Google will pay Louisville millions to fix roads after failed Fiber experiment

Google has agreed to pay the Louisville Metro Government $3.84 million over the next 20 months to repair the damage caused to the city by its ill-fated Google Fiber service. The money will be used by local authorities to remove the company’s infrastructure from the city’s roads and to repave areas where needed after the… Continue reading Google will pay Louisville millions to fix roads after failed Fiber experiment

Aston Martin’s first electric car is finally here

The first all-electric Aston Martin has finally been revealed, nearly four years after it was originally announced. Based on the existing combustion-engine Aston Martin Rapide sedan, the “Rapide E” officially debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show on Tuesday. Only 155 will be made, and Aston Martin didn’t announce a price for the car. Powered by… Continue reading Aston Martin’s first electric car is finally here

Tesla Model 3 hack shows new cars can snitch on owners after a wreck

Two security researchers and self-described “white hat hackers” found a trove of unencrypted location, camera, and other data on a wrecked Tesla Model 3, according to a new report from CNBC. And while it’s not a problem unique to Tesla, the example serves as a stark reminder that newer cars can become a security risk… Continue reading Tesla Model 3 hack shows new cars can snitch on owners after a wreck

Tesla changes return policy after Elon Musk’s contradictory tweets

Tesla has changed its return policy after CEO Elon Musk tweeted contradictory statements about how it works. The company told The Verge that the change was already in the works on Wednesday in response to questions about the tweet. Buyers will now be able to return a car within seven days (or before 1,000 miles)… Continue reading Tesla changes return policy after Elon Musk’s contradictory tweets

I rode with Nissan’s AR and 5G-powered virtual passengers

Nissan’s vision for the future of connected cars is about as buzzword-laden as possible. Making use of 5G, AR, and VR to power an advanced in-vehicle experience, the company’s “Invisible-to-Visible” (I2V) technology not only allows for HUD-style overlays but also humanoid virtual assistants that ride alongside you to provide conversation and locally relevant information. Here’s… Continue reading I rode with Nissan’s AR and 5G-powered virtual passengers

Uber is buying Middle Eastern ride-sharing rival Careem for $3.1 billion

Uber has announced that it’s buying Careem, a rival ride-sharing service that operates across 98 cities in the Middle East, Africa, and southern Asia, for $3.1 billion. The New York Times notes that Careem will continue to operate as a separate brand, with a board of directors consisting of a mix of Uber and Careem… Continue reading Uber is buying Middle Eastern ride-sharing rival Careem for $3.1 billion

New EV startup Canoo will only sell cars on a subscription basis

Electric vehicle startup EVelozcity, which was founded in late 2017 by three former BMW executives (and ex-Faraday Future employees), has a new name and a new direction. The company announced Monday it’s rebranding to Canoo, and also clarified that it will only sell its upcoming vehicles on a subscription model. Those vehicles will be human-controlled… Continue reading New EV startup Canoo will only sell cars on a subscription basis

Faraday Future strikes deal to make cars in China with mobile gaming company

Troubled electric car startup Faraday Future has received another surprise lifeline in the form of a new 50/50 joint venture partnership with Chinese online video game company The9, the EV company announced Sunday. The9 says it’s willing to contribute up to $600 million to the joint venture, and Faraday Future has promised to use that… Continue reading Faraday Future strikes deal to make cars in China with mobile gaming company

Chinese EV startup XPeng is at the center of major trade secret disputes with Apple and Tesla

Last summer, a former Apple employee was charged by the FBI for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to the company’s secretive self-driving car project. This week, Tesla sued a former employee for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to Autopilot. While they happened many months apart, both sets of allegations have something in common: the employees… Continue reading Chinese EV startup XPeng is at the center of major trade secret disputes with Apple and Tesla

Tesla brings back its customer referral program — with fewer free cars

Tesla killed off its customer referral program on February 1st, citing high costs — presumably because the company was giving away dozens and dozens of $250,000 cars for free — but in a typical Elon Musk about-face, the company just announced it’s bringing the referral program back with a few tweaks on top. Basically, your… Continue reading Tesla brings back its customer referral program — with fewer free cars