Uber will invest up to $1.2 billion in EV maker Rivian in a deal to supply 50,000 robotaxis. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated its investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, now used in around 3.2 million cars. More at Autoweek.
+ Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat and Maserati EV owners can now plug into Tesla’s expansive NACS North American charging network with an adapter, Stellantis announced. More at The Detroit News.
+ Around 13,000 immigrant truck drivers had their licenses revoked in California after the federal government forced the state to cancel them, threatening the supply chain. More at Autoblog.
+ Adrian Newey will step down as team principal at Aston Martin to focus on the Formula 1 team’s crippling technical problems, replaced by Audi team boss Jonathan Wheatley. More at Autosport.
+ Toyota’s high-performance Tundra pickup equipped and styled to compete against the Ford F-150 Raptor will be named the TRD Hammer, according to trademark applications. More at Car and Driver.
+ The California Attorney General’s office is closing an apparent loophole that allowed luxury car buyers there to title and register their vehicles in Montana, evading taxes and fees. More at The Drive.
+ Germany’s top industrial union retained its stronghold on the works councils at Audi and parent company Volkswagen but lost some ground to a fringe far-right labor group. More at World Auto Forum.
+ Higher gasoline prices driven by the military conflict in Iran conflict have not yet affected U.S. sales at General Motors, according to chief financial officer Paul Jacobson. More at CBT News.
+ The Uber ride-sharing service will invest up to $1.2 billion in electric vehicle maker Rivian in a deal to deploy 50,000 robotaxis by 2031, subject to regulatory approval. More at CNBC.
+ IndyCar veteran Katherine Legge, who last competed in the Indianapolis 500 in 2024, is working with Chevrolet and other sponsors to return to the event this May. More at Racer.
Review the previous MCG Executive Briefing from March 16 here.
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NHTSA finally “found blood on the highway” and upgraded to EA26002 after identifying one fatality and 9 crashes where Tesla’s vision-only FSD failed to detect low-visibility hazards in fog or glare. ODI is investigating Tesla’s software, and how badly the company intentionally under-reported crashes to the feds.
The NTSB is not involved in this one (yet) but our gal NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy frequently criticizes Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” branding as “misleading and irresponsible,” (gross negligence?) while strongly urging NHTSA to do something, maybe like impose stricter driver-monitoring standards and ban immature automation.
Lacking the killer instinct of Sara Fisher or Danica Patrick IMHO, Katherine Legge is the spittin’ image of Janet Guthrie behind the wheel of an Indy car, I wish her well…
I won’t speak to Katherine Legge’s killer instinct but she’s 45, as old as Scott Dixon. Her abilities are winding down and anyone not in a Penske/Ganassi/Andretti car will look like they aren’t trying hard enough.
This is likely to be her last try. Guthrie was 41 in her last attempt. Al Unser was the oldest winner, five days short of his 48th birthday. 57 year old AJ Foyt was the oldest competitor and if he could fit in the car he’d probably still try to qualify.