No, that’s not a Tesla Cybercab. That’s Volkswagen’s Mission Efficiency, the world’s slipperiest electric vehicle. The near-production 2+2 seat electric coupe prototype was built on VW’s MEB+ platform, incorporating front-wheel drive components from the upcoming ID. Polo and ID. Cross models. True to its name, the mission of Mission Efficiency is to break records. With […]
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on cars, data privacy, and autonomous vehicles, follow Andrew J. Hawkins. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission […]
WeRide, Uber and AVOMO have received Spain’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles on public roads, the three companies announced on Thursday. Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) issued it under its ES-AV framework fo…
Today, Volvo said it was canceling the entry-level electric EX40 in the US, while also giving its aging hybrid XC40 a new look. When it arrives at dealerships early next year, the new XC40 will have updated exterior styling, a gut-renovated interior featuring Google’s Gemini AI assistant, enlarged infotainment screen, and a new sensor-and-software safety […]
Per Ansgar, CEO of Geely Sweden Holdings, joins the Concordium Foundation Board, deepening a five-year Geely-Concordium partnership focused on verified identity infrastructure for AI agents and machine-initiated payments in connected vehicles. The Conc…
When shopping for an electric vehicle, affordability is becoming a more common trait. But affordable and energy efficient is truly a rare breed. Often you have to sacrifice one for the other. Want something affordable? Great, here’s a range loser. Want something that goes the distance? Be ready to pay the price. Surprisingly, here comes […]
The number that matters in Monday’s Jaguar Land Rover announcement is not 4,000. It is 300,000. That is the annual sales volume at which the company now intends to break even. Its brands have historically sold well over 400,000 vehicles a year. Just Au…
Thanks to their ability to provide a smooth ride and quiet powertrain with ease, electric vehicles are a true shoo-in for the high-end luxury automotive segment. Rolls-Royce has the Spectre, Cadillac’s Celestiq is taking bespoke to a whole new level, and Mercedes has given the EQS the full Maybach treatment. From Volkswagen Auto Group, Bentley […]
Uber has put $100m into a company that just hired Anthony Levandowski. His theft of Google’s self-driving secrets cost Uber a fortune, and it helped end Travis Kalanick’s time as chief executive. The company is Atoms, Kalanick’s new venture. Rafe Rosne…
Uber and Wayve began carrying paying passengers in London on 3 September, in what Wayve described in a statement as the UK’s first autonomous ride-hailing service. Every car has a trained, TfL-licensed private hire driver on board. Olivia Solon rode on…