CHANDLER, Ariz. — On a trip that bore some resemblance to a trans-Atlantic red-eye, I stared out the window and watched the city pass by. A touch screen perched on the seat back illuminated an otherwise darkened cabin. An engine’s hum provided a steady soundtrack. And a machine I had no direct control over carried
Industry
CHANDLER, Ariz. — There are assumptions about why Waymo chose this sprawling Phoenix suburb as the location to launch the world’s first commercial robotaxi service more than three years ago. Vehicle-friendly streets. Modern infrastructure. Eternal sunshine. Those are sensible criteria for a fledgling proving ground of self-driving technology. But they can be misleading, and they
Ford Motor Co. has named a CEO of Michigan Central, the innovation district the Dearborn-based automaker is building in and around the old train station in Detroit. Joshua Sirefman, the co-founder and former president of Sidewalk Labs in New York, will take the helm of the district. Sirefman, 54, will be responsible for the real
As the electric vehicle market expands, so is a new North American battery-recycling industry. Its aim: to clean up the battery business and help EVs live up to their promise of reducing global carbon emissions. “There’s no difference between the materials we produce and what the mining industry produces,” said Tim Johnston, co-founder and chairman
TEMPE, Ariz. — Karen Wilson often works with Waymo’s driverless vehicles. Just don’t ask her to ride in one. “I’ve relied on my instincts way too long,” says Wilson, a dispatcher at AutoNation Toyota Tempe who previously made a career of driving tractor-trailers. She never had an incident during 16 years behind the wheel of
Self-driving technology company Aurora Innovation Inc. affirmed it remains on pace to launch a commercial trucking business by late next year and a robotaxi service by late 2024. Advances in lidar sensors, expansion of business partnerships and the maturation of its autonomous-driving technology have made it possible to project the start of a commercial trucking
As e-scooters increase their presence in U.S. cities, it’s becoming more of a priority that they have smart technologies to protect sidewalk pedestrians. In most instances, scooters are meant to stay on the street like a bicycle and off the sidewalks. E-scooter makers such as Bird and Lime have responded by developing and testing technology
WASHINGTON — General Motors and its self-driving technology unit Cruise, in a long expected move, formally petitioned U.S. regulators for permission to build and deploy a self-driving vehicle that does not need human controls. Cruise said in a blog post on Friday it sought permission to deploy the Cruise Origin that does not need features
Tesla’s Elon Musk disappointed fans and investors last month when the brash CEO ruled out a 2022 launch for the eagerly awaited Cybertruck, the wildly styled pickup that could open up a lucrative new vehicle segment for the electric automaker. Instead, Musk promised something wilder still: vastly improved “Full Self-Driving” software by year end that
Jaguar Land Rover and Nvidia will collaborate to develop software-based technology for Jaguars and Land Rovers launching in 2025 and beyond. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of their multiyear agreement. The partnership is a high-profile win for Nvidia’s effort to expand its reach in the auto industry, building on its base in
CelLink, a California startup with a pathbreaking product that replaces traditional wiring harnesses, said it has closed a $250 million funding round backed by several large auto industry players. CelLink has developed a new method of connecting battery cells and packs, and transferring power and data across vehicle sensors, modules and electronic control units, according
SAN FRANCISCO — Google’s self-driving technology affiliate Waymo and truck fleet operator C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. said on Wednesday they would team up to test automated trucks with safety drivers behind the wheels in Texas in the coming months. The partnership will allow C.H. Robinson to be among the earlier users of Waymo’s automated trucking
Tesla’s Elon Musk disappointed fans and investors last month when the brash CEO ruled out a 2022 launch for the eagerly awaited Cybertruck, the wildly styled pickup that could open up a lucrative new vehicle segment for the electric automaker. Instead, Musk promised something wilder still: vastly improved “Full Self-Driving” software by year end that
DETROIT — General Motors is doubling its investment to its Climate Equity Fund — part of a strategy to create equitable climate action — to $50 million. The fund is designed to help close equity gaps in the transition to electric vehicles. GM has said it will invest $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicle
It’s a tradition as old as the world’s fair: Visions of the next steps in mobility are put on display — this time in Washington, D.C. As part of its “Futures” exhibit, the Smithsonian Institution is showcasing concepts designed to move people in faster, efficient and affordable ways. The displays will be at the museum’s
Nearly four years ago, 45 months to be precise, the first Shift magazine was mailed out with the print issue of Automotive News. It was May 28, 2018. The topic: “Dinosaurs and Disrupters: Who will rule the new automotive age?” As Shift‘s then-editor, Sharon Silke Carty, explained, the mission of the magazine was “focusing on
America may be poised for a rail renaissance, one that could someday fulfill dreams of a high-speed network connecting major U.S. cities. In November, President Joe Biden signed a once-in-a-generation infrastructure upgrade that, among other things, provides $66 billion for rail projects that will modernize existing rail lines, fix notorious trouble spots on the Northeast
As automakers transition to battery power, how long is the road ahead for the internal combustion engine? New supplier alliances are ensuring a stream of vital batteries, software and electronics for anticipated demand for electric vehicles. Battery ranges of 300, 400 and even 750 miles are being claimed. What was a slow crawl toward an