Autos
Latest McKinsey report concludes autonomous technology is “developing rapidly, but the future is still in flux”
Globally leading consultancy firm McKinsey & Company yesterday published its third biannual survey on autonomous vehicle technology, the first since 2023.
The report attempts to provide a comprehensive forecast of autonomous technology, offering a deep dive into the current trends and predictions dominating the fast-paced autonomous vehicle industry. Summarising its global findings from 2025, the report began: “Autonomous-vehicle technology is developing rapidly, but the future is still in flux.”
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla in annual EV sales for 2025
Chinese automaker BYD has usurped Tesla’s title as the world’s biggest electric car maker in 2025. As founder Elon Musk turns his attention to humanoid robots and autonomous driving technology, the American electric car maker is facing declining vehicle sales for the second year in a row, threatening its dominance in the electric vehicle sector.
Waymo to update its software after San Francisco power outage wreaks havoc on its robotaxi fleet
Last weekend, Waymo came under fire after several of its vehicles were affected by a citywide power outage in San Francisco that left many of its vehicles stalled at intersections.
Waymo has since announced it will update software across its robotaxi fleet to better respond to outages, while also expanding its first responder engagement and emergency response protocols.
Battery manufacturers say “Made in Europe” regulation is essential to compete with China
Europe’s race to secure its electric vehicle future is increasingly centred on one question: how much of an EV should be made at home?
As Brussels prepares proposals to raise local content requirements for products such as cars and solar panels, senior figures from Europe’s emerging battery industry are voicing strong support, arguing that tighter rules are essential to counter China’s dominance in EV production and adjacent key technologies.
Baidu’s partnerships with Uber and Lyft promise robotaxis in London from 2026
Baidu has announced it will be teaming up with both Uber and Lyft to deliver autonomous robotaxis in London, consolidating the UK as the next hotbed for autonomous innovation.
On Monday, Uber announced it would begin pilot programmes in the UK capital following the unveiling of a strategic partnership with Baidu’s robotaxi unit, Apollo Go, back in July. Pilots are set to begin in early 2026.
Building resilient SDVs: The importance of integrated cyber defence
News Today, cars are less a vessel to get you from A to B and more an extension of our homes, living rooms, and phone screens. As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, equipped with features such as over-the-air updates, adaptive cruise control, smartphone...
U.S. government endorses female crash dummy to close safety gap for female motorists
News In the U.S., licensed female drivers outnumber licensed male drivers by about three million, and yet when it comes to safety features, the majority of vehicle testing is still carried out using outdated data and models designed to protect the average man....
WeRide and Uber launch first driverless robotaxi service in the Middle East
News Uber is ramping up its investment in autonomous vehicle technology, launching its driverless robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in the Middle East. The announcement, made on Wednesday, is part of a joint venture with Chinese company and global...
Pony.ai and Bolt launch strategic partnership to accelerate autonomy in Europe
News Europe’s transport and mobility landscape is edging closer to full automation, as Estonian ride-hailing giant Bolt announces a strategic partnership with Chinese autonomous driving specialist Pony.ai. The collaboration marks a significant step toward introducing...
China’s diesel-powered trucks face rapid electric overhaul
News China is accelerating its transition from diesel-powered trucks to electric alternatives at breakneck speed. Once almost entirely dependent on diesel for heavy freight, the country has seen a sharp rise in electric truck adoption, signalling profound changes for...
Autonomy on a macro scale: Pony.ai announces line-up of Gen 4 autonomous trucks
News Pony.ai, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced its line-up of fourth-generation (Gen-4) autonomous trucks, positioning itself at the forefront of China’s autonomous logistics transformation. Set to hit Chinese roads in 2026, these...
Zoox to rival Waymo as they launch in San Francisco
News Google began testing its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo, in San Francisco back in 2009. Since then, the Bay Area has become a hotbed for autonomous innovation, with Waymo now expanding its service to Californian freeways, as announced earlier this month....
China eases restrictions on Nexperia chip exports
News In a move that could ease mounting pressure on the global auto supply chain, China has announced plans to grant export exemptions for certain semiconductor products made by Nexperia, the Dutch chip manufacturer caught in the crossfire of recent trade tensions....
GM promises “eyes-off, hands-free” autonomy by 2028
News While automakers such as Volkswagen and Stellantis battle it out in the autonomous ride-hail space, American multinational General Motors (GM) has shifted its focus to developing autonomous technology for personal vehicles. GM introduced its Super Cruise...
BYD’s bumpy quarter spurs global outlook
News China’s electric vehicle giant BYD is hitting a few speed bumps after years of seemingly unstoppable growth. The company, once the shining star of the EV boom and a formidable rival to Tesla, reported a sharp 33% drop in third-quarter profits, underlining the...
Toyota commits $10 Billion to U.S. auto plants in landmark Japan–U.S. investment deal
News Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. has outlined a plan to invest $10 billion in U.S. auto plants. On Tuesday, the U.S. government released a document detailing an investment framework between Japan and the United States. The factsheet contained plans for...
Enviro100AEV Bus wins “2025 Vehicle of the Year” at Self-Driving Industry Awards in Margate
News On Friday 24 September, the arrival of the third annual Self-Driving Industry Awards saw Margate seafront transformed into a futuristic showroom, displaying a selection of the autonomous projects in operation across the UK. Passers-by had the opportunity to...
WeRide and Uber launch robotaxis in Saudi Arabia
News In the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, users of Uber will now have the option to hail an autonomous robotaxi alongside standard ride-hail services. The development is the result of a strategic partnership between Uber and WeRide, forged in September 2024, which saw...
Tesla profits fall by 37% despite strong sales
News On Wednesday, Tesla announced that its profits had fallen by 37%, to $1.4 billion, compared with the previous year. Despite the drop in profits, Tesla sold more cars between July and September than it did in the third quarter of the previous year. Many analysts...
Luxury carmakers struggle behind in the race to electrify
Feature The luxury car market has long been associated with speed, extravagance, and above all, the ‘roar’ of combustion engines. Dominated by automakers with legacies in high-end manufacturing, it is an area of the industry that has historically been slow to embrace...
Pony.ai and Stellantis join forces to advance autonomous deployment in Europe
News Legacy auto giant Stellantis and Chinese autonomous driving technology company Pony.ai have announced a strategic partnership aimed at bringing Level 4 autonomous robotaxis to Europe. Following news earlier this week that Waymo plans to roll out driverless...
Stellantis bets on the U.S. with $13 billion investment
News Stellantis, the automotive multinational behind Jeep and Fiat, has announced a $13 billion investment across four U.S. states - the company’s largest investment in more than 100 years of U.S. operations. The new venture is set to create 5,000 new jobs in Ohio,...
Waymo unveils plans to roll out driverless taxi pilots in London
News As early as next year, Londoners could expect to see driverless robotaxis joining the ubiquitous black cabs on British roads. Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous car company, announced on Wednesday that it hoped to kick-start its planned entry into Europe with...
BYD bets on biofuels in Brazil with new “Super Hybrid”
News Chinese automaker BYD has announced the launch of a “Super Hybrid” vehicle developed specifically for the Brazilian market. The new hybrid model comes with biofuel compatibility, enabling users to run the vehicle on any ratio of petrol and ethanol. BYD’s...
U.S. carmakers forced to adapt as China tightens restrictions on rare-earth materials
News Last week, China rolled out a new set of restrictions on its rare earth material exports, disrupting the global supply chain and plunging U.S. carmakers into further uncertainty. China, which processes around 90% of the world’s rare earth materials, has clamped...
Tesla under investigation for traffic violations caused by self-driving cars
News Tesla’s autonomous vehicles have come under scrutiny this week following a number of reported incidents involving the company’s self-driving models. The cars, which operate using FSD, or Full Self-Driving (Supervised), technology, are under investigation by the...
Trump administration rolls back EV tax credit
News As of yesterday, the Trump administration’s overhaul of electric vehicle (EV) incentives has taken effect, ending the $7,500 federal rebate for EV buyers in the U.S. Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” approach to climate policy has resulted in a dramatic reversal of...
These EVs qualify for full discount under new UK subsidy scheme
News Following the UK government’s launch of its Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme on July 15, a list of qualifying vehicles has now been announced. The scheme represents the UK government’s latest effort to reduce the cost of EVs and kickstart economic growth and jobs...
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