-assistance system requiring full driver attention. The probe comes as Tesla faces declining vehicle sales and increased competition, heightening pressure on the company to demonstrate progress with FSD and its long-promised autonomous ambitions.

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.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly playing a major role in modern transportation, particularly in automated vehicle systems and driver assistance technologies. While some companies are pushing toward full automation at Levels 4 and 5, others are focusing on perfecting Level 2 systems as a stepping stone towards more advanced capabilities. AI offers some advantages over human drivers, particularly in perception and real-time decision-making, which can lead to improved road safety. One company taking an incremental approach is Nauto, founded by Dr. Stefan Heck. Rather than waiting for full autonomy, Nauto integrates AI into vehicles already on the road today. “Our philosophy was, let’s support humans first, and then let’s gradually increase the degree of autonomy,” said Heck. Nauto’s system uses AI to simultaneously monitor road conditions and driver behavior, detecting potential risks and issuing warnings before a potential crash occurs.

Tesla’s Europe sales plunge 49% on brand damage, rising competition (Arjun Kharpal – May 27, 2025)

European sales of Tesla vehicles dropped 49% in April, with 7,261 cars sold, while overall electric car sales rose. Tesla’s reputation has declined due to CEO Elon Musk’s political activities, and sales fell nearly 40% from January to April. Consumers prefer hybrids, and Tesla lacks hybrid options. Investors question Musk’s commitment, but he plans to lead Tesla for five more years.

First ever ‘robotaxi’ trials with passengers begin in Germany (Ciaran Daly – May 27, 2025)

The KIRA project has launched real-world testing of Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Germany, allowing live passengers to book and ride in self-driving shuttles operating in the towns of Langen and Egelsbach. The Nio ES8 electric SUV’s are equipped with LIDAR sensors, cameras, and Mobileye software. The technology enables the vehicles to navigate independently of a driver and operate at speeds of up to 130 km/h (approximately 80 mph). While the vehicles drive autonomously, a human safety driver

will remain on board during the trial phase to monitor vehicle operations. Kaweh Mansoori, Hessen’s Minister of Economy, Energy, Transport, Housing, and Rural Areas, praised the initiative as a “blueprint for the mobility of the future.”

Humans step up as Texas steps back from autonomous trucking (Jo Borrás – May 24, 2025)

Texas technology firm Aurora initially celebrated launching the first fully autonomous freight service in the US but has now put human operators back behind the wheel. This decision follows a request from truck manufacturer PACCAR due to concerns about prototype parts.

CEO Chris Urmson emphasized that despite having a human in the driver’s seat, the Aurora Driver will remain responsible for all driving tasks. This change coincides with Texas lawmakers reviewing House Bill 4402, which would mandate human operators in autonomous vehicles. Teamsters President Brent Taylor supports this law to protect local jobs from automation.

Tesla’s head of self-driving admits ‘lagging a couple years’ behind Waymo (Fred Lambert – May 21, 2025)

Tesla’s head of self-driving, Ashok Elluswamy, admitted that Tesla’s autonomous program is about “a couple of years” behind Waymo, but believes Tesla’s lower costs will allow faster scaling. In a rare candid interview, he highlighted that Tesla’s approach is much cheaper but offers “equal quality,” acknowledging that Waymo has already achieved Level 4 autonomous rides, while Tesla remains limited to Level 2 with driver supervision. Despite Tesla’s claims of leading autonomy, this admission reveals the company’s ongoing gap in fully autonomous technology. Tesla produces more cars annually than Waymo, benefiting from economies of scale, though it mainly sells vehicles without the full self-driving package.

Musk says Tesla’s self-driving tests will be geofenced to ‘the safest’ parts of Austin (Sean O’Kane – May 20, 2025)

Tesla’s robotaxi service debut in Austin, Texas next month will start with restricted areas deemed “the safest,” according to CEO Elon Musk. The vehicles will avoid complex intersections unless highly confident of safe navigation or reroute around them. This cautious approach marks a shift from Musk’s earlier claim of creating a general-purpose self-driving system. Tesla plans to use geofencing—limiting vehicles to specific zones—which Musk hinted at during an earnings call in April. The company will remotely monitor around 10 Model Y SUVs with the “unsupervised” Full Self-Driving software, without safety operators inside. Musk emphasized starting small, confirming

performance before expanding. Unlike companies like Waymo, which have staffed operation centers providing remote guidance, Tesla’s method involves minimal human oversight during early trials, reflecting its “paranoid” safety approach.