Lyft partners with May Mobility, Mobileye to bring autonomous vehicles to the app (Tech Crunch, November 6, 2024)

Lyft is making a big push into the autonomous vehicle market, partnering with several companies to build a network of self-driving cars. They’ve signed a deal with May Mobility to launch autonomous vehicles on the Lyft app in Atlanta starting in 2025. Lyft is also partnering with Mobileye, allowing vehicles equipped with Mobileye’s self-driving technology to be integrated into the Lyft platform. Additionally, Lyft has partnered with Nexar to use dashcam data to improve autonomous vehicle technology development. These partnerships build on Lyft’s previous experiences with autonomous vehicles, including its collaboration with Motional and Argo AI. This strategy aims to help Lyft catch up with Uber, which has already partnered with several companies in the autonomous vehicle industry.

Elon Musk says its ‘pointless’ to build a human-driven $25,000 Tesla (Fast Company, November 5, 2024)

During an earnings call last month, Elon Musk indicated that Tesla has backed out of its plans for the long-promised $25,000 electric vehicle, stating that building an affording electric vehicle is “pointless” without fully autonomous technology. As recently as January of 2024, Musk confirmed rumors of Tesla’s new affordable EV arriving in 2025, and called it the beginning of a “growth wave” for the company.

However, Tesla appears to be shifting focus to autonomous technology and producing its robotaxi, the “Cybercab.” “It is my understanding that the original plan was to make the more-affordable vehicle on a new platform. I think Tesla realized they were late to making an affordable vehicle versus their Chinese-EV peers. . . So, they changed their strategy rather than make a large investment to produce a new vehicle,” stated Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar Research Services analyst.

Waymo is now valued at a staggering $45 billion (Electrek, November 1, 2024)

Alphabet’s Waymo received $5. 6 billion in funding, now valued at $45 billion. With investors like Google, it plans to expand robotaxi service in major cities. Despite setbacks, financial support from Alphabet fuels Waymo’s success. The company is growing rapidly, with plans to enter new markets and expand autonomous operations. Existing investors include Andreessen Horowitz and T. Rowe Price. Tesla poses potential competition in the self-driving sector.  Currently, Tesla offers ride-hailing services with safety drivers for its Bay Area employees.

Toyota pushes back electric vehicle production plans in America (Detroit Free Press, October 7, 2024)

Toyota has long been cautious about the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and the current EV market slowdown seems to validate its skepticism. However, despite the slump, the global auto industry continues to shift toward electrification, and all manufacturers, including Toyota, will ultimately need to adjust – albeit at a slower pace than originally anticipated.

Though there were reports of Toyota’s three-row EV SUV launching by the end of 2025, production has been delayed until at least 2026. Meanwhile, Lexus has canceled its plans for a new electric vehicle as EV sales continue to decline in the U.S. Despite the downturn, Toyota remains committed to producing 1.5 million EVs annually by the end of 2026, with plans to introduce seven new EV models to the U.S. market.

Google’s Waymo Chooses Hyundai Ioniq 5 for Autonomous Driving Fleet (MSN, October 6, 2024)

Hyundai and Waymo partner to integrate autonomous driving technology into Hyundai vehicles, starting with the sixth generation Waymo Driver in the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Vehicles will be produced at Hyundai’s Georgia factory with autonomous pre-installation, ensuring they are ready for self-driving technology. Waymo plans to add the Ioniq 5 to its Waymo One fleet by 2025, expanding its operations in select U. S. regions. This collaboration allows Hyundai to enter the autonomous vehicle sector while growing Waymo’s fleet, previously supplied by Chrysler and Jaguar. The latest Waymo Driver features advanced hardware and software for enhanced detection capabilities in various conditions.

 Autonomous vehicles could render personal auto insurance obsolete by 2044, new report finds (CBT News, October 4, 2024)

A new Morningstar report suggests that self-driving cars might significantly diminish the need for personal auto insurance within 20 years. By 2044, if AVs are widely adopted, liability could shift from drivers to manufacturers, transitioning insurance to product liability. Full adoption of Level 4 or 5 autonomy, where cars drive without human intervention, could make personal insurance obsolete by 2060. Currently, most vehicles have Level 2 automation requiring driver assistance. Companies like Waymo and Cruise are pioneering Level 4 capabilities with region-specific robotaxis. Morningstar projects that AVs could reach 80% market penetration within 7 to 18 years, depending on adoption speed. Insurance may remain unaffected until Level 4 autonomy prevails, but a 10% AV penetration rate by 2035 could begin reshaping the industry, potentially eliminating some insurers by 2043 as AV penetration grows.

Some Cybertrucks Are Finally Getting FSD (AutoWeek, October 1, 2024)

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been the only Tesla vehicle that has not been equipped with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving since it was introduced to the market in 2023. However, with Tesla’s most recent software update, Full Self-Driving (Supervised), Tesla has activated the driving assistance feature to some Cybertrucks. The Tesla update, v12.5.5, which many believe to be one of Tesla’s most advanced updates, claims to enhance the driving experience with “more natural lane change decisions” and incorporates the use of AI. Tesla stated, “This is an early access build. You and anyone you authorize must use additional caution and remain attentive. It does not make your vehicle autonomous. Do not become complacent.” FSD (Supervised) has remained an SAE Level 2 driving system, but it appears that Tesla may be trying to move into a “Level 2.5,” as it incorporates advanced features while maintaining the necessary driver attention requirements.

Tesla, Musk beat shareholder lawsuit over self-driving promises (Reuters, September 30, 2024)

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin ruled in favor of Tesla and Elon Musk over Tesla shareholders who claimed that the carmaker was overstating the safety and effectiveness of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving in order to increase its stock price. Judge Martinez-Olguin stated that the shareholders were not able to show that Tesla and Musk should be liable for the false promises, but that many of Musk’s statements were addressing future expectations. The judge dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, but Tesla is still facing investigations from the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a lawsuit filed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, regarding its self-driving claims.

Safest Electric Cars of 2024 (Kelley Blue Book, September 26, 2024)

The selection of the safest electric cars of 2024 emphasizes not just critical factors like range and charging time but the paramount importance of safety for family vehicles. The list includes vehicles awarded a Top Safety Pick (TSP) or Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Prioritizing extensive IIHS testing, models awaiting NHTSA evaluation are included based on their anticipated high safety standards. Highlighted models feature a range of advanced safety technologies, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking systems, with top picks being the 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron, Genesis Electrified G80, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Rivian R1T, among others. As IIHS continues to assess more models, the roster of recognized safe electric vehicles is expected to expand, underscoring evolving safety benchmarks in the electric vehicle market. The full list can be viewed here.

Biden administration seeks to ban Chinese, Russian tech in US autonomous vehicles (The Associated Press, September 23, 2024)

The US Department of Commerce announced on Monday that it is seeking to ban all connected vehicles that have Chinese or Russian technology or software installed beginning in model year 2027 vehicles in an effort to protect national security. The government raised its concerns over microphones, cameras, GPS, and Bluetooth technology that could put American personal information in the hands of a foreign adversary. This concern is more complicated for hardware, which is more laborious to replace, while a vehicle’s software can be changed much quicker.

“This is not about trade or economic advantage. This is strictly national security action. The good news is right now, we don’t have many Chinese or Russian cars on our road,” stated U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. 

Tesla Model Y Inches Closer to Dethroning Ford F-150 As U.S.’ Best-Selling Vehicle (Inside EVs, September 23, 2024)

The Tesla Model Y is on the verge of becoming America’s top-selling vehicle, building on its global success from last year. Recent data shows the Model Y challenging the Toyota Rav4 and the longstanding leader, the Ford F-150, in new U.S. registrations. Last year, the Model Y ranked fifth in sales, behind the Toyota Rav4, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ford F-series. Mid-year, it climbed to fourth but now holds nearly 2.6% of new registrations, just shy of the Rav4’s 2.8%. The Model Y’s appeal lies in its ability to meet core consumer needs, reflecting a broader acceptance of EVs among Americans. Despite challenges such as CEO controversies and potential depreciation, Tesla’s reputation for desirable vehicles remains strong. If the Model Y surpasses the Ford F-series, it would mark a significant shift in U.S. automotive preferences, emphasizing SUVs, electrification, and high truck prices influencing buyer decisions.

 Texas Lawmakers Working on Rules for Autonomous Vehicles (Government Technology, September 19, 2024)

Texas lawmakers are proposing new regulations for companies operating driverless cars and trucks, such as Waymo, Cruise, and Aurora. State Sen. Robert Nichols emphasized the need for rules to ensure safe use of Texas roads while not stifling innovation. The legislation in the upcoming session will require companies to inform the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles when drivers are removed from vehicles for solo trips. These rules will apply to fleets of driverless cars and trucks, not privately owned vehicles. Lawmakers want to integrate driverless vehicles into existing regulations without disrupting the industry’s progress. The goal is to strike a balance between innovation and public safety, as seen in previous issues with driverless cars causing gridlock in cities like Houston and Austin.

IIHS study shows drivers more distracted with partial automation systems (CBT News, September 17, 2024)

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has highlighted a worrying trend of increased driver distractions, such as phone use and eating, when using partial automation systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and Volvo’s Pilot Assist. These systems, designed to aid with routine driving through technologies such as sensors and cameras, can inadvertently lead to driver complacency. The IIHS study reveals that drivers often meet only minimal requirements to keep these systems engaged, leading to risky behavior. Despite the potential of these systems to enhance safety, the ease of use may cause excessive reliance on automation. The rise of these technologies has sparked concerns about driver distraction, prompting investigations into related accidents. The IIHS advocates for stronger safeguards and driver engagement to prevent misuse and ensure safety. As the push for automated driving technology intensifies, manufacturers must balance innovation with safety to truly enhance road safety without providing a false sense of security.

Tesla Semi Crash Required 50000 Gallons of Water, Fire-Fighting Aircraft to Put Out Blaze (Road & Track, September 13, 2024)

Last month, a Tesla Semi truck crash in California resulted in a significant fire, requiring firefighters to use 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish it. The NTSB announced that air support was called in to drop flame retardant to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby forest areas. The crash involved a Tesla employee driving the truck to a facility in Sparks, Nevada. At the time of the incident, ADAS were purportedly inactive. The crash occurred on Interstate 80 near Lake Tahoe, closing the highway for 14 hours. The truck was monitored for 24 hours post-fire to prevent re-ignition, a risk in lithium-ion fires due to their chemical composition providing all necessary fire elements.

Tesla Model 3 Prices Dropping Like A ‘Lead Balloon,’ Says Study (Inside EVs, September 10, 2024)

As the demand for electric vehicles has dropped over the past year in the US, electric cars are depreciating much faster than traditional gas and hybrid vehicles. Resale prices of used electric vehicles dropped 25% over the past year, which means consumers can purchase a high-tech electric vehicle for less than the average price of a used ICE vehicle. In a study published last week by automotive research firm, iSeeCars, the prices of the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV have been dropping six times faster than ICE vehicles over the past year.

“The substantial drop in EV prices over the past year appears to have brought them in line with demand, with used EV days-on-market much lower today, reflecting a faster selling rate compared to a year ago,” stated iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer.

Tesla launches ‘actually smart summon’ or ‘ass’ (Electrek, September 3, 2024)

Tesla has introduced the long-awaited Actually Smart Summon (ASS) feature, alongside a simpler Dumb Summon option, in its latest software update. Actually Smart Summon enables Tesla owners to call their vehicle from a parking spot to a chosen nearby location via the Tesla App. The release notes humorously describe ASS as a magical tech experience, allowing your car to autonomously navigate to your position or destination.

Dumb Summon offers basic functionality, allowing the car to move forward or backward with app-based controls. To use these features, owners simply access the Summon tab in the Tesla app, gaining live camera feeds to oversee the vehicle’s movements. While employing these features, vigilant supervision is advised, particularly in parking scenarios. Currently, ASS is available for cars equipped with Hardware 4, with future availability for Hardware 3 suggested imminently.

Woman using hands-free driving feature hits car, killing 2 in Pennsylvania, cops say (Miami Herald, September 3, 2024)

A Pennsylvania woman, Dimple Patel, turned herself in on Tuesday this week after hitting and killing two men while driving her Ford Mustang Mach-E in the vehicle’s hands-free driving mode back in March of this year. At around 3 AM on March 3 in Philadelphia, two drivers were pulled over on Interstate 95 when Patel’s yellow Mach-E slammed into a vehicle from behind, killing both men. The Mach-E is reported to have been traveling at around 70 miles per hour with  BlueCruise hands-free driving feature enabled, as well as Adaptive Cruise Control when the crash occurred. Ford has commented on the incident, stating, “There is no priority higher than safety at Ford, and we have been collaborating fully with all relevant organizations on the investigations into these incidents.”

The marketing materials for Ford’s BlueCruise state that drivers should continue to keep their eyes on the road when BlueCruise is enabled. Pennsylvania State Police urge drivers to “be aware and ready to regain control if the situation warrants your immediate reaction.”

Researchers probe safety of AI in driverless cars, find vulnerabilities (Tech Xplore, September 2, 2024)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a critical component in self-driving vehicles, facilitating decision-making, sensing, and predictive modeling. However, its vulnerability to attacks is a concern being explored by researchers at the University at Buffalo. Their studies indicate that malicious actors could potentially manipulate these AI systems, causing them to fail. For instance, 3D-printed objects might camouflage a vehicle from AI radar systems, rendering it undetectable.

Although current autonomous vehicles remain safe, this research could impact the automotive and tech industries, and influence regulatory policies. Tests conducted at UB have shown that the most commonly used radar systems for object detection, though reliable, can be compromised using strategically placed “tile masks.” These discoveries underline potential attack motives such as insurance fraud or competition, and highlight the gap in security measures, which researchers aim to address by developing robust defenses.

Questions about the safety of Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ system are growing (The Associated Press, August 28, 2024)

William Stein, a technology analyst at Truist Securities, has tried the latest version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system several times over the last few months at the invitation of Elon Musk. He reported that his most recent test drive left him feeling unsafe after the vehicle made several illegal maneuvers, and it left his 16-year-old son, who joined him during the drive, “terrified.”

Tesla’s FSD software, now called “Full Self-Driving (Supervised),” uses artificial intelligence to control steering and pedals. Stein reported that the ride felt more human than previous rides, but that the vehicle “made a left turn from a through lane while running a red light,” during a drive that lasted less than 10 miles. Stein told Tesla investors that the system does not “appear to approach robotaxi capabilities,” as the carmaker is expected to unveil a new robotaxi in the next few months. Tesla has not responded to messages seeking a comment after Stein’s report.

Tesla can challenge Louisiana direct sales ban, US appeal court rules (Reuters, August 26, 2024)

In a 2-1 decision, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived Tesla’s lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s prohibition on direct vehicle sales to consumers. The court reversed an earlier dismissal of Tesla’s constitutional due process claim and vacated the dismissal of its antitrust claim, though it upheld the dismissal of Tesla’s equal protection claim. Tesla filed the lawsuit in August 2022 against members of the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission and the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, alleging these groups exploited their control to eliminate Tesla from the market due to its direct sales model. Tesla claimed that since 2017, Louisiana unlawfully banned direct sales and limited leasing and servicing of its cars. Judge Jerry Smith noted Tesla sufficiently alleged “plausible actual bias” from the commission via internal communications. The case now returns to U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance, who initially dismissed it.

US closes one of 2 probes into behavior of GM Cruise autonomous vehicles after recall (ABC News, August 22, 2024)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that it is closing one of two investigations into the performance of GM’s Cruise robotaxis after the carmaker agreed to a recall. The investigation began in December of 2022 with over 7,000 reports of hard braking and complete stops by the autonomous vehicles. Cruise finally agreed to recall all of its robotaxis for the braking concerns and has fixed the problem through a software update. “In view of the recall action taken by Cruise and ODI’s (NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation) analysis of available data, including data presented by Cruise demonstrating a reduced occurrence of hard braking incidents after the software updates, ODI is closing this preliminary evaluation,” NHTSA stated.

However, NHTSA continues to investigate the Cruise vehicles after reports of the robotaxis encroaching on pedestrians in roadways and crosswalks, including the October 2023 incident involving a Cruise robotaxi dragging a pedestrian in San Francisco.

Texas is suing GM for tracking drivers’ data – but these other car companies do the same thing (Fast Company, August 20, 2024)

The battle for data privacy is extending into vehicles, as highlighted by a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against General Motors for allegedly selling driver data without consent. GM reportedly gathered data from 1.8 million Texan drivers since 2015 via services like OnStar Smart Driver, which it recently discontinued. However, this data was allegedly sold to third parties, influencing insurance rates negatively. GM states it is reviewing the complaint and aims to protect consumer privacy. Mozilla and a New York Times investigation have criticized the auto industry’s widespread data-sharing practices, with 84% of surveyed brands engaging in such activities. Similar concerns prompted senators Ron Wyden and Ed Markey to investigate auto data practices, finding companies like Honda and Hyundai shared driver data for minimal compensation. This growing scrutiny suggests a shift in consumer treatment, as carmakers increasingly monetize collected data, raising ethical concerns over privacy violations.

Former Tesla Supercharging head to help Uber with EV transition (Teslarati, August 20, 2024)

Former Tesla Senior Director of the Supercharger program, Rebecca Tinucci, has joined the Uber team as Uber’s Global Head of Sustainability in an effort to help the company in its shift to electric vehicles. “After many conversations with great people about my next steps, I was still struggling on where to land and how to be truly impactful,” stated Tinucci on LinkedIn.

Tinucci was let go from Tesla, along with a large part of the Supercharger team, as a part of the Tesla layoffs this spring. Last year Tinucci pushed for the auto industry’s mass adoption of Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), and she oversaw the development of the V4 Supercharging software. Despite the inclusion on the Time Magazine 100 Climate List last year, Tinucci was not re-hired by Tesla. Instead, she is now focusing on helping Uber “advance clean energy efforts” with the development of its EVs and robotaxis.

Sen. Dave Cortese looks to reintroduce legislation allowing cities to regulate robotaxis (Mountain View Voice, August 16, 2024)

Waymo recently expanded its service ride area in the bay area to include Daly City, Broadmoor, and Colma.  As local governments do not have any say in how or where robotaxis operate, this expansion is causing concern among some city officials.

California Senator Dave Cortese from San Jose is trying to pass legislation to allow larger cities and counties to limit the number of robotaxis on the road, set maximum fare amounts, and introduce fines for moving violations and traffic obstructions.  The bill, SB 915 received strong opposition from the autonomous vehicle industry as well as local chamber of commerce organizations.  Cortese pulled the bill from consideration after it has passed in the Senate due to proposed amendments that would take away the original intent of the bill, stripping all parts about local regulations.  He plans to reintroduce similar legislation in 2025.

Zeekr tackles EV range anxiety with 10-minute battery charge (Automotive News Europe, August 14, 2024)

Chinese carmaker Zeekr may have just solved range anxiety with its new lithium iron phosphate vehicle battery that is able to charge from 10% to 80% in under 11 minutes. Range anxiety, the fear that your vehicle’s battery will be depleted before reaching a charging station or your destination, has been a major concern for consumers who have been skeptical about the adoption of electric vehicles, which has resulted in the rise in popularity of hybrid vehicles. Zeekr’s new batteries will be available in the Zeekr 007 sedan, which will begin delivery in China as early as next week. 

Zeekr, an EV-only carmaker, is a part of Geely Auto, the automobile manufacturer that also owns Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. Zeekr currently has plans to begin sales of its vehicles in Europe, Latin America and other Asian markets in the near future.

You’ve heard of carjacking – but what about carhacking? (Yahoo! Tech, August 10, 2024)

In today’s digital age, smart devices permeate everyday life, including vehicles, which are now facing unique cybersecurity threats. Hackers exploit car systems using various techniques, often aided by AI. For example, AI can manipulate autonomous vehicle systems, as demonstrated by a hack that misread a speed limit, causing a Tesla Model S to dangerously accelerate.

Connected vehicles present hackers with new avenues of attack, especially through Vehicle to Grid (V2G) communication, where man-in-the-middle attacks can intercept communications. EV charging stations also pose risks, potentially distributing malware for unintended purposes like bitcoin mining. Moreover, hackers can steal login information, bypassing two-factor authentication. Bluetooth systems are another vulnerability, enabling attacks like BLE relay to intercept vehicle communications. Despite these threats, car manufacturers invest in enhanced security measures, working with government and agencies to fortify cybersecurity, ensuring safer connected cars.

DOD Needs Solutions for the Proliferation of Autonomous Vehicles, Defense Official Says (U.S. Department of Defense, August 9, 2024)

On August 9th, Heidi Shyu, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, was a panelist at the National Defense Industrial Association’s 2024 Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.  At the conference, she spoke about the Defense Departments need to combat the growing number of autonomous systems, including aircraft, ground vehicles, and watercraft.  There are rules and limitations in the U.S. for how the military can engage with these systems if they should become a threat. “Shyu said while there are solutions being worked now, the Defense Department is interested in having industry proffer even more options for it and the military services to consider”.  The Defense Department is looking for ideas in contested logistics, where adversaries attempt to disrupt, destroy, or defeat friendly force logistics operations.