Ford’s $30B investment in electric revs up in-house battery R&D

Ford is increasing its investment in its electric vehicle future to $30 billion by 2025, up from a previous spend of $22 billion by 2023. The company announced the fresh cashflow into its EV and battery development strategy, dubbed Ford+, during an investor day on Tuesday.  The company said it expects 40% of its global… Continue reading Ford’s $30B investment in electric revs up in-house battery R&D

Lucid Motors reveals all the tech inside its all-electric Air sedan

Eight months after Lucid Motors showed off the final version of its all-electric Air sedan, the company has finally revealed the in-cabin tech — from the curved 34-inch display and second touchscreen to the underlying software, integrated apps and Amazon Alexa voice assistant — that drivers and passengers will use once the automaker begins deliveries… Continue reading Lucid Motors reveals all the tech inside its all-electric Air sedan

NASA’s new lunar vehicle could be built by GM and Lockheed Martin

The last time humans visited the moon, in 1972, they got around on a relatively simple battery-powered vehicle. As NASA prepares for the next crewed mission to the moon, it’s looking to give the lunar rover an upgrade. Lockheed Martin and General Motors said Wednesday they’re working together to develop a next-generation lunar vehicle designed… Continue reading NASA’s new lunar vehicle could be built by GM and Lockheed Martin

Merlin Labs emerges from stealth to bring autonomy to 55-King Air fleet

When Merlin Labs founder Matt George was learning to fly in Vermont, he had a close call with a Jet Blue aircraft that was coming into Burlington airport. It was “an unsettling experience,” he told TechCrunch, but one that stuck with him. A few years later, after the transportation company he founded Bridgj was acquired… Continue reading Merlin Labs emerges from stealth to bring autonomy to 55-King Air fleet

EV fast charger developer Tritium to go public via SPAC merger at $1.2B valuation

Another day, another mobility SPAC deal. This time, it’s Tritium, a Brisbane-based developer and producer of direct current fast EV chargers that is taking the SPAC path to the public market in a deal valuing the company at $1.2 billion. Tritium said Wednesday it will be heading to the Nasdaq via a merger with special… Continue reading EV fast charger developer Tritium to go public via SPAC merger at $1.2B valuation

Self-driving truck startup Kodiak partnering with SK Group to expand into Asia

Kodiak Robotics, the U.S.-based self-driving truck startup, is partnering with South Korean conglomerate SK to explore the possibility of deploying its autonomous vehicle technology in Asia. The ultimate aim of the partnership is to sell and distribute Kodiak’s self-driving technology in the region. Kodiak will examine how it can use SK’s products, components and technology… Continue reading Self-driving truck startup Kodiak partnering with SK Group to expand into Asia

Tesla will store Chinese user data locally, following Apple’s suit

The handling of user data in China has become a delicate matter for foreign tech companies operating in the country. Apple’s move to store the data of its Chinese customers in servers managed by a Chinese state-owned cloud service has stoked controversy in the West over the years. A recent New York Times investigation found… Continue reading Tesla will store Chinese user data locally, following Apple’s suit

Tesla is no longer using radar sensors in Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built in North America

Tesla Model Y and Model 3 vehicles bound for North American customers are being built without radar, fulfilling a desire by CEO Elon Musk to only use cameras combined with machine learning to support its advanced driver assistance system and other active safety features. Like many of Tesla’s moves, the decision to stop using the… Continue reading Tesla is no longer using radar sensors in Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built in North America

JD.com, Meituan and Neolix to test autonomous deliveries on Beijing public roads

People in a Beijing suburb will begin to see autonomous delivery mini-vans across their neighborhood, moving cautiously alongside human delivery riders belting down the streets. Beijing has greenlighted JD.com, Meituan, and Neolix to trial self-driving delivery vehicles on designated public roads in the Yizhuang Development Area, an economic and technological growth pilot initiated by the… Continue reading JD.com, Meituan and Neolix to test autonomous deliveries on Beijing public roads

Dogs of Lordstown

There’s more to this story than one bad quarter Alex Wilhelm 9 hours The lackluster performance of shares in companies that have combined with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in recent quarters took another hit yesterday when Lordstown Motors reported its first-quarter results. Lordstown, part of a wave of electric-vehicle companies that raised capital and… Continue reading Dogs of Lordstown