Mobility On The Go: 11/13/2024
ANDREW J. HAWKINS 11-12-2024
Volkswagen and Rivian are officially beginning their work together on a $5.8 billion joint venture, named “Rivian and VW Group Technology, LLC,” which was announced in June 2023. The new partnership, headed by Rivian software chief Wassym Bensaid and VW Group chief technology engineer Carsten Helbing, is focused on creating electrical architecture and software for upcoming vehicles. “The positive aspect is that we will be scalable, from the very small segment up to luxury cars, [and] sports cars,” said VW Group CEO Oliver Blume on a call with reporters on Tuesday. “The electronic architecture…will be scalable and will be usable for a great volume of cars.”
The venture is expected to be a big win for both companies: Volkswagen will be able to access Rivian’s “software-first” approach to manufacturing, while Rivian will receive a financial lifeline after losing $1 billion each quarter for the past year.
JENNIFER ELIAS 11-12-2024
Alphabet-owned Waymo is expanding its self-driving service in Los Angeles on Tuesday, November 12th, by removing the waitlist. Anyone in LA can now use the Waymo One app to hail a self-driving robotaxi in nearly 80 square miles. LA is the third and largest city to have the service fully available, following San Francisco and Phoenix. Waymo has seen rapid expansion thanks to a $5. 6 billion funding round, now serving over 150,000 paid rides per week. Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo said, “Our service has matured quickly and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving. We’re so grateful to all of our first riders in LA, and we can’t wait to serve more riders soon.” It has also partnered with Uber and Hyundai for future projects.
TOM KRISHER 11-8-2024
The U.S. government highway safety agency claims Tesla is misleading drivers by stating that its vehicles can drive themselves, which contradicts the owner's manuals that require human supervision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has requested Tesla to clarify its communications to align with the safety guidelines. This request followed a May email concerning a probe into crashes involving Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system in poor visibility, including a fatal accident. Critics, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, accuse Tesla of using ambiguous terms like "Full Self-Driving" that mislead users into thinking the cars are fully autonomous. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made promises about fully autonomous vehicles, with plans for driverless Models Y and 3 next year. The agency is examining how well the system performs in low-visibility conditions and has asked Tesla for detailed warnings given to drivers about system limitations. Tesla has until December to respond to the agency's inquiries. Auto safety advocates express concern about potential conflicts of interest if Musk gains control over safety regulations.
ADELE PETERS 11-11-2024
The U.K.’s plan to shift to electric vehicles through a zero-emissions vehicle mandate that went into effect at the beginning of the year appears to be working, as approximately one of every five new cars sold in the U.K. are electric. The U.K.’s plan includes targets for manufacturers that increase each year, aiming to reach 100% zero emissions for new car sales by 2035. BMW and Mercedes are on track to sell nearly 25% EVs, exceeding the current year target of 22% of all new cars sold for 2024. “You’ve got these two big German legacy car manufacturers not just meeting the targets but exceeding them. That’s what gives me confidence that we can get to 100% sales in 2035,” stated Colin Walker, head of transport at the London-based nonprofit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.
EV sales in the U.K. have increased by about 25% compared to sales from this time a year ago, with most electric car prices at the same price point as gas-powered vehicles. The cost of batteries has been dropping, and, unlike the U.S. and Europe, the U.K. has not placed tariffs on Chinese EVs, offering more options for drivers.?
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CRAIG TRUDELL 11-6-2024
Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House casts uncertainty over the global auto industry, given his unpredictable nature. Despite advisors cautioning him about automotive trade imbalances, Trump has historically criticized the prevalence of foreign cars in the U.S., potentially indicating an intention to impose tariffs during a future term. Coincidentally, foreign car manufacturers have been expanding production in the U.S. due to incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act, which benefits EV manufacturing. Trump, critical of President Biden’s EV policies, could leverage policy changes to weaken the IRA’s impact on EV production. His previous administration weakened fuel-economy rules and challenged California’s emission standards. On AV’s, Trump has expressed skepticism, which could conflict with Elon Musk’s ambitions, potentially complicating Tesla’s regulatory landscape for AVs despite Musk’s influence.
DAVID SHEPARDSON 11-7-2024
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has mandated enhanced reporting for autonomous vehicles, requiring companies to submit detailed incident reports, including non-collision events and stoppages. These reports must be filed with both the CPUC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within a day of any collision. The updated requirements aim to improve oversight and passenger safety as autonomous vehicle use increases. Following a significant crash last year, GM’s Cruise faced penalties for failing to provide complete information. Commissioner Matthew Baker emphasized the importance of these updates for safety as autonomous services expand. Despite regulatory scrutiny and ongoing investigations, companies like Tesla and Cruise plan to broaden ride-hailing services. GM has paused its self-driving Origin vehicle plans, while Cruise, Waymo, and Zoox face increased regulation.
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Contributors: Traci Atkinson Dirk Pastorick, and Kimberly Gross
Editor: Kimberly Gross
Nelson Law LLC
New York, NY ? Washington, DC ? Cleveland, OH
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