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
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ingrid Brown, a professional truck driver and operations manager at Blackjack Express LLC. It has been edited for length and clarity. When I first started truck driving, I only had a CB radio. There was no telephone, no communications, and no technology for anybody to know where I parked at night. Especially as a woman, I thought about things like whether I was parked in a safe place. If I didn't move my truck in the morning, how is somebody going to know whether something's happened to me? Now, AI and other technology can tell me if there's a deer in front of me. It can tell me if one of my drivers is dozing off or daydreaming. It can remind me to pay attention to the road. Technology has gotten to a point where I'm accepting of it. It can help prevent what could go wrong next. Autonomous trucks are different. I'm open to the conversation. But until it can prove to me that there will not be any type of loss of life, I'm going to sit back and watch it. Truck drivers were their own patrol I'm from Boone, North Carolina, and started driving trucks in 1979. My first truck was a '79 Diamond Reo. Once I got a taste of going to different places and experiencing different cultures, I fell in love with 80,000 pounds of iron. My haul has included cows, steel, produce, and dynamite. The last time I counted, I had 5.7 million safe driving miles. Back then, safety really depended on the person behind the wheel. It depended on how well you did pre-trips or safety inspections before you hit the road. It depended on how well you chose to drive, how well you
Jul 5, 2026 · via businessinsider.com
Edge Case’s in depth review of Aurora Innovation (AUR) confirmed that the company’s Safety Case is well structured, aligned with key autonomous vehicle standards, and actively updated, spotlighting the Aurora Driver’s readiness for U.S. highway deployment. See our latest analysis for Aurora Innovation. The independent Edge Case review has landed at a time when Aurora Innovation’s share price has been volatile in the short term, with a 1-day share price return down 6.22%, yet supported by a 90-day share price return of 57.86% and a 3-year total shareholder return of 136.79%. This indicates that momentum has built over time despite setbacks along the way. If Aurora’s safety milestone has you thinking more broadly about autonomous and AI opportunities, it could be a good moment to see what else is moving across 52 AI infrastructure stocks With Aurora Innovation shares up 71.32% year to date and still trading below some published price targets, the key question for investors is simple: is there still mispricing here, or has the market already factored in future growth? Most Popular Narrative: 40.9% Undervalued Aurora Innovation’s most followed narrative pegs fair value at $11.22 a share versus a last close of $6.63, framing the stock as materially discounted on that view. Deepening OEM and manufacturing partnerships with Volvo, PACCAR, International and AUMOVIO, combined with increased U.S. production capacity, lays the groundwork for a larger fleet of autonomous trucks on the road, which could increase operating leverage as fixed platform costs are spread over a larger installed base. Read the complete narrative. Read the complete narrative. Want to see what is baked into that higher fair value for Aurora Innovation? The narrative focuses on rapid revenue expansion, margin lift and a rich future earnings multiple. Curious which assumptions really move the needle in that calculation? The full
Jul 5, 2026 · via simplywall.st
A civilian drone that has deviated from its route or is in an emergency zone can be forced to land with a single secure command. For this purpose, Russia is developing a special "red button" connected to the state system "ERA-GLONASS". The technology has already been tested in Sakhalin, and by 2026, the system for notifying drone operators is planned to be ready. The mechanism was developed by JSC "GLONASS" and the "Element" group of companies. It can be connected to any civilian drone. Inside the tracker, there is a software and hardware complex "Zvezda", created by the Research Institute of Molecular Electronics. The electronic module operates on a domestic microchip, developed at NIIME and manufactured at the "Mikron" factory. If the drone goes beyond the permitted flight boundaries or an emergency occurs, the controlling authorities will be able to transmit a command for a safe landing via "ERA-GLONASS". It will be received by the chip built into the tracker. The transmission will be cryptographically protected, so outsiders will not be able to intercept, change, or substitute the signal. All violations will be stored on a special platform. In the future, this data can be taken into account when issuing permits for new flights. The higher the risk of an incident and the more severe the possible consequences, the stricter the checks and route approval may be. The system is needed not only for emergency landing. The electronic identifier allows for precise identification of a specific aircraft, verification of flight legality, transmission of its coordinates and current status, and secure data exchange with state infrastructure. Previously, foreign devices and programs were often used for remote identification, telemetry, and flight control. In the future, the "red button" is planned to be used not only in the air. The technology is planned
Jul 5, 2026 · via www1.ru
India’s military strength relies heavily on its ability to move critical assets across some of the most unforgiving terrains in the world. At the heart of this logistical and strategic power is a vehicle that has quietly served the armed forces for decades: the High Mobility Truck manufactured by BEML Limited. A Strategic Partnership The story of India's robust military mobility began in 1986 when BEML joined forces with Tatra to bring heavy-duty, all-terrain truck technology to the country.This early collaboration was a game-changer, setting the stage for a long-term strategy to equip the Indian armed forces with vehicles capable of carrying heavy payloads across deserts, plains, and high-altitude mountain passes. By 1987, BEML had started rolling out these High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) for the Ministry of Defence. Because of their exceptional reliability and ruggedness, they quickly became the platform of choice for critical agencies like the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BrahMos Aerospace. Today, BEML serves as the principal manufacturer responsible for delivering all variations of these heavy-duty trucks to India's defence sector. The Muscle Behind India's Missiles While BEML's original timeline highlights the trucks' role in weapon deployment, open-source records reveal just how crucial they are to India's frontline combat readiness.BEML’s heavy-duty chassis are the literal foundation for some of the country's most formidable weapon systems: - BrahMos Cruise Missiles: The trucks serve as the Mobile Autonomous Launchers for the supersonic BrahMos, allowing the military to quickly position and fire the missiles from almost anywhere. - Pinaka Rocket System: India's homegrown Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers are mounted on the BEML 8x8 trucks, enabling the rapid deployment of devastating artillery fire. - Heavy Duty Variants: BEML produces massive 10x10 and 12x12 variants capable of hauling payloads up to 33,000 kg. These are essential for transporting massive strategic
Jul 4, 2026 · via defence.in
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Autonomous mobility:From Apolong Buses To Driverless Trucks
#OnThisDay: On July 4, 2018, Baidu announced mass production of Apolong, the world’s first SAE Level 4 autonomous minibus, as the 100th unit rolled off King Long’s production line in Xiamen, Fujian province. #MIG
Jul 4, 2026 · via mediaindia.eu
Allison Transmission (ALSN) Market Price (7/4/2026): $115.485 | Market Cap: $9.6 BilSector: Consumer Discretionary | Industry: Automotive Parts & Equipment Allison Transmission (ALSN) Market Price (7/4/2026): $115.485Market Cap: $9.6 BilSector: Consumer DiscretionaryIndustry: Automotive Parts & Equipment Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum. | Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 5.9%, FCF Yield is 6.3% Strong revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 14% Attractive operating marginsOp Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 23% Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 22%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 17% Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 30% Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Future of Freight, and Automation & Robotics. Themes include Autonomous Trucks, Freight Technology, Show more. | Key risksALSN key risks include [1] the accelerated adoption of electric drivetrains threatening its core business, Show more. | | Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 5.9%, FCF Yield is 6.3% | | Strong revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 14% | | Attractive operating marginsOp Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 23% | | Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 22%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales),
Jul 4, 2026 · via trefis.com
Shanghai aims to 'unlock' big ideas of AI City's open approach, policies attract startups, talent and innovation By WANG YING in Shanghai | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2026-04-29 07:39 Overseas expansion Shanghai Westwell Technology is another company situated in Changning that has experienced rapid overseas expansion in the past year. The company received an order placed by the United Kingdom's Hutchison Ports' Port of Felixstowe last September for the second batch of 34 autonomous trucks, which will double its fleet and cement its position as a leader in port automation, according to a Xinhuanet.com report. Felixstowe is one of the busiest container ports in the UK. The first batch of 34 autonomous trucks deployed in 2025 has been operating at the port's Trinity Terminal alongside conventional trucks, marking Europe's first successful use of autonomous trucks in mixed-traffic operation, the report said. "As customers focus more on the effectiveness of application in global logistics scenarios, including ports and airports, our unmanned vehicles have seen a clear increase in repurchase rates," said Tan Limin, chairman of Shanghai Westwell Technology, a logistics solutions provider specializing in AI and autopilot technology. With more Chinese companies going global, the competition is shifting to gaining advantages in innovation, research and development, service quality, and supply chain enhancement, added Tan. Both Black Lake Technologies and Shanghai Westwell Technology are among nearly 900 innovative enterprises in Silicon Alley's 1.48-square-kilometer core area. Three science and technology innovation platforms were officially unveiled on April 17 in Changning, tasked with facilitating the area's transformation into a "global urban district" featuring borderless science and technology innovation integration. The vehicles to drive innovation — including Digisilicon, an industrial incubation ecosystem platform that integrates AI agents and embodied intelligence, and the East Hongqiao International Youth Sci-tech Center — are expected to further support the
Jul 3, 2026 · via global.chinadaily.com.cn
Windrose Electric is seeking a U.S. public listing as the electric truck startup looks to expand its presence in the heavy-duty freight market and compete with established manufacturers bringing battery-electric Class 8 trucks to fleets. The company is aiming to raise more than $200 million through a U.S. special purpose acquisition company deal by the end of the year, according to recent reporting. The transaction would value Windrose at more than $2 billion as the company works to scale production and customer deliveries in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. Windrose was founded in 2022 and is headquartered in Belgium, with much of its workforce in China. The company has begun exporting heavy-duty electric trucks to the U.S. and has positioned its Global E700 as a long-haul electric truck option for commercial freight operators. The Global E700 is reported to have a 416-mile range and a price of $285,000. Windrose says the truck is designed for commercial freight use and lists a loaded range of 700 kilometers, or about 435 miles, on its website. Windrose faces several hurdles as it expands in the U.S., including tariffs on imported vehicles and components, a limited deployment track record, and a competitive field that includes Tesla, Daimler Truck, Volvo Trucks, Peterbilt, and other established truck makers. The company reportedly paid a 64% duty on its first China-made electric truck imported into the U.S., while also facing additional tariffs on Chinese components. Windrose has deployed 36 trucks globally and plans to produce 1,000 units for delivery across four regions by the end of the year, according to recent reporting. Earlier this year, the first U.S.-bound Global E700 was delivered to Texas logistics firm Allogic and charging partner Greenspace E-Mobility through Windrose’s American partner.
Jul 3, 2026 · via act-news.com
Caterpillar Inc. Pioneer in autonomous mining trucks and fleet management systems According to the latest IndexBox report on the global Automated Mining Equipment market, the market enters 2026 with broader demand fundamentals, more disciplined procurement behavior, and a more regionally diversified supply architecture. The world automated mining equipment market is entering a structural growth phase, with demand projected to expand at a compound annual rate of 8-12% between 2026 and 2035. This expansion is underpinned by persistent labor shortages in major mining jurisdictions, tightening safety regulations, and the operational imperative to optimize throughput at both surface and underground operations. In 2025, hardware—including autonomous haul trucks, robotic drills, and automated loaders—accounted for roughly 55-60% of total procurement value, while software (fleet management, autonomy control, simulation) and aftermarket services together represented 40-45% and are expanding at a faster pace. A notable trend is the rapid growth of retrofit and partial-automation packages, which are growing at 10-14% annually as mine operators upgrade existing fleets rather than purchasing entirely new autonomous vehicles. Electrification is increasingly bundled with automation: approximately 25-30% of new automated haul trucks ordered in 2025 included a battery-electric or trolley-assist powertrain, up from below 10% in 2020. Mine-to-port integration contracts are also rising, with system integrators offering end-to-end solutions covering drilling, loading, hauling, crushing, and dispatch, compressing vendor counts and raising average deal values into the $20-50 million range for greenfield projects. Import dependence remains high for mining regions lacking domestic capital equipment manufacturing: Australia, Chile, Peru, and Southern Africa source an estimated 70-80% of automated mining machinery from North America, Europe, and China, exposing buyers to currency fluctuations and logistics lead times of 6-12 months for custom-configured units. Key challenges include a shortage of qualified autom The baseline scenario for the world automated mining equipment market points to sustained growth
Jul 3, 2026 · via indexbox.io
FedEx sells supply chain unit to CMA CGM for $1.4B, nearly tripling CEVA's North American footprint FedEx is selling its contract logistics division to CMA CGM for $1.4 billion. This transaction is part of FedEx's strategy to hone its core strengths in parcel and freight delivery. The acquisition will significantly enhance CEVA Logistics' footprint in North America. This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Transportation teams put it to work with Partner & Channel Enablement. Key facts, context, and what it means, in one minute. Key takeaways FedEx sells its supply chain unit for $1.4 billion. CMA CGM aims to expand CEVA Logistics' presence in North America. The deal aligns with FedEx's focus on parcel and freight delivery. FedEx has agreed to sell its contract logistics division to CMA CGM for $1.4 billion in enterprise value, the companies announced Wednesday, marking the second major divestiture by the Memphis-based carrier in as many months. The deal, which is expected to close before the end of 2026, would nearly triple the North American contract logistics operations of CEVA Logistics, the third-party logistics subsidiary CMA CGM has been building into a global provider, according to FreightWaves. The combined entity would run roughly 150 warehouses across a workforce of about 20,000 people at more than 240 locations, per the official announcement. A calculated narrowing of FedEx's portfolio FedEx Supply Chain, which was formed through FedEx's 2015 acquisition of Genco Logistics, employs roughly 10,000 people across 80 facilities and manages around 34 million square feet of space for 130 customers, according to FreightWaves. Services span warehousing, fulfillment, contract packaging, returns processing, test and repair, and product liquidation. Despite that scope, the unit accounts for less than 2% of FedEx's consolidated annual revenue. The sale follows FedEx's spin-off of FedEx Freight, its less-than-truckload business, which
Jul 3, 2026 · via marketscale.com
On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act. It authorized the creation of a network that today carries nearly 25% of U.S. automotive traffic and moves trillions of dollars of freight annually. Quarterhill Inc. is among the companies now working to digitize that transport infrastructure. Seventy years after the 41,000-mi. (65,983.1 km) interstate network was launched, 72.2 million Americans will travel around Independence Day this week, according to AAA. Concerns include aging roads and bridges, securing and managing freight, and improving safety as fleets of autonomous vehicles (AVs) grow. Founded in 1992 as a wireless technology company, Quarterhill said it is a leader in the intelligent transportation system (ITS) industry, advancing mobility through smart infrastructure systems to reduce congestion, improve roadway safety, and create more sustainable travel. The Toronto-based company said its AI platforms process billions of transactions, perform inspections on millions of commercial vehicles, and enable transportation agencies worldwide to optimize travel in thousands of lanes of traffic. Tyler Haichert, director of ITS product at Quarterhill, replied to the following questions from The Robot Report: How are fleets of autonomous trucks and other vehicles spreading across the U.S., and how does that compare with other nations? Haichert: The U.S. is becoming one of the most active environments for autonomous freight, in large part because companies have been able to test and deploy the technology in defined commercial corridors while policymakers continue developing the regulatory framework. That has helped accelerate real-world testing and commercial deployment. Companies such as Kodiak and Aurora are already running commercial corridors, and that’s the result of an ecosystem that allowed technology to prove itself before enforcing rules that might have constrained it. Other regions, including parts of Europe, have taken a “regulate first, deploy second” approach. There’s logic to that
Jul 3, 2026 · via therobotreport.com
China has offered a rare glimpse into the future of drone launches, dropping a video demonstration of its truck-mounted electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
Video released by the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) shows three eight-wheeled flatbed trucks linking together on an airbase runway to form a segmented EMALS.
Once joined through mechanical connectors, the vehicles create a continuous launch rail that propels a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into the air within seconds.
Read the full story on NextGen Defense: China Debuts Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System
Jul 3, 2026 · via thedefensepost.com
Asia PacificTechnology
China Debuts Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System
China has offered a rare glimpse into the future of drone launches, dropping a video demonstration of its truck-mounted electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
Video released by the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) shows three eight-wheeled flatbed trucks linking together on an airbase runway to form a segmented EMALS.
Once joined through mechanical connectors, the vehicles create a continuous launch rail that propels a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into the air within seconds.
Read the full story on NextGen Defense: China Debuts Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System
Jul 3, 2026 · via thedefensepost.com
From：Internet Info Agency 2026-07-03 19:36:09 On July 3, JD Logistics, in collaboration with Sinotruk and Inceptio Technology, launched the express delivery industry’s first L4 autonomous heavy-duty truck pilot program for freight transport within Beijing’s High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone. The initial fleet departed from JD Logistics’ Wei Yong Consolidation and Sorting Center in Beijing, traveling a one-way distance of 31 kilometers to the Xingmao Bulk Cargo Sorting Center. The route traversed the Daxing Airport Expressway and the southern section of the 6th Ring Road, with a total vehicle-trailer weight of 43 tons—meeting real-world full-load standards. These trucks are equipped with Inceptio Technology’s fully in-house developed L4 autonomous driving system, which integrates LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, and multi-camera vision perception to handle typical highway scenarios such as mainline cruising and on/off-ramp merging. The system employs a three-tier safety mechanism comprising onboard autonomous decision-making, real-time cloud monitoring, and remote emergency intervention, with a safety driver present in the cab. JD Logistics has previously deployed its sixth-generation “Lone Wolf” autonomous delivery vehicles for regular operations across multiple regions nationwide, introduced its self-developed VAN autonomous light-duty trucks, and launched over 100 domestic routes for its “Flying Wolf” delivery drones. In 2023, JD Logistics announced plans to procure 3 million robots, 1 million autonomous vehicles, and 100,000 drones over the next five years. This latest deployment of L4 autonomous heavy-duty trucks marks a significant expansion of JD Logistics’ unmanned capabilities—from last-mile delivery and regional feeder transport into long-haul trunk line transportation. XPeng MONA L03 Launches: $20K SUV with 1500 TOPS and Gen-2 VLA Autonomous Driving Volkswagen ID. Tiguan EV Spy Shots Emerge, Set to Replace ID.4 Horse Power and Hofer Co-Develop Supercar-Grade 8-Speed DCT Transmission Zeekr 9X Five-Seater Launches Pre-Sales on July 8, Deliveries Surpass 60,000 Malaysia Imposes Minimum Price and Power Requirements for Imported EVs
Jul 3, 2026 · via english.news18a.com