The automobile industry has been transforming in record-breaking speed. Cars are no longer just an object that people need to get from A to B. They have become an extension of the user’s personality. As users are no longer simply passengers, but drivers who can customize and upgrade their cars to meet their needs. The technological advancements in the vehicle industry have given rise to new players, new business models, and even new car types. New companies like Tesla, Google, and Apple have shaken up the auto industry with innovations like self-driving cars and electric vehicles. With so much happening at once, it can be difficult to know what is going on in the world of automotive news. Here are the top 10 stories you should know about automotive news in America right now:
Google and Apple mobility services
Google has been working on its self-driving car project since 2009. And it has logged over 3 million autonomous miles on the road. However, only in April, Google announced that it would be spinning off its self-driving unit into a new company called Waymo. Waymo expects to launch its first commercial driverless service later this year. It has also partnered with Lyft to bring the service to the masses. However, the biggest news for Apple’s self-driving car has been the departure of their head of the project, Bob Mansfield. Mansfield has been replaced by the current head of Special Projects, John Giannandrea, who is best known for his work in artificial intelligence and machine learning. On the outside, Apple’s self-driving car project looks similar to Google’s: a fully autonomous vehicle and a program to test it on public roads. But the two companies have very different goals. Google is focused on creating a product that can be sold to individual consumers and ride-hailing companies. Apple, on the other hand, has not shared any details about its self-driving car project except that it is exploring the space.
Self-driving car updates
The world’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service went live in Singapore in May of this year. The service, called Autonomous Vehicle-as-a-Service or AVAS, is operated by a fleet of 10 autonomous vehicles. The vehicles are manufactured by CAV Group, which is a joint venture between GM and Chinese manufacturer SAIC. The California Department of Transportation granted Waymo six Autonomous Vehicle (AV) permits in April, allowing the company to test its fully driverless cars in California. This means that Waymo can now test its fleet in the state without an accompanying human driver. Waymo has been testing its fully driverless cars in Arizona since 2017. And in New York, Governor Cuomo announced that the state has partnered with Lyft to bring AV rides to the city. The pilot program will start with 100 passengers who can order AV rides from the Lyft app.
Uber’s autonomous vehicle development program
Uber has been investing in autonomous vehicle development since 2017 when it acquired self-driving truck startup, Otto. It acquired its main rival in the ride-hailing space, Lyft, in March, 2019. With its acquisition of the ride-hailing giant, Uber is now working towards a future where all its vehicles are autonomous. In the next few years, Uber will be transitioning its fleet to a mix of human-driven and autonomous vehicles. The company’s autonomous vehicle development program is run by the Advanced Technologies Group. The ATG has been testing its self-driving cars in Arizona since early 2016. The program has expanded to Pittsburgh, Toronto, and central California. The company’s goal is to have fully autonomous vehicles on the road by 2021.
Tesla Model 3 production update
Tesla has been working towards a target of producing 5,000 Model 3s per week. The company reached its target in June, 2019 with a new record of 5,300 Model 3s produced in one week. This is more than double the amount of Model 3s produced per week in April. Tesla is still behind on its delivery dates for the Model 3, even though it has ramped up production. The main challenge for the company is to find enough lithium to produce the Model 3 batteries. The demand for lithium has skyrocketed in recent years. And Tesla is one of the biggest consumers of lithium in the world.
GM Cruise autonomous unlimited deployment
In February, GM Cruise launched a commercial service in San Francisco. The service is the first fully autonomous ride-hailing service. It is expected to reach New York City by the end of the year. The service is currently limited to Cruise employees and their families. However, in July, Cruise announced that it would be fully deploying its autonomous ride-hailing service across the country. However, the company has not announced a date for when this will happen.
Mercedes-Benz EQ Next Generation electric car
Mercedes-Benz unveiled its Next Generation electric car in April, 2019. The updated version of the car was called the EQ Next Generation. It was an important update for the auto giant because it was the first production model to feature a new battery technology. It also showed us what the German car manufacturer’s autonomous future might look like. The Mercedes-Benz EQ Next Generation comes with a fancy digital display. It also has a new user interface that allows you to control the car’s autonomous features.
Conclusion
The automobile industry is undergoing a transformation in record-breaking speed. Cars are no longer just an object that people need to get from A to B. They have become an extension of the user’s personality. As users are no longer simply passengers, but drivers who can customize and upgrade their cars to meet their needs. The technological advancements in the vehicle industry have given rise to new players, new business models, and even new car types. New companies like Tesla, Google, and Apple have shaken up the auto industry with innovations like self-driving cars and electric vehicles. With so much happening at once, it can be difficult to know what is going on in the world of automotive news. Here are the top 10 stories you should know about automotive news in America right now:
