A lidar maker the Pentagon brands a Chinese military company quietly wires up America’s robotaxis, trucks, and even an airport. Nvidia is one of its partners. Hesai makes many of the sensors self-driving machines use to see. The Shanghai firm also sits on a US Department of Defense blacklist of Chinese military companies, CNBC reports. The label blocks Pentagon contracts. It does nothing to stop American firms using the sensors, and Hesai’s US footprint keeps growing. Blacklisted, but everywhere Hesai holds about a third of the global market for automotive lidar. Its sensors sit inside Amazon’s Zoox robotaxis, trucking firms Waabi and Kodiak, and delivery outfit Nuro. They even watch the gates at New York’s JFK airport. An expanded deal, unveiled at January’s CES, made Hesai an option on Nvidia’s self-driving platform too. Price explains the reach. Hesai says it has cut the cost of a unit from more than $10,000 to under $200. Critics counter that the price only works thanks to Chinese state subsidies. Hesai denies that. The backdoor worry Security researchers warn that attackers could hijack the sensors. A Duke University lab showed how planted malware can make a lidar see a phantom person. It can also hide a real one. In 2024 a botched Hesai firmware update hit a leap-year bug and froze every one of its sensors on the same day. Hesai’s CEO David Li calls the threat fiction. He says the sensors store no data and cannot phone home. The leap-year fault, he adds, was a coding bug the firm fixed within a day. And Beijing, he insists, holds no stake in the company. Why it matters The pattern rhymes with Huawei, DJI, and router maker TP-Link. All three are Chinese firms flagged on the same Pentagon list before Washington moved to tear them
Jul 7, 2026 · via thenextweb.com
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Jul 7, 2026 · via youtube.com
Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Solvay Group have expanded their low-carbon logistics partnership with the deployment of electric trucking on an inland container route in Germany.
The initiative covers Solvay’s 73 km daily container route between Bad Wimpfen and Mannheim. The lane was previously served by diesel trucks.
Cargo is now moved by electric truck to Mannheim, where it is transferred to barges for the 500 km journey to the deep-sea ports of Rotterdam or Antwerp. According to the companies, barges generate lower emissions per TEU than trucking.
The project builds on ONE and Solvay’s earlier use of OLEO100 rapeseed oil biofuel trucks for Solvay’s long-distance routes in France.
By switching the Mannheim-Bad Wimpfen lane to electric trucking, the partners have eliminated tailpipe emissions on that route. The change also reduces noise pollution for local communities and improves driver comfort.
ONE said the deployment demonstrates that heavy-duty container transport can shift to lower-carbon alternatives without compromising reliability.
The companies described the project as a proof of concept for future inland container logistics in Europe, as shippers and carriers seek to reduce Scope 3 emissions and prepare for stricter environmental regulations.
Jul 7, 2026 · via container-news.com
Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe has confirmed an order for a third batch of autonomous trucks from Shanghai Westwell Technology, bringing its total autonomous truck fleet to 100 vehicles and consolidating its position as the leading European port for autonomous vehicle deployment at scale in a live terminal environment. The latest order builds on the successful integration of autonomous trucks into mixed-traffic container terminal operations at Felixstowe, the first deployment of its kind in Europe. The new vehicles incorporate enhanced sensor and perception technology including 128-line LiDAR and advanced camera systems, providing a more detailed understanding of the operating environment to support safe and reliable operation alongside conventional equipment. The investment also includes a second automated battery swapping station, complementing the existing facility that enables autonomous trucks to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged units in five to six minutes, maximising fleet availability and minimising operational disruption. Supporting the entire autonomous fleet is the port’s private 5G network, one of the largest industrial private 5G deployments in the United Kingdom, providing fast and reliable real-time connectivity between vehicles, control systems and terminal infrastructure. The autonomous trucks are fully electric, consistent with the port’s use of electricity certified from renewable sources since April 2023. The expanded fleet supports Felixstowe’s target of achieving net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035. Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and CEO of Port of Felixstowe, described the expansion to 100 vehicles as a demonstration of confidence in both the technology and the operational benefits it is delivering for customers, colleagues and port operations. Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell, highlighted the milestone as confirmation of Felixstowe’s standing as Europe’s leading port for autonomous vehicle deployment at scale, and expressed commitment to continuing the partnership in support of safer, smarter and more sustainable
Jul 7, 2026 · via container-news.com
The Government will stop certain terms from being used to market automated vehicles that do not meet self-driving standards. Part of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, the new rules aim to help prevent misunderstanding by ensuring that protected terms are only used when marketing vehicles that meet the required standards. Making the announcement in a written statement to Parliament, transport minister Simon Lightwood said: “These regulations will help prevent end-users in Great Britain from being misled into thinking that vehicles that are not authorised automated vehicles can safely and lawfully drive themselves. “Misleading marketing of automated vehicles is dangerous: it can mislead drivers into thinking that they do not need to pay attention to the road. “As more manufacturers offer high-end driver assistance systems, misleading marketing risks worsening road safety and could undermine trust and successful adoption of self-driving vehicle technology.” Ensure you always get Fleet News insight. Make us your preferred source on Google Lightwood (pictured below) issued the statement after the Department for Transport (DfT) published the outcome to a consultation on protecting marketing terms by identifying the words, expressions, symbols or marks that should only be used to describe authorised or listed automated vehicles The AV act sets out an authorisation process to determine whether a vehicle can drive itself safely and legally without being controlled or monitored by a human. “This process would be undermined if businesses are able to claim that their vehicles are self-driving without getting the vehicles authorised, which may lead to confusion about vehicle capabilities and driver responsibilities,” said Lightwood. Consultation outcome The consultation demonstrated broad support for protecting certain marketing terms so that they may only be used legally to describe vehicles authorised or listed as able to safely drive themselves. The following terms will be reserved for authorised or listed
Jul 7, 2026 · via fleetnews.co.uk
ABB Robotics is expanding its Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) portfolio with the launch of the Flexley Stack F712, creating a complete interoperable ecosystem across all major Visual SLAM AMR … [Read More...] about ABB Robotics completes Visual SLAM AMR range with autonomous forklift launch Main Content News ABB Robotics completes Visual SLAM AMR range with autonomous forklift launch ExRobotics launches UL-certified inspection robot for hazardous industrial sites in North America ExRobotics has announced the North American launch of its UL Certified ExR-2.5 autonomous inspection robot at the recent Energy Drone & Robotics Summit in Houston. This certification marks … [Read More...] about ExRobotics launches UL-certified inspection robot for hazardous industrial sites in North America HelloFresh expands chilled warehouse capacity fivefold with Locus Robotics automation Locus Robotics, a warehouse automation company, has announced that a cold-storage hardware modification developed for HelloFresh has enabled the meal kit company to expand chilled fulfillment capacity … [Read More...] about HelloFresh expands chilled warehouse capacity fivefold with Locus Robotics automation Flytrex scales shared drone traffic system with thousands of coordinated flights Flytrex says it has reached a new milestone in commercial drone delivery after scaling shared airspace operations to thousands of coordinated flights per month without any reported airspace … [Read More...] about Flytrex scales shared drone traffic system with thousands of coordinated flights Robust.AI selects Aptiv’s AI-powered perception system for next-generation Carter warehouse robot Aptiv, an industrial technology company, has announced that Robust.AI, a developer of AI-driven warehouse automation, has selected Aptiv’s intelligent perception solutions, including AI and Machine … [Read More...] about Robust.AI selects Aptiv’s AI-powered perception system for next-generation Carter warehouse robot Manufacturing What Are the Biggest Challenges in Modern Electronics Manufacturing? Walk the floor of any active facility today and you see the same stress points. The machines are faster. The
Jul 7, 2026 · via roboticsandautomationnews.com
The Port of Felixstowe is set to further expand its autonomous vehicle operations after confirming a new order for an additional batch of autonomous trucks from Shanghai Westwell Technology Co. Ltd. (Westwell). The investment will increase the port’s fleet to 100 autonomous trucks, reinforcing its position as Europe’s leading port for the large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicles in a live terminal environment. The latest order follows the successful integration of autonomous trucks into the port’s mixed-traffic container terminal operations, marking the first implementation of this type in Europe. The expansion represents the next stage in the port’s ongoing programme to introduce advanced technologies that enhance operational efficiency, safety and environmental performance. “This further investment marks another important step in the Port of Felixstowe’s journey towards smarter, safer and more sustainable port operations. Expanding our autonomous truck fleet to 100 vehicles demonstrates our confidence in the technology and in the benefits it is already bringing to our customers, colleagues and operations. Felixstowe has led the way in deploying autonomous trucks safely at scale in a live port environment, and this latest order reinforces our commitment to innovation, operational resilience and our target of achieving Net-Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035.” – Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO. The additional vehicles will feature upgraded sensor and perception technology, including 128-line LiDAR and advanced camera systems designed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the surrounding environment. These enhancements will support the safe, reliable and accurate operation of the vehicles within the port’s busy mixed-traffic terminal. The technology forms part of the next phase of development for the autonomous truck programme, building on capabilities highlighted during the previous vehicle order. Alongside the new vehicles, the investment includes a second automated battery swapping station. The
Jul 7, 2026 · via mtbevents.com
Waabi says it has demonstrated what it describes as a major advance in autonomous driving by transferring its AI-powered virtual driver from one autonomous truck platform to another without requiring additional training, engineering or new data. The company says its Waabi Driver software was integrated with the Volvo VNL Autonomous truck, developed in partnership with Volvo Autonomous Solutions, and was able to operate autonomously on highways and complex surface streets from its first deployment. According to Waabi, the system achieved what is known as “zero-shot” generalization, meaning the AI driver transferred to an entirely different vehicle platform without requiring new real-world data, simulation data or fine-tuning. The company says the Waabi Driver had previously been trained to operate a Peterbilt 579 truck before being deployed on the Volvo VNL Autonomous, which has different sensors, control systems and vehicle characteristics. Waabi argues that this demonstrates a significant step toward scalable autonomous trucking by enabling the same AI system to operate across multiple vehicle platforms without the lengthy engineering and validation processes that have traditionally been required. The company says the achievement builds on an earlier milestone in which the Waabi Driver expanded beyond highway driving to operate on complex urban streets. Waabi says the ability to generalize across both driving environments and vehicle platforms is essential if autonomous driving systems are to scale commercially. Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, said: “Road testing the Volvo VNL Autonomous, integrated with the Waabi Driver, on public roads is an important proof point of our partnership with Waabi. “It also demonstrates the scalability of Volvo’s autonomous truck platform, which is designed to integrate different vehicle models and virtual drivers to enable a wide range of use cases and applications. Together with Waabi, we are advancing autonomous transport solutions toward commercial reality.” Waabi says
Jul 7, 2026 · via roboticsandautomationnews.com
Port of Felixstowe has confirmed an order for a third batch of autonomous trucks from Shanghai Westwell Technology Co. Ltd. (“Westwell”), increasing its autonomous truck fleet to 100 vehicles and further strengthening its position as a European leader in the deployment of autonomous vehicle technology at scale. The latest order builds on the successful introduction of autonomous trucks into mixed-traffic container terminal operations at Felixstowe, the first deployment of its kind in Europe. “This further investment marks another important step in the Port of Felixstowe’s journey towards smarter, safer and more sustainable port operations. “Expanding our autonomous truck fleet to 100 vehicles demonstrates our confidence in the technology and in the benefits it is already bringing to our customers, colleagues and operations. Felixstowe has led the way in deploying autonomous trucks safely at scale in a live port environment, and this latest order reinforces our commitment to innovation, operational resilience and our target of achieving Net-Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035.” Kenny Tan, Founder and Chairman of Westwell, said: “We are proud to support Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe as it continues to deploy autonomous truck technology at scale. This latest order marks another important milestone in our partnership and reflects the confidence Felixstowe has placed in Westwell’s technology, products and operational support. “With 100 autonomous trucks in operation, the Port of Felixstowe is Europe's leading port for the deployment of autonomous vehicles at scale in live terminal operations. We look forward to continuing our work together to support safer, smarter and more sustainable port operations.” The new trucks will incorporate enhanced sensor and perception technology, including 128-line LiDAR and advanced camera systems, providing a more detailed understanding of the operating environment and supporting safe, accurate and reliable operation in a busy mixed-traffic terminal environment. Similar technology
Jul 6, 2026 · via ajot.com
The Port of Felixstowe has ordered a third batch of autonomous trucks from Shanghai Westwell Technology, taking its fleet to 100 vehicles. The latest investment builds on the port’s deployment of autonomous trucks within mixed-traffic container terminal operations at Felixstowe, reportedly the first deployment of its kind in Europe. Clemence Cheng, executive director of Hutchison Ports and chief executive of the Port of Felixstowe, said: “This further investment marks another important step in the Port of Felixstowe’s journey towards smarter, safer and more sustainable port operations. “Expanding our autonomous truck fleet to 100 vehicles demonstrates our confidence in the technology and in the benefits it is already bringing to our customers, colleagues and operations.” The new electric trucks feature upgraded sensor technology, including 128-line LiDAR and advanced camera systems, designed to improve environmental perception and support safe operation alongside conventional terminal traffic. The order also includes a second automated battery swapping station. The facility enables autonomous trucks to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged units in five to six minutes, helping maximise fleet availability and minimise downtime. The autonomous fleet operations are supported by the port’s private 5G network, which provides secure, real-time communications between autonomous vehicles, control systems and terminal infrastructure. Kenny Tan, founder and chairman of Westwell, said: “With 100 autonomous trucks in operation, the Port of Felixstowe is Europe’s leading port for the deployment of autonomous vehicles at scale in live terminal operations.” The fully-electric autonomous truck fleet forms part of the Port of Felixstowe’s wider decarbonisation strategy. The July 2026 issue of Logistics Manager is out now with articles on air cargo, cybersecurity, e-commerce and retail logistics and the use of renewables in industrial property!
Jul 6, 2026 · via logisticsmanager.com
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Jul 6, 2026 · via nst.com.my
Rio Tinto–CITIC mining tech fund: green AHS trucks and fleet design notes Reviewed by Joe Ashwell First reported on International Mining – News 30 Second Briefing Rio Tinto Group and CITIC Investment Holdings have launched the Suzhou Industrial Park Rio Tinto-CITIC Xinxin Equity Investment Fund on 26 June, partnering with CITIC Private Equity, Shaanxi Coal Geology Group, Yuanfeng Capital and Zhongfang to back mining technology ventures. The fund is moving to invest in “green” autonomous haulage system (AHS) trucks, signalling capital support for low-emission, automated haul fleets in large open pits. For mine planners and OEMs, this points to stronger funding for battery-electric or hybrid AHS platforms and associated digital control infrastructure in China-focused projects. Technical Brief - Fund structure centres on equity stakes in mining technology OEMs and digital platform providers. - Early-stage backing likely targets prototype-to-commercial scale-up: proving duty cycles, battery life and charging logistics in-pit. - For other open pits, similar funds could de-risk capex for transitioning from manned diesel fleets to mixed AHS fleets. Our Take Rio Tinto Group appears frequently in our mining sustainability coverage, but this Suzhou Industrial Park-based fund with CITIC entities signals a deliberate pivot towards China-centred deployment of mining tech rather than just sourcing equipment from global OEMs. With no specific commodities named, the focus on green autonomous haulage suggests Rio Tinto and CITIC are targeting fleet decarbonisation and labour-productivity gains that can be applied across multiple ore types, which typically makes the tech more attractive for Chinese state-linked operators such as Shaanxi Coal Geology Group. Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team. Related Articles Related Industries & Products Mining Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management. Construction
Jul 6, 2026 · via geomechanics.io
United States Commercial Vehicle Sensors Market 2026 Analysis and Forecast to 2035 Executive Summary Key Findings - The United States Commercial Vehicle Sensors market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8–10% between 2026 and 2035, driven by regulatory mandates for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and fleet modernization. Light-duty commercial vehicles (Class 1–3) represent roughly 60% of sensor demand, reflecting strong replacement cycles and last-mile delivery expansion. - Import dependence for advanced sensor modules remains significant at an estimated 40–50%, with many components sourced from Asia and Europe. This exposes the market to supply chain volatility, particularly for LiDAR and high-resolution camera systems. - The aftermarket segment contributes 25–30% of total market value, supported by an average vehicle age of 12–14 years for heavy trucks. Rising retrofitting activity for telematics and safety sensors is creating a stable revenue stream outside original equipment production. Market Trends - ADAS sensor demand is expanding at 12–15% CAGR, with radar and camera systems becoming standard in new medium- and heavy-duty trucks. NHTSA rulemaking on automatic emergency braking is accelerating adoption ahead of formal compliance deadlines. - LiDAR adoption remains below 5% in 2026 but is expected to approach 15–20% by 2035, driven by autonomous truck pilot programs, particularly in long-haul freight corridors across the southern and western United States. - Telematics and connectivity sensors are transitioning from premium options to baseline specifications, with fleet operators increasingly requiring real-time monitoring of tire pressure, temperature, and brake wear to reduce downtime and comply with safety rating systems. Key Challenges - Supplier qualification and long certification cycles remain a bottleneck. New sensor designs can require 18–24 months of validation with Tier 1 integrators, slowing the introduction of smaller, innovative vendors. - Input cost volatility for rare earth metals and semiconductor components
Jul 5, 2026 · via indexbox.io
The Trucking Crackdown Doesn't Go Far Enough Trump is on the right road, but it’s going to take more to end dangerous trucking in America. On May 19, 2026, a truck driven by a man named Manvir Singh slammed into stopped traffic on California Route 99 near Lodi, killing two young men aged 16 and 20, and sending five others in separate vehicles to the hospital. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Singh entered the United States illegally in 2023, and the issuance of his commercial driver’s license (CDL) by the state of California is under investigation. A few weeks later, on June 10, a gentleman named Manmeet Singh, recently of Sacramento, was behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler hauling mail for the United States Postal Service when he crashed on Interstate 5 near the town of Willows, California. This Mr. Singh had no valid CDL, which means he may not have been trained whatsoever in how to operate his truck properly. It also turns out that Yaari Transport LLC, the trucking company he worked for, has a long history of operating shoddy equipment and, contrary to federal regulations, employing drivers who are illiterate in English. If all of this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Truck crashes involving illegal immigrants, or those who were issued employment authorization documents in a suspicious manner by the Biden Administration, are now a regular feature of our news and social media commentary. What makes these two incidents noteworthy, however, is not the particular pattern of poorly trained and incompetent “drivers” we see repeated across so many crashes, but that these two took place nearly one year after the Trump Administration began to do something about them. They present a number of questions about how deep the problem is and whether the new
Jul 5, 2026 · via commonplace.org
The rise of global manufacturing has had a huge impact on the auto industry. For one, it makes it easier for companies to chase cheap labor around the world in an effort to maximize profits. But there's been plenty of pushback, especially recently. Nowadays, for instance, the government is focusing on how American-made cars can be made even more American. Remember, the only U.S.-based brands to finish in the top 10 of the 2026 American-Made Index were Tesla and Jeep. Now, there isn't the same sort of buzz around where big rigs get built — yet inquiring minds still want to know. And it turns out that quite a few are indeed manufactured in this country, including big names like Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Mack, Western Star, and International. Speaking of international trucks, Volvo also has a huge plant in the United States. The flipside to the story — and an example of how hard it can be to parse a vehicle's origins –- is that foreign companies own a number of the so-called U.S. brands. With that in mind, we'll try to cut through the clutter and bring out some details, like the brands' respective Class 8 market shares. That way, you can see how things are playing out for semi trucks in the real world. Read more: There's A Good Reason Semi Trucks Don't Use V8s Kenworth They say necessity is the mother of invention — well, either that or Frank Zappa –- and that's exactly why Kenworth came to be. It was founded by Harry Kent and Edgar K. Worthington in 1923 to meet the needs of lumber companies in the Pacific Northwest. Apparently, typical trucks were finding it too hard to navigate the logging roads in the area, as they were often not much more than narrow
Jul 5, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
World Commercial Vehicle Sensors - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights - Full report in PDF · Excel data package · Word document · Executive presentation - Email delivery 24/7 any day, weekends and holidays included - Content copy-paste enabled · printable format - Unlimited clarification rounds after delivery Commercial Vehicle Sensors Market Forecast Points Higher Toward 2035 on ADAS Mandates and Electrification Abstract According to the latest IndexBox report on the global Commercial Vehicle Sensors market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture. The World Commercial Vehicle Sensors market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 12.1% between 2026 and 2035, driven primarily by regulatory mandates for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and the accelerated adoption of electrified and autonomous commercial platforms. Radar and camera modules together account for more than half of total sensor value globally, with lidar capturing a rapidly growing share as cost-per-unit falls below the USD 1,000 threshold for heavy-truck applications by 2028. Supply-chain concentration remains a vulnerability: over 70% of sensor-grade MEMS and semiconductor components are sourced from East Asian foundries, exposing the market to capacity bottlenecks and lead-time volatility. Integration of multi-modal sensor fusion (radar + camera + lidar + ultrasonic) into single electronic control units is reducing per-system wiring and processing costs by 15–20% per vehicle, accelerating adoption across medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Aftermarket demand for retrofit sensor kits is rising at a 12–15% annual rate in Europe and North America as fleet operators seek to comply with new safety ratings without replacing entire vehicle fleets. Electrification of commercial powertrains is increasing the share of temperature, current, and pressure sensors in battery-management and thermal-management systems, adding an estimated 8–12 sensors per battery-electric truck compared with
Jul 5, 2026 · via indexbox.io
For more than a decade, Idaho drivers got used to a strange little dance on the interstate. Cars could legally cruise at 80 mph on certain stretches, while big rigs were stuck at 70. That gap created its own kind of traffic ballet, with passenger vehicles weaving around trucks that simply couldn't keep pace even if their drivers wanted to. As of July 1st, that gap is gone. Commercial trucks in Idaho can now legally travel up to 80 mph on interstates, matching the speed limit for cars. It's a quiet but notable shift for a state that has spent years adjusting its highway speed rules in stages. A little history helps explain how we got here. Back in the 1980s, Idaho's speed limit sat at 55 mph before jumping to 65. Then in 2014, lawmakers bumped the limit on much of Interstate 84 and other rural interstates up to 80 mph for cars, while trucks stayed capped at 70. That 10 mph difference has now been erased, at least on paper. The change didn't require new signage or extra spending. Idaho Transportation Department crews spent the morning of July 1st removing the variable speed limit signs that used to remind truckers of their lower limit. Those signs aren't headed to a landfill either. The sheet metal gets recycled at ITD's sign shop, which is a nice reminder that even government agencies don't love buying new metal when the old stuff still works fine. Don't Expect Every Truck to Suddenly Speed Up Here's the part that might surprise casual observers. Just because the law allows 80 mph doesn't mean truckers will actually drive that fast. Many trucking companies electronically govern their vehicles well below the new limit, often for insurance reasons. An 80,000 pound truck traveling 80 mph is a
Jul 5, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
When you think semi-trucks, you probably think of Mack, International, Kenworth, maybe even a car brand that occasionally makes semis. Did you know that Ford also had a semi? The Ford AeroMax L9000 was the last time that Ford attempted to compete in the semi-truck space, which it was part of since the 1950s. In the 1970s, during the fuel crisis, Ford's L-Series was doing pretty well — the automaker received 4,900 orders before this truck line was produced. However, the 1980s brought new challenges, as truck manufacturers started to close in at a rapid pace. To compete in this space, semi-trucks became more aerodynamic to save on fuel, hoping to get the remaining companies to buy. Ford responded with the AeroMax L9000, hoping to be among the leaders of the heavy truck industry. It seemed like a game-changer, with a dramatically redesigned nose and integrated headlights to control air flow around the truck and reduce drag. However, independent agencies ran an SAE Fuel Economy Test that showed the AeroMax was able to get 8.27 MPG, compared to the Kenworth's contemporary model boasting 9 MPG. Since the AeroMax came out a bit later, it wasn't giving truck companies a huge reason to buy a new rig. While the AeroMax didn't live up to sales expectations, the carmaker tried once more to enter the semi-truck space. Read more: 7 Reasons Why You Should Avoid A CVT Transmission (According To Drivers) Ford tries to make the AeroMax work one more time Despite the AeroMax's failed launch, Ford decided to give it another shot for model year 1996. The second-generation AeroMax's angle? Being more comfortable to drive. Ford had 5,000 truck drivers help design the interior, including its seating and gauges. The result was a semi-truck with highly adjustable seats, a clearer dashboard,
Jul 5, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
- Uber's insurance and operational fees are among the biggest costs baked into a fare on the app. - A recent study found they can vary a lot between very similar ride-hailing trips. - Uber says it collects "overall insurance and operational expenses" instead of determining the cost of individual trips. Read Also Len Sherman, an executive in residence and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, analyzed 120 Uber Reserve trips completed by one driver between Ithaca, New York, and an airport in Syracuse over a two-year period. The trips were similar in several ways, Sherman said. Each was driven by the same driver in the same Tesla Model Y. Each also followed essentially the same route along the freeway, covered nearly identical distances, and began and ended at similar locations. Across the roughly 60-mile trips, Uber's reported commercial auto insuranceand operational charge on each ride ranged from $13.75 to $50 an interesting result, Sherman said, given how similar the trips were from a risk standpoint. "When you have identical trips by the same driver, the same car, and the same route in the same distance, there should not be a much higher variation in what you say your commercial insurance costs are," Sherman told Business Insider. An Uber spokesperson told Business Insider that the fee covers government-mandated insurance for rides. The fee can vary due to multiple factors, "including the trip's origin city and distance, duration, time of day, and weather, and is included in the price you see in the Uber app before requesting a ride," the spokesperson said. Insurance accounts for one-fifth of the average ride-hailing fare Uber has long said that rider prices and driver earnings can change based on demand. The variation in insurance and operational fees in the study, though, was "twice as high
Jul 5, 2026 · via africa.businessinsider.com
After more than a year of outdated self-driving software, millions of Tesla's older cars are finally beginning to receive a new update. Even so, content creator The Electric Viking (@electricviking) reports that owners of Hardware 3 vehicles still are not getting the fully autonomous experience many say they already paid for. What's happening? On June 29, Tesla began rolling out firmware 2026.20.51, called Full Self-Driving Supervised version 14 light, to Hardware 3 vehicles, as The Electric Viking details in a YouTube video. Tesla AI chief Ashok Elluswamy later confirmed that the release had begun. Hardware 3 owners had reportedly remained on version 12.6 for over a year even as Tesla kept improving the software on Hardware 4 vehicles. To adapt some of that newer behavior to the older computers, The Electric Viking noted the company reportedly trained a smaller model through "knowledge distillation" so it could imitate the newer system. With this update, Hardware 3 cars gain features such as parking, unparking, reversing, starting self-driving from park, more arrival choices, extra speed profiles, and fewer false slowdowns. "The features are actually real," The Electric Viking states in the video. He does note some of the limitations of the changes later on. Why does it matter? Older EVs may stay useful longer without needing to be replaced. If software can meaningfully improve the driving experience on cars already sitting in driveways, it can help protect resale value and reduce the waste associated with retiring otherwise functional vehicles too early. At the same time, the update shows how far Tesla's earlier sales pitch and today's limits appear to diverge. The Electric Viking says many Hardware 3 cars were sold with assurances that they were ready for Full Self-Driving, and some customers spent up to $15,000 for that option. However, the creator said
Jul 5, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com