Notable reads and other tidbits
Autonomous vehicles
Aurora released the second version of its autonomous driver, nicknamed Aurora Driver Beta 2.0, which has new autonomy capabilities, like navigating in complex construction zones, the startup says. It’s got upgraded cameras with higher resolution, and a new commercial route between Fort Worth and El Paso supported by daily map updates.
EasyMile revealed it has launched a pilot project to test its TractEasy autonomous tow tractor at the Daimler AG truck assembly plant in Wörth, Germany. The autonomous tow tractor is transporting production parts outdoors.
FedEx CEO Fred Smith told CNBC’s Jim Cramer the company will make an enormous effort towards autonomous vehicle efforts this summer. Lest you forget, FedEx started in fall 2021 to use self-driving trucks to haul goods between Dallas and Houston as part of a pilot program with autonomous vehicle startup Aurora and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer Paccar.
The Partnership for Transportation Innovation and Opportunity has released a workforce policy agenda that’s designed to prepare workers for autonomous vehicle technology. The recommendations include investments in up-skilling initiatives and community partnerships that provide career entry points into the emerging industry.
Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving vehicle unit, started offering its San Francisco-based employees fully autonomous rides. This means there are no human safety operators behind the wheel. It’s a milestone, but not quite a public service. Waymo must obtain a “driverless deployment permit” from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Waymo has already scored a “driverless testing permit”, under which the company will be ferrying its employees sans human safety operator, and it secured a “drivered deployment permit” in autumn 2021.
Electric vehicles & batteries
BrightDrop, GM’s commercial EV unit, is renaming its first two flagship electric delivery vehicles. Instead of the BrightDrop EV600 and BrightDrop EV410, the vehicles will now be called by the even more memorable names of BrightDrop Zevo 600 and BrightDrop Zevo 400.
Coreshell, a startup based in California, has developed thin film technology that its co-founders say improve the lifespan and capacity of batteries. The company recently raised $12 million and notably, its tech is showing up in an all-electric Meyers Manx dune buggy prototype.
Faraday Future is the latest EV SPAC to be investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Several executives at EV company Faraday Future have been subpoenaed by the SEC as part of an investigation into inaccurate statements made to investors.
Lotus unveiled a battery-electric “hyper” SUV called the Eletre — the first of a trio of EVs Lotus plans to launch over the next four years. The vehicle’s design and luxury interior features are notable. But it’s some of the vehicle’s tech, including a whopping four lidar sensors that pop out when needed, that provides the best glimpse of what Lotus has in store for the future.
President Joe Biden will trigger the Defense Production Act to secure U.S. sources of critical minerals and materials like lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and manganese that are used to make batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. The order is in response to spiking gas prices and supply chain constraints caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Speaking of EVs and the Biden Administration … The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a dramatic change to domestic fuel economy standards, a crucial step toward putting more electric vehicles on the road while reducing dependence on other countries.
Sono is teaming up with Munich to deploy the company’s solar panel tech into the city’s electric bus fleet. Sono estimates the solar bus will save 2,500 liters of diesel per year and at least 6.5 metric tons of CO2 per bus per year.
Tesla delivered more than 305,000 electric vehicles in the first quarter, a record-breaking figure that was inline with analyst expectations even as production suffered due to supply chain constraints and COVID-related factory shutdowns. Last month, Tesla idled production at its factory in Shanghai.
VinFast, the Vietnamese automaker under Vingroup, will build its first U.S. factory in North Carolina as part of its previously stated plans to invest and expand in the country. The company will spend about $2 billion in the first phase of construction, which is expected to be completed by July 2024. The first phase will have the capacity to produce 150,000 electric vehicles annually.
Future of flight
FedEx said it has partnered with Elroy Air, which is developing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) cargo drone, to transport packages between sorting centers via autonomous flights.
Gig economy
Nearly half of Uber and Lyft drivers in the U.S. have quit or are driving less due to high gas prices caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, despite temporary fuel surcharges added to fares by those ride-hailing companies, according to a survey shared with TechCrunch.
People
BMW Financial Services NA said Birgit Boehm will succeed Stefan Richman as the CEO of BMW Group Financial Services in the U.S. and Region Americas, effective April 1.
Factorial appointed Michael Bly, a senior VP who heads global propulsion systems at Stellantis, to their board of directors. He joins as part of the strategic investment Stellantis has made in Factorial.
Hagerty, the automotive lifestyle brand and specialty insurance company, hired David Pattillo as senior vice president of commercial partnerships.
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