Feds ask Waymo about robotaxis repeatedly passing school buses in Austin

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked Waymo for more information about its self-driving system and operations following reports from the Austin School District that its robotaxis illegally passed school buses 19 times this year. In a December 3 letter sent to Waymo, regulators requested detailed information about its fifth-generation self-driving system and operations.… Continue reading Feds ask Waymo about robotaxis repeatedly passing school buses in Austin

Automakers, sugar makers urge govt to promote flex fuel vehicles after E20

After crossing the 20% ethanol-blending milestone, automakers and sugar manufacturers are urging the government to prioritise flex-fuel vehicles – which can run on higher blends and 100% ethanol – instead of incrementally moving to 25% or 30% blends. They want lower taxes on these vehicles and a clear pricing advantage for ethanol over petrol. With… Continue reading Automakers, sugar makers urge govt to promote flex fuel vehicles after E20

Nintendo’s Switch 2 Mario Kart bundle is still on sale for $50 off

This may be your last chance to save on Nintendo’s latest console before the holidays. This may be your last chance to save on Nintendo’s latest console before the holidays. by Brandon Russell Updated Dec 2, 2025, 7:48 PM UTC Brandon Russell is a commerce writer covering deals and buying guides. Previously, he was a… Continue reading Nintendo’s Switch 2 Mario Kart bundle is still on sale for $50 off

Musk says new Tesla software allows texting and driving, which is illegal in most states

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in an X post Thursday that owners can text and drive with the latest version of his company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) driver-assistance software, despite the fact that it’s illegal to do so in most states. Musk replied to another user who had noticed the newest update to the software, known… Continue reading Musk says new Tesla software allows texting and driving, which is illegal in most states

14+ powerful Alexa commands every user should know at home (no subscriptions required)

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Virtual assistants will soon be as commonplace as smartphones — in many parts of the world, they already are. Most smartphones have a built-in assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI), whether it’s Siri in iPhones or Google Assistant (now Gemini) in Android phones.  Inside our… Continue reading 14+ powerful Alexa commands every user should know at home (no subscriptions required)

Thousands of readers bought these 10 most popular robot vacuums and mowers in 2025

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. As a smart home reviewer, I’m particularly fond of robot vacuums. I enjoy unboxing, setting up, and testing them, and I love seeing new technologies emerge each year. Even if robot vacuums look similar, each one is actually quite different, which means I’m constantly learning new… Continue reading Thousands of readers bought these 10 most popular robot vacuums and mowers in 2025

Honda wants to move deliveries off the road and into bike lanes with this quad

Honda is moving forward with its Fastport delivery quadcycle, and we got a chance to see it up close and take it for a quick spin. We told you about Honda’s 4-wheeled delivery vehicle back in June, and we were excited about the idea of right-sizing delivery vehicles in urban centers that are often clogged… Continue reading Honda wants to move deliveries off the road and into bike lanes with this quad

Waymo shuts down ‘can’t scale’ argument with quick test to fully autonomous in Texas

For years, the loudest and most persistent argument coming from the Tesla camp, including Elon Musk himself, against Waymo has been simple: “Sure, it works, but it can’t scale.” The narrative, usually pushed by those heavily invested in the promise of Tesla’s “generalized Full Self-Driving”, was that Waymo was a geofenced parlor trick. They argued… Continue reading Waymo shuts down ‘can’t scale’ argument with quick test to fully autonomous in Texas

Tesla gains in 2026 Consumer Reports’ auto brand rankings

Refreshed versions of the Tesla Model Y are shown outside a Tesla store in San Diego, California, U.S. October 21, 2025. Mike Blake | Reuters DETROIT — U.S. electric vehicle sales leader Tesla made notable strides in Consumer Reports’ influential annual auto brand rankings, cracking the top 10 overall for the U.S. The EV manufacturer… Continue reading Tesla gains in 2026 Consumer Reports’ auto brand rankings