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It’s a busy week, so let’s go for it. Start with federal regulations! woohoo. Something exciting.
I’m talking about the new U.S. Department of Transportation’s new automotive framework. This includes the Persistent General Order (SGO) for crash reports for vehicles with specific advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving systems. There have also been some changes to the Motor Vehicle Waiver Program (AVEP).
Simply put, AVEP handles the language and processes of exempt domestic and imported vehicles. I would like to spend a little more time on SGO, but this has changed a lot more. The Trump administration says it streamlines the process. Others disagree, like consumer reports.
The SGO will finish its 24-hour reporting requirements and allow five-day businesses to submit reports if a vehicle with a level 2 system instead is involved in a crash. As consumers report, new orders also change reporting requirements when vehicles with level 2 driving automation are towed after a crash.
In the past, vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems of level 2 or lower involved in crashes that do not attack vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists had to report it within five days. Currently, this rule applies only to vehicles with advertising (autonomous driving systems) that reduces the majority of vehicles on the road today.
This means that if the Tesla (or a GM vehicle with a Super Cruise or a Ford with a blueprint system) that autopilot is involved in crashes and has to tow, you don’t need to report it to the Fed unless the incident is fatal.
Reports are required for vehicles with Level 2 ADA (such as Tesla Autopilot), or for advertisements where fatal collisions, airbags are deployed, people are transported to hospitals, or vulnerable road users are attacked.
In an interview at the Semerfore Event, Dot’s Secretary Sean Duffy appears to nod to these rules (though he says “autonomous” rather than “autonomous” and “adas”).
Do you think I got this wrong? I reach out to him.
OK, the rest.
Little bird
Slate, a Bezos-backed EV startup, broke the cover at an event in Long Beach, California. Many details senior reporter Sean Okane reported in his first scoop were finally presented to the public.
Earlier this week, we released details of other insiders thanks to Kotori, explaining how the leader internally described slate EVs as “trans.” After all, that’s exactly what the company is selling to its customers.
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Great deal!
Indian startup-manufactured electric motorcycle Ather Energy has reduced the size of its initial public offering from 18% to Rs 262.6 billion ($308.3 million).
Doordash wants to buy Deliveroo for $3.6 billion, Axios reported.
Hybrid electric aircraft startup Electra raised $115 million in the Series B round led by Prysm Capital. Jay Park, co-founder and managing partner of Prysm, has joined Electra’s board of directors.
Fora, a New York-based travel agency startup, has raised $60 million in Series B and C rounds. Josh Kushner’s Thrive co-led the $40 million Series C round.
United Airlines’ venture arm has invested private amounts in Jetzero, a startup that develops blended wing body designs.
Notable readings and other information
Self-driving cars
Alphabet CEO Sundal Pichai attracted attention in his statement in the company’s revenue call for Waymo, a self-driving car unit. In response to the question, he said, “There are also future options regarding personal ownership,” as part of a longer answer.
I haven’t read much about this because Waymo has previously vaguely spoken about licensing its technology (probably to an automaker). But it is certainly notable that Pichai said it in his revenue call.
Tesla began testing autonomous ride services with Austin and Bay Area employees this summer ahead of the company’s planned launch of Robotaxi.
Volkswagen of America and Uber will launch a commercial Robotaxis service using autonomous electric VW IDs. Buzz Vehicles – in multiple US cities over the next 10 years.
The company plans to start commercial services in Los Angeles by the second half of 2026, but initially includes human safe drivers. This news has brought me back to 2017-18. This was the era of partnership announcements, and many of them never happened. VW has a lot to do before you start commercially, such as getting the most basic testing permit.
Electric cars, charging, batteries
Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Generic AI Startup Cohere, has joined Rivian’s board of directors. I don’t want to read too deeply about appointments, but it shows Libian’s interest in applying AI to its own ventures, while establishing himself as a software leader and even a provider within the automotive industry.
Faraday Future somehow still exists, and its board appointed founder Jia Yueting as the company’s co-CEO three years after being sidelined following an internal investigation into allegations of fraud. Side note: The Securities and Exchange Commission investigation continues to be underway.
Tesla revenue supported the hypothesis that he had been cooking with his brain for a while. The company exists in a contradictory reality. For one, Tesla’s profits have fallen 71% year-on-year, automobile revenues continue to decline, and its energy business is exposed to the US-China trade war. On the other hand, Tesla is really attracting the attention of CEO Elon Musk, an AI company at the forefront of self-driving car ride services and launching cheaper EVs.
Investors seized the reality of Teslai Is in Varter with both hands. They really don’t want to let go. Musk’s comments about allocating more time to Tesla and fewer comments on Doge helped push them there. If you want to catch up with all the nuggets in the revenue report, scroll through the Tesla Revenue Summary.
Comfortable ride
The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Uber, claiming it had charged customers for one of Uber’s subscription services without consent.
Lyft’s losses are Uber’s profits. Members of Delta Skymiles in the US can earn points when riding Uber or earning order delivery via Uber Eats as part of a recently announced exclusive partnership between the two companies. (Lyft has partnered with Delta.)