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Reimagining customer experience as a growth engine with Aymen Ismail of Smart
In the automotive world, customer service has historically meant frustrating dealership upsells, call centres and faulty agents. For Smart, the goal is to flip that narrative entirely, reimagining customer service as a powerful growth engine. We sat down with Aymen Ismail, Customer Services Director at Smart Europe, at MOVE 2026, to discuss how data-driven personalization and proactive tech are turning the entire ownership journey into a vehicle for growth.
Uber and Autobrains partner to develop robotaxi programme in Munich
Uber has made its autonomous directive clear in recent months following the announcement of several autonomous vehicle partnerships, including a $1.25 billion robotaxi collaboration with Rivian Motors.
The major ride-hailing platform’s latest autonomous team-up is with Israeli AI company Autobrains Technologies. Through a strategic collaboration, the two companies hope to strengthen Uber’s foothold in the European autonomous vehicle market, with plans to launch an autonomous pilot programme in the German city of Munich.
BYD accelerates its self-driving vision with first in-house autonomous chip
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has introduced a new autonomous-driving semiconductor as it angles to gain a deeper foothold in the advanced vehicle technology space. The move comes amid intensifying competition in the EV market.
During a technology showcase in Shenzhen, the automaker revealed the Xuanji A3, a 4-nanometer chip developed to power next-generation intelligent driving systems. According to the company, the processor is already being manufactured at scale and is engineered to support both Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous capabilities.
Ferrari unveils hotly anticipated first electric car, the Luce
Italian sportscar brand Ferrari has announced the arrival of its first fully electric car, the Luce, retailing for $640,000 or £474,320.
As luxury automakers Lamborghini and Porsche scale back their EV strategies, citing low demand, Ferrari is ploughing ahead with its electric vision, offering a futuristic five-seater in vibrant hues.
The MOVEmnt Podcast Episode 4: Mark Tapscott
Our guest this week is Mark Tapscott, Co-Founder of British automotive start-up Longbow. A pioneer in electrification, Tesla alumnus and a self-confessed ‘car guy’, Mark joins us on The MOVEmnt Podcast to discuss Longbow’s commitment to electrification and feather-weight EV design.
Mark and the Longbow team are on a mission to restore some of the theatre and emotion of the classic British sports car to the electric segment, focusing on light-weighting and the driver experience in a market that too often overlooks the joy of driving
Uber partners with Rivian in $1.25bn robotaxi deal, promising 50,000 vehicles by 2031
Uber is forging ahead with its vision for a driverless future through a new partnership with American EV maker Rivian Motors.
The agreement outlines plans for Uber to invest an initial $300mn, potentially rising to $1.25bn by 2031, contingent on Rivian hitting key autonomy milestones. Alongside the investment, Uber intends to purchase up to 50,000 autonomous vehicles, beginning with 10,000 robotaxi-ready versions of Rivian’s upcoming R2 SUV. The remaining 40,000 could follow from 2030.
Einride paves the way for autonomous “smart corridors” in Texas
Founded in 2016, autonomous trucking company Einride is forging ahead with a partnership with the State Highway 130 corridor, a major toll road in Texas. This strategic collaboration aims to build out a smart freight corridor between Austin and San Antonio, operating as a testbed for Einride’s cab-less autonomous freight vehicles.
The project will represent the first time an autonomous truck company has partnered with a toll road operator to deliver this kind of service. Einride’s vision includes plans to build out Texas’ EV infrastructure through the co-development of next-generation rest stops with electric charging facilities and autonomous truck docking infrastructure.
Hyundai and Kia deepen strategic partnership with leading chipmaker NVIDIA
On Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Group announced it is accelerating its advancements in the autonomous mobility space by deepening its collaboration with world-leading chipmaker NVIDIA. This partnership represents a wider shift in the industry, as automakers are increasingly turning to the tech world to accelerate the development of autonomous and software-defined vehicles through partnerships with chipmakers, AI firms, and software companies.
Hyundai Motor Group, made up of Hyundai Motor and Kia, has positioned this strengthened partnership as a means to drive forward progress on its Level 4 all-electric robotaxis through its joint self-driving venture, Motional.
The design vs safety dilemma: Why carmakers are embracing buttons over touchscreens
As automakers seek to maximise the sleek, futuristic look of new models, the market has seen a sharp increase in the number of vehicles minimising bulky handles and buttons in favour of digital screens and concealed, automated handles.
Whilst these design features may offer the forward-looking glamour that elevates the in-car experience, concerns over safety have seen automakers retreating back to intuitive design features, including tactile buttons and manual handles.
Elon Musk’s Tesla approved to enter UK energy market amid security concerns
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, could soon have sway over the UK’s private energy sector after its subsidiary, Tesla Energy Ventures, received approval to operate as an electricity supplier in the United Kingdom. The licence, granted by the UK energy regulator, clears the path for the company to enter a market that has faced turbulence in recent years and rising concern among households over an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Industry experts herald 2026 as “pivotal year” for UK autonomy at CAM Innovators’ Day
Industry experts gathered at the IET in London yesterday to discuss the key obstacles and scalable, practical use cases of autonomy within the UK.
The annual CAM Innovators’ Day, hosted by Zenzic, brought together some of the industry experts driving innovation in autonomy and connected mobility. Among those attending were representatives from government, industry leaders, scale-ups and key stakeholder groups, with speakers from Google, Waymo and several autonomous startups, including Oxford-based group Oxa.
China’s NIO turns a tidy profit on EV strategy after 2025 record sales
Chinese electric-vehicle maker NIO reported its first quarterly net profit in the final months of 2025, representing a significant milestone for the Shanghai-based company. The result places the automaker among a small but growing group of profitable EV manufacturers in China, the world’s largest EV market, alongside emerging rivals XPeng and Li Auto.
The accolade was fuelled by surging vehicle demand and stronger margins, following a year that began with slower-than-expected sales growth. The company’s upwards trajectory was sparked by the launch of the company’s redesigned premium SUV, the NIO ES8, which quickly became a major contributor to sales.
China’s diesel-powered trucks face rapid electric overhaul
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 fuel consumption and emissions worldwide.
In 2020, diesel trucks dominated new sales across China. Fast forward to 2025, and electric vehicles now represent more than one-fifth of new heavy truck purchases. Analysts predict that this figure could climb beyond half of all new sales within the next year, meaning China’s energy sector will need to dramatically restructure in order to meet new electricity demands.
Autonomy on a macro scale: Pony.ai announces line-up of Gen 4 autonomous trucks
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.
The announcement marks a new phase of maturity for autonomous freight in China, the world’s largest long-haul trucking market, offering what Pony.ai claims will be a safer and more sustainable alternative to human-driven freight transportation.
Beating the barriers to EV adoption with Monta’s CEO & Co-founder
At MOVE America 2025, we spoke to Casper Rasmussen, CEO and Co-founder of Monta, to discuss the key pain points hindering widespread EV adoption on a global scale.
Watch the full interview to hear Casper’s insights on vehicle-to-grid technology, Monta’s new agentic NOC software and more.
Zoox to rival Waymo as they launch in San Francisco
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.
Now, autonomous-vehicle enthusiasts in the City by the Bay will have the chance to hail a second autonomous transport service: Zoox. The project, backed by Amazon, began testing in 2017 and is characterised by its toaster-like vehicles with no steering wheels.
Rivian and Volkswagen’s transatlantic SDV alliance races ahead
A year ago, German legacy automaker Volkswagen announced a strategic partnership with American EV innovator Rivian under the joint venture RV Tech.
The collaboration aims to produce a new line-up of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), combining the automotive expertise of the German titan with the adaptability and tech-forward thinking of the electric-focused ex-startup.
While most automotive partnerships can take some time to get off the ground, the strategic alliance has defied convention, racing toward the beginning of manufacturing and prototyping at high velocity.
EV sales steadily rise in Latin America
With the EU’s EV mandate up for debate and the politicisation of electric vehicles casting doubt on the American EV market, the global outlook for EV uptake seems, at first glance, murky.
However, if we look more broadly at the global landscape, the race to electrify is only just beginning. In Latin America, EV adoption is steadily growing thanks to a huge influx of Chinese models from automakers such as Geely and BYD.
EVs to pay London congestion charge from 2026
London’s congestion charge is set for one of its biggest shifts in years, with both the cost of entering the zone and the treatment of electric vehicles set to dramatically shift in 2026. The development represents mayor Sadiq Khan’s latest step to incentivize public transportation over personal vehicles.
From January 2, the daily fee will rise from £15 to £18, the first increase since 2020. Transport for London (TfL) says future rises will track Tube fares or inflation to keep public transport from becoming the more expensive choice.
Waymo’s driverless robotaxis are arriving on highways in these U.S. cities
The autonomous ride-hailing service Waymo is set to expand its operations onto U.S. highways in the coming days offering the world’s first paid, driverless highway service.
Waymo has selected three U.S cities to roll out its driverless robotaxi service- San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. High-speed free-way routes will initially be available to a small pool of riders in each city before being expanded to the wider public.
“Autonomy is not a product; it’s a shared pursuit”: Insights from Magna
David Doria, Director of Engineering for Automated Driving at Magna, joins us in the Press Lounge at MOVE America 2025 to discuss Magna’s collaborative approach to autonomy, exploring the importance of strategic partnerships in navigating a complex and evolving industry.
GM urges supply chain to end reliance on China
In an effort to tackle the company’s reliance on Chinese markets, American automotive giant General Motors is urging its suppliers to remove Chinese parts from their supply chains.
Executives at the company have warned suppliers to rethink where they are sourcing raw materials and components used in the automotive manufacturing process, demanding that ties with China be dissolved as early as 2027.
The decision follows a recent escalation in U.S.–China trade disputes, which triggered a domino effect of tit-for-tat tariffs on Chinese and American goods.
Autonomous trucks, alternative fuels and data privacy: Lessons from Volvo’s VP of Connected Services
We sat down with Magnus Gustafsson on the back of his panel, “Where tech, data and AI are taking mobility” to discuss the hottest industry topics from autonomy and data privacy, to AI and sustainable mobility.
With a storied career spanning several decades, Magnus shared his insights on mobility within the context of connected services and heavy-duty vehicles.
Should the EU stand firm on its EV mandate?
Two years ago, the European Union decided to impose a mandate, banning the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by the year 2035.
Now, just a decade out from this historic target, the mandate is up for review with the process likely to begin in the coming year.
For EV evangelists and climate activists alike, this potential rollback represents a regressive legislative decision that could slow down the widespread adoption of EVs and jeopardise a successful green transition.
China’s trade deal with the U.S. provides cautious optimism for automakers
China’s new trade deal with the U.S. is providing some much needed optimism for the auto industry after years of supply-chain turbulence. The agreement lowers tariffs and eases China’s export restrictions on rare-earth elements- critical materials for electric motors, sensors, and batteries- but major uncertainties remain.
The pact, signed in late October, maintains a 10 percent reciprocal tariff on Chinese imports and promises broader access to rare-earth minerals such as lithium, graphite, and dysprosium. Yet automakers are still waiting for clear guidance from U.S. Customs on when and how those rates take effect.
Impact over ego: Rethinking true, sustainable mobility with Michigan’s Chief Mobility Officer
Justine Johnson, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan, joins us at MOVE America 2025 to discuss the forward-thinking ways the State of Michigan is building out its public transportation network, with inclusivity and sustainability at the forefront.
Justine sheds light on some of the ambitious projects already underway in Michigan, including Detroit’s elevated light-rail service, the People Mover, and the much-loved QLine that runs along Woodward Avenue, as well as innovative initiatives in maritime transportation and advanced air mobility.
Elon Musk’s $1tn payday puts him firmly back in the driving seat at Tesla
Elon Musk took to the stage on Thursday at Tesla’s annual meeting to raucous applause and chants of “Elon!” from shareholders gathered at the company’s Texas gigafactory. Behind him, lit in neon-purple lights, the words “Sustainable Abundance” glowed in a graffiti scrawl. Taking to the stage, Musk danced alongside the humanoid robots- named Optimus- that he is betting on in Tesla’s next phase of expansion.
What could have been mistaken for a rock concert or a scene from a dystopian film was, in fact, Tesla’s annual meeting, where shareholders voted to award Musk a $1 trillion pay package -a deal that could make the world’s already richest man, a trillionaire.
Lucid Motors accelerates towards autonomy, partnering with Nuro, Nvidia and Uber
American automotive and tech company, Lucid Motors, is accelerating its move into the autonomous vehicle market with its high-tech Gravity crossover, forming a powerful alliance with Nuro, Nvidia, and Uber to challenge leaders such as Tesla and Waymo.
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