Automakers

The U.S.-based nonprofit linked some of the world’s largest car manufacturers to aluminum allegedly produced with forced labor by Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China’s western Xinjiang region and other parts of the country.China is accused of running labor transfer programs in which Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities are forced to toil in factories as part of a longstanding campaign of assimilation and mass detention.A United Nations report in 2022 found China may have committed crimes against humanity in…

Elon Musk says that other automakers don’t believe Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) is “real” as Tesla tries to sell FSD licenses. Back in 2021, Musk did say that he had early discussions with other automakers about licensing self-driving technology, but that didn’t lead to anything. Last year, the CEO made an announcement that Tesla would be open to licensing Autopilot and FSD to other automakers. During Tesla’s Q4 conference call that followed the release of the earnings, shareholders asked…

Major European carmakers and their suppliers are struggling as Chinese EV makers like BYD are gaining ground and are on the rise in the continent. Suppliers to carmakers in particular are in a tough spot as Asian suppliers are enjoying higher margins, and more volume…

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel speaks from the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. The top U.S. telecommunications regulator is asking automakers how they plan to protect people from being stalked or harassed by partners who have access to vehicle location and other data. In a letter sent Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, to nine large automakers, Rosenworcel asks for…

At CES, Volkswagen announced it would begin offering a version of ChatGPT in its cars later this year, the result of a partnership with Cerence, a U.S. software developer. As artificial intelligence becomes the new horsepower for car buyers, established automakers are redoubling efforts to match the digital features that set Tesla, BYD and other new rivals apart, industry executives and analysts said at the CES technology show in Las Vegas.More than a decade after Tesla…

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi took the wraps off its first electric vehicle on Thursday and promptly announced it was aiming to become one of world's top five automakers.The sedan, dubbed the SU7, is a highly anticipated model that is expected to make the most of its shared operating system with the company's popular phones.But the car is making its debut at a time when the world's largest auto market is wrestling with a capacity glut and slowing demand that have stoked a bruising price war.That didn't stop Xiaomi Chief…

Apple announced two new partners for its next-generation CarPlay platform this week — Porsche and Aston Martin. The latter, a storied but historically technology-challenged (remember the Lagonda?) sports car brand that would greatly benefit from using someone else’s software, makes sense. But Porsche? That was more than a bit of a surprise to me — especially given the company’s storied reputation for engineering its own solutions and recently announced Android-based Macan. But I believe Porsche knows…

The US saw record gains in fuel efficiency last year, but it still falls short of what’s needed to meet fast-approaching deadlines. Thanks to their love of large vehicles, American automakers have fallen behind their competitors when it comes to getting more miles per gallon of gas.Real-world fuel economy in model year 2022 rose slightly to 26 miles per gallon, according to the EPA’s latest Automotive Trends Report. That’s a 0.6mpg increase from the year before, which is apparently “more than double the annual rate of…

Legacy automakers are still selling millions of gas guzzlers, but if we were to spin some good news out of that, the Environmental Protection Agency reports that emissions levels have now dropped to “record lows” and vehicle fuel economy is now at a “record high.” But what does really mean? The EPA just released its annual Automotive Trends Report, which found that the nationwide fleet of new vehicles emitted 10 grams per mile less CO2 than 2021, which is a measly 2.2% improvement, while fuel…

2023 Prius Prime on display, April 6, 2023.Scott Mlyn | CNBCDETROIT – As sales of all-electric vehicles grow more slowly than expected, major automakers are increasingly meeting their customers in the middle.More and more companies are reconsidering the viability of hybrid cars and trucks to appease consumer demand and avoid costly penalties related to federal fuel economy and emissions standards.The shifting strategies run counterintuitively to industry-wide EV messaging of recent years. Many auto companies have begun to…