The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is as good as ever, but doesn’t play well with Tesla Superchargers at the moment. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Category: Tesla
Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, SpaceX, Tesla, Trump Administration, us government
The people in Elon Musk’s DOGE universe
Meet the DOGE staffers and senior advisors in Elon Musk’s inner circle, and how they got there. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Bluesky, doge, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
How this weekend’s ‘Tesla Takeover’ protests against Elon Musk came together on Bluesky
As Elon Musk and his acolytes rip through the federal government looking for agencies to throw into the “wood chipper,” a grassroots effort to hit the world’s richest man where it hurts is picking up steam. The courts are busy contesting the actions of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, but the judicial system is slow…
china, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
A woman in China sued Tesla after complaining of faulty brakes — now she’s paying Tesla $23K
As per an investigation by the Associated Press (AP), Tesla has won a defamation lawsuit against one individual called Zhang Yazhou, who in February 2021 was a passenger in a Tesla Model 3 car that allegedly crashed due to faulty brakes, resulting in a four-day hospital stay for both her parents. Following the accident, Zhang…
Elon Musk, EV charging, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Trump admin freezes EV charging program that gave Tesla millions
The Department of Transportation has paused funding for a $5 billion EV charging infrastructure program that Tesla has received at least $31 million from. The move is widely viewed to be illegal. It’s the latest attempt from the Trump administration to hack away at federally funded renewable energy projects around the country, a clear priority…
Cruise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Scout Motors, techcrunch mobility, Tesla, Transportation
Pour one out for Cruise and why autonomous vehicle test miles dropped 50%
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! We knew this day was coming: Cruise is dead — at least as a robotaxi company. General Motors completed its acquisition of GM Cruise Holdings LLC; Cruise is…
AI, Dojo, Elon Musk, evergreens, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Tesla FSD, Transportation
Tesla Dojo: Elon Musk’s big plan to build an AI supercomputer, explained
Dojo is Tesla’s custom-built supercomputer that’s designed to train its “Full Self-Driving” neural networks. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, budget, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Tesla
Former Tesla engineer heading government agency reportedly outlines ‘AI-first strategy’
Thomas Shedd, the former Tesla engineer now serving as the director of Technology Transformation Services, reportedly outlined an “AI-first strategy” for the U.S. government department. According to a report from Wired citing multiple sources, the Musk ally described the plan to run the office like a “startup software company” during a Monday meeting. The New…
autonomous vehicles, Elon Musk, FSD, Global IT News, Global Security News, TC, Tesla, Transportation
Elon Musk reveals Elon Musk was wrong about Full Self-Driving
For nearly nine years, Elon Musk has promised Tesla vehicles had the hardware needed to support a self-driving car. This week, he made his latest admission that many are not. Musk said on a conference call Wednesday evening that Tesla cars equipped with so-called Hardware 3 will need an upgrade before they can support unsupervised…
boom, Cruise, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Rivian, techcrunch mobility, Tesla, Transportation
Boom goes supersonic and Elon promises a self-driving service by summer
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! In case you missed it, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company would launch a paid ride-hailing service with a fleet of driverless vehicles in Austin in…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Elon Musk claims Tesla will launch a self-driving service in Austin in June
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday that his company will launch a paid ride-hailing robotaxi service in Austin, Texas this coming June, the latest in a long line of sky-high promises he has yet to meet about autonomy. Musk was unsurprisingly light on details. He said that there will be no people in the cars,…
electric vehicles, Evergreen, EVs, Ford, Global IT News, Global Security News, GM, North American Charging Standard, Supercharger, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla Superchargers: GM, Ford, Rivian, and other EV brands with access
EV owners of GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Lyriq will now officially have access to Tesla’s Superchargers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Asia Pacific, electric vehicles, EVs, Global Security News, model y, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla’s redesigned Model Y is coming to North America in March for $60,000
Tesla has announced that its redesigned Model Y SUV is coming to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in March, with a starting price just shy of $60,000. The news comes just two weeks after Tesla first revealed the new-look Model Y and said it was coming to China and other Asian markets, also in March.…
electric vehicles, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation, Trump Administration
Trump targets EV charging funding programs Tesla benefits from
President Donald Trump is trying to halt the flow of funding for EV charging infrastructure from two programs that Tesla has benefitted from — the latest example of how Elon Musk’s political interests seem to be at odds with his car company’s goal of advancing sustainable energy. It’s not a given that Trump’s gambit will…
ADAS, BlueCruise, Ford, Global IT News, Global Security News, nhtsa, Tesla, Transportation
US safety regulators expand Ford hands-free driving tech investigation
A U.S. federal safety regulator has “upgraded” its investigation into Ford’s hands-free advanced driver assistance system known as BlueCruise — a required step before a recall can be issued. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation launched a probe into Ford BlueCruise last April after the agency confirmed the system was active…
Caramel, Global IT News, Global Security News, techcrunch mobility, Tesla, Transportation, Volkswagen
A rising EV startup star snags $100M and Tesla’s win-lose federal funding moment
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Before we move into the news of this week, we have one more roundup of transportation tech at CES 2025. As I noted last week, autonomous vehicle…
electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla to split $100M award for electric truck charging corridor in Illinois
Tesla, along with three other industry partners, quietly backed an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency application that won $100 million in funding to build electric truck charging stations across the state, TechCrunch has learned. The award was the biggest given out by the Biden Administration’s Federal Highway Administration last week in the second round of what’s…
electric trucks, electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Biden admin snubs Tesla’s $100 million big-rig charging funding request — again
The Department of Transportation announced Friday another $636 million in funding that will be awarded to 49 applicants for electric vehicle charging infrastructure — and Tesla’s application for nearly $100 million to fund a big rig charging corridor was once again passed over. Tesla’s name was not among the list of recipients released, and its partner…
electric vehicles, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla launches new-look Model Y in China
Tesla has revealed a new-look Model Y meant for the Chinese and other Asian-Pacific markets, marking the first major update to the SUV since its launch in 2020. The redesign comes as Tesla finished 2024 having delivered fewer vehicles than it did in 2023. It was the first year-over-year drop since the company started selling…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, tesla directors, Transportation
Tesla directors to pay up to $919 million to settle claims they overpaid themselves
A Delaware judge has approved a settlement that will see Tesla directors – including Chair Robyn Denholm, Oracle founder Larry Elison, Kimbal Musk, and James Murdoch – return up to $919 million to the automaker, officially resolving allegations that they overpaid themselves, per Reuters. The settlement concludes a 2020 lawsuit by the Police and Fire…
actual smart summon, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Feds investigate Tesla’s ‘Actual Smart Summon’ after several crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into 2.56 million Tesla vehicles after several crashes involving the automaker’s “Actual Smart Summon” remote parking feature. Tesla released Actual Smart Summon, or ASS for short, via software update in September. It allows Tesla owners to use their app to command the vehicle drive itself…
CES, Global IT News, Global Security News, rockets, Space, Tesla, Toyota, Transportation
Toyota is ‘exploring rockets’ and has made its first investment into Interstellar Technologies
Japanese automaker Toyota is “exploring rockets,” chairman Akio Toyoda announced on stage at CES 2025 on Monday, while hinting at the idea of moving people through space. The rocketry mention on the CES 2025 stage came while Toyoda was in the middle of explaining how he views his company’s myriad technologies as “invention by kakezan,”…
Cybertruck, Global IT News, Global Security News, Las Vegas, Security, Tesla, Transportation, Trump
Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel in Vegas leaves 1 dead, 7 injured
A Tesla Cybertruck that exploded and burst into flames Wednesday morning just outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas has left one person dead and seven people injured, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old man who was an active duty U.S. Army Green Beret from Colorado Springs,…
Cybertruck, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla Cybertruck fails to boost 2024 sales as annual deliveries fall for first time
Tesla delivered fewer cars last year than it did in 2023, marking its first year-to-year drop and signaling that the company is struggling to reach new buyers. That means Tesla’s Cybertruck, which is the company’s first true new model since 2020, did little to boost the company’s growth in its first full year of sales.…
Cybertruck, Global IT News, Global Security News, Las Vegas, Tesla, Transportation, Trump
Police investigating Cybertruck fire outside Trump hotel in Vegas
A Tesla Cybertruck that caught fire Wednesday morning just outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas is being investigated by local law enforcement. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a post on social media site X that the fire was out and being investigated. The fire was reported around 8:40 a.m. PT,…
cybercab, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Optimus, robotaxi, Tesla, Transportation
Elon Musk’s promises for Tesla in 2024, from robotaxis to Optimus bots
Elon Musk had an eventful 2024, what with his hard push into right-wing politics and leveraging his X social media platform and considerable influence to help Donald Trump win the presidential election. Putting politics aside for a moment, it’s worth focusing on another Musk pastime: making promises for Tesla. The Tesla CEO’s promises — and…
Global IT News, Global Security News, humanoid, Jetson Thor, nvidia, TC, Tesla
Nvidia’s next move: powering humanoid robots
The chipmaking giant Nvidia is leaning more heavily into robotics in 2025. More specifically, it’s launching a new generation of compact computers for humanoid robots, called Jetson Thor, in the first half of the new year, confims the Financial Times. The move, which was expected, is part of an evolving, years-long strategy. Back in March,…
autonomous vehicles, Cruise, EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, robotaxi, robotaxis, Startups, Tesla, Transportation, Waymo
The trends that shaped EVs, robotaxis, and electric flight in 2024
If there was one phrase that captured the vibe and theme of 2024 — at least in the transportation sector — it was business whiplash. Legacy automakers changed direction on their all-EVs-or-bust strategy, startups pivoted, and some Silicon Valley VCs and executives adjusted their views to a changing political landscape, in which they now are…
EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, hertz, Polestar, Tesla, Transportation
Want a cheap EV? Hertz is handing out discounts to renters
Hertz has been contacting people who are in the middle of renting electric vehicles recently to offer them the option to buy the car instead of returning it, reports The Verge. And the offers are pretty sweet, according to some renters who shared the offers on Reddit. One renter was reportedly offered a 2023 Chevy…
Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, mar-a-lago, SpaceX, Tesla
Elon Musk’s jets made 355 trips in 2024, including 31 to or from the Mar-a-Lago area
Elon Musk’s jets took over 355 flights this year, with 31 of those flights heading to or from near Mar-a-Lago. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
electric vehicles, Evergreen, EVs, Ford, Global IT News, Global Security News, GM, North American Charging Standard, Supercharger, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla Superchargers: GM, Ford, Rivian, and other EV brands with access
EV owners of GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Lyriq will now officially have access to Tesla’s Superchargers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
ev charging stations, EVs, Global Security News, hyundai, nacs, North America, Tesla, Transportation
Hyundai is giving away free Tesla NACs adapters to its EV customers
Hyundai said Monday it will send customers who have bought or leased an EV before January 31 a free charging adapter that will let them access Tesla’s supercharging network. The Hyundai-authorized adapter will give CCS-port-equipped Hyundai EV drivers access to more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers in the United States, according to Hyundai. Free adapters will…
Canoo, Global IT News, Global Security News, lucid, RAM, robotaxis, techcrunch mobility, Tesla, Transportation, Waymo, zoox
Waymo fills the Cruise void overseas and a salute to icon Jean Jennings
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. This will be the last newsletter of 2024! But don’t worry, we’ll be back in 2025 — sign up here to get it in your inbox every week. Thank you for reading and your emails. I love…
autonomous vehicles, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla is courting Texas cities to test its promised robotaxi service
Tesla is evaluating multiple Texas cities where it wants to test a long-promised robotaxi service, including Austin, according to emails obtained by Bloomberg News. An employee has apparently been in touch with Austin officials since May, and recently held an event in December to “train first responders on how to best work with Tesla’s autonomous…
Global IT News, Global Security News, supercharging, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation
Tesla offers free Supercharging for Model S with a catch
Tesla is trying to boost its Model S sales before the year is out, but it’s got a funny way of doing it. After initially abandoning its free Supercharging for life offer in 2018, the automaker is bringing it back for some Tesla Model S cars at the end of the year. It’s something of…
autonomous vehicles, Cruise, EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation, Trump
The federal crash-reporting rule Tesla opposes could be on the chopping block
The Trump transition team wants to end a federal rule requiring automakers to report crashes when advanced driver-assistance or autonomous driving technology is engaged, Reuters reports. Federal safety agencies would lose the ability to investigate and regulate the safety of vehicles with automated-driving systems should the rule — which went into effect in 2021 —…
autonomous vehicles, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, In Brief, Tesla, Transportation, zoox
Tesla’s loss is Zoox’s gain
Zoox co-founder and CTO Jesse Levinson told the crowd at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 that he didn’t think Tesla would launch a robotaxi ride-hailing service in California (or anywhere else) next year, despite what Elon Musk had claimed. The “fundamental issue is they don’t have technology that works,” he said at the time. But it seems that…
AI, ChatGPT, Elon Musk, Global Security News, James Bond, jeff bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, openai, Podcast, Tesla, The AI Fix, Zoom
The AI Fix #27: Why is AI full of real-life Bond villains?
In episode 27 of The AI Fix, robots catch a ball, lead a revolt, and enjoy a juicy steak. Or do they? Graham struggles with a Micro USB cable, a student struggles with a school’s anti-AI rules, and OpenAI’s Sora video generation AI is leaked by hacktivists. Graham circles back into an outside-the-box deep-dive where…