Monarch Tractor’s assets have been acquired by construction giant Caterpillar, after struggling to pivot to a software services business, according to filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The acquisition, first reported by Bloomberg, caps a few tough years for Monarch as it went through multiple rounds of layoffs, was sued by three different dealers, and lost a major contract manufacturing partner in Foxconn. It also comes just a few weeks after co-founder and wine scion Carlo Mondavi said he was “pushed out” after disagreeing with CEO Praveen Penmetsa’s software-forward approach. Mondavi couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. Penmetsa declined to comment beyond a statement Monarch issued last week, which said its technology had been acquired by an unspecified “large global equipment manufacturer.” Caterpillar didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Monarch raised more than $200 million over the last eight years. It was founded in 2018 by Mondavi, Penmetsa, and former Tesla executive Mark Schwager. The goal was to build “driver optional” electric tractors that were also capable of autonomously navigating wineries, fruit farms, and dairy farms. While Monarch initially set out to build the small tractors at its own facility in Livermore, California, it eventually became one of four companies that partnered up with Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn to occupy a former General Motors factory in Lordstown, Ohio. Foxconn planned to build vehicles for EV startups Fisker, Lordstown Motors, and IndiEV, as well as the tractors for Monarch. But Foxconn only ever made a few electric trucks for Lordstown Motors (which it bought the factory from) before that company went bankrupt. Fisker and IndiEV also went bankrupt before Foxconn could ever make those companies’ future vehicles at the factory. Foxconn did make a few hundred Monarch tractors at the factory, but the electronics giant sold
Apr 16, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Why Is Uber (UBER) Stock Soaring Today Weixin Lin / April 15, 2026 What Happened? Shares of ride sharing and on-demand delivery platform Uber (NYSE:UBER) jumped 6.8% in the afternoon session after the company announced a massive $10 billion investment into autonomous vehicle technology. Uber revealed plans to buy 35,000 self-driving cars through an expanded partnership with Lucid Group. They also teamed up with Volkswagenâs MOIA division to bring driverless vans to Los Angeles by late 2026. These deals showed that Uber was moving quickly to build its own fleet of "robotaxis," which would eventually lower costs by reducing the reliance on human drivers. Is now the time to buy Uber? Access our full analysis report here, itâs free. What Is The Market Telling Us Uberâs shares are not very volatile and have only had 8 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, todayâs move indicates the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business. The previous big move we wrote about was 29 days ago when the stock gained 5.1% on the news that the company announced an expansion of its robotaxi services through new and expanded partnerships with NVIDIA and Amazon's autonomous vehicle division, Zoox. The plan detailed the deployment of a fleet of self-driving robotaxis powered by NVIDIA's technology. The rollout was scheduled to begin in Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2027, with a goal to expand to 28 cities worldwide by 2028. Additionally, a new deal with Amazon's Zoox aimed to bring robotaxis to Las Vegas. This strategy allowed Uber to pursue its autonomous vehicle goals without the high cost of developing its own technology, instead serving as a platform for partners. The positive news followed announcements that Uber
Apr 16, 2026 · via stockstory.org
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Apr 16, 2026 · via youtube.com
The Royal Australian Navy has formally named the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU), marking a key step in Navy’s transition to a more integrated and highly advanced technology‑enabled future force. Australian Defence press release MASU has been created through Project SEA 1200 to accelerate the development, integration and operational employment of maritime autonomous systems, optimised for persistent, long‑range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and strike missions. The unit will operate multiple complementary capabilities, including the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XL-UUV), Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessel (USV) and the Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicle (LUUV). The unit comprises the Uncrewed Systems Control Centre and Deployable Vehicle Team, enabling the deployment and control of autonomous systems from any wharf location anywhere in the world. MASU’s motto, ‘We Wait, We Strike’, reflects the strategic impact of maritime uncrewed systems through multifaceted roles, including extended endurance and kinetic strike effect. Officer in Charge of MASU Commander Chris Forward said it was exciting to see Navy’s newest unit taking shape. “Announcing MASU’s name gives the team a formal sense of identity as we work to rapidly introduce this capability into the Fleet,” Commander Forward said. As part of the Royal Australian Navy’s contribution to AUKUS Pillar Two, MASU will act as the focal point for doctrine development, experimentation, employment, training, and test and evaluation of maritime uncrewed systems. The unit will work closely with Defence industry, research partners and international allies to rapidly deliver emerging capabilities. Commander Submarines Commodore Dan Sutherland said he was pleased to see MASU continue its progress towards full integration into Navy. “MASU will provide Navy with a long-range autonomous undersea capability through uncrewed systems like the Ghost Shark XL-UUV, Bluebottle USV and Speartooth LUUV to provide a range of asymmetric options to complement Defence’s existing crewed force,” Commodore Sutherland said.
Apr 16, 2026 · via navalnews.com
Pony.ai has unveiled PonyWorld 2.0, a major upgrade to its proprietary world model designed to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous driving systems. "PonyWorld 2.0 is an important step toward a more self-improving approach to autonomous driving development," said Dr Tiancheng Lou, founder and CTO of Pony.ai. "As AI systems become more capable, they can play a larger role not only in learning to drive, but also in guiding their own improvement — making L4 development more scalable over time." PonyWorld 2.0 The new system introduces self-diagnosis capabilities, allowing AI models to identify their own weaknesses, guide targeted data collection, and prioritise training on complex driving scenarios. Unlike traditional simulation tools, PonyWorld has evolved into a full reinforcement learning system that supports both cloud-based training and real-world vehicle deployment. According to Pony.ai, improving its "Virtual Driver" now depends on enhancing the accuracy and realism of the world model used to train it. The upgraded platform features a structured intention layer, enabling the system to analyse its decisions, compare outcomes, and generate targeted data collection tasks. Human teams then gather relevant real-world data to refine the model, to create a continuous feedback loop. PonyWorld 2.0 has already been deployed across the company's Level 4 fleet, improving safety, ride comfort, and traffic efficiency. Following successful robotaxi operations in two major Chinese cities, Pony.ai is expanding globally, aiming to deploy over 3,000 vehicles across 20 cities by year's end.
Apr 15, 2026 · via futurecio.tech
This website uses certain cookies, pixels and similar tracking technologies in order enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Certain information collected by that technology may be shared with our third party partners. By continuing to use this website, you agree to the use of these technologies. AP ILLINOIS TEAMSTERS DEMAND LAWMAKERS REJECT ANTI-WORKER WAYMO BILL Big Tech Handout Threatens Workers and Public Safety in Illinois SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Illinois Teamsters and the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation (LAPT) announced a new partnership to stop the Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project Act (IL SB3392/HB5103). The legislation, which is being backed by Big Tech companies like Waymo, would harm middle-class jobs and jeopardize motorist safety by allowing Autonomous Vehicle (AV) companies to unleash untested and dangerous products on Illinois roads within the next three years. "Autonomous vehicles are bad for workers and communities," said Tom Stiede, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25. "That's why elected officials in Springfield need to kill the AV Pilot Project Act." Polling of Illinois voters shows that they overwhelmingly oppose fully driverless cars and trucks operating on the state's roads. "The question for lawmakers is simple: are you going to protect good, family-sustaining jobs, or are you going to replace them with machines?" said Chris Duncan, a Local 727 member and driver for Keurig Dr Pepper. "For working people, this isn't abstract. This fight is for our livelihoods and our families." This is the coalition's second initiative, following last year's success in saving Illinois' public transit system. In recent months, multiple states have cancelled or postponed plans to expand AV legalization, including Minnesota, New York, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 125,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana. For
Apr 15, 2026 · via gazettextra.com
Global brands led by Volkswagen, GM, BMW double down on China bet with locally developed electric vehicles at Beijing auto show
April 15, 2026 09:51 AM EDT
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Tech exec Doug Field to leave Ford as automaker forms product creation team
The goal is to make decisions faster as the automaker prepares to launch a slew of new and updated products in the back half of the decade.
Apr 15, 2026 · via autonews.com
Updated: 4 hours ago
|Tracy and Hunter talk about the actor's diagnosis at 29, what he's done to further research, and who showed out in Nashville to support his foundation.
Updated: 5 hours ago
|A strong and isolated severe thunderstorm will be possible in the afternoon and evening hours.
Updated: 5 hours ago
|Keep your eye to the sky late Saturday.
Updated: 8 hours ago
|The ambulance rolled multiple times and the EMT was thrown to the back of the vehicle.
Updated: 8 hours ago
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Updated: 8 hours ago
|Hollywood and country music are coming together in Nashville to raise money for Parkinson's disease research.
Apr 15, 2026 · via wsmv.com
London-based autonomous vehicle company Wayve has raised $60m from a group of global chipmakers as it continues its rapid global expansion. The money comes from AMD, Arm and Qualcomm Ventures, and extends the $1.2bn Series D Wayve raised in February from the likes of Nvidia, SoftBank and Microsoft. Wayve, which was founded in 2017, develops self-driving software for carmakers and recently signed a deal with ride-hailing giant Uber and Japanese automaker Nissan to develop a fleet of robotaxis. A pilot deployment for that is expected in Tokyo later this year. Alex Kendall, cofounder and CEO of Wayve, said: “For embodied AI to scale, automakers need design choice and supply chain flexibility. “We’re building an AI Driver that works across the full automotive compute ecosystem, from architectures already used in millions of vehicles today to the platforms powering the next generation of automated vehicles.” “Expanding our relationships with leading silicon companies helps bring that into production at a global scale, and we’re delighted to have these partners actively working with us on integration and deployment.” The race to develop and deploy self-driving vehicles around the world has been heating up, with competition from Google's Waymo in the US and Estonian unicorn Bolt, which partnered with Chinese AI startup Pony AI last year to develop its own autonomous fleet. Wayve, which was valued at $8.6bn in its February raise, is also backed by US VC firm Eclipse, Balderton, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Baillie Gifford, the British Business Bank and Schroders Capital. The company is well stocked to take on its competitors. It also raised $1bn from Nvidia, Microsoft and SoftBank in 2024.
Apr 15, 2026 · via sifted.eu
Why Is Lyft (LYFT) Stock Soaring Today Petr HuÅťák / April 15, 2026 What Happened? Shares of ride sharing service Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT) jumped 6.9% in the afternoon session after a wave of positive news in the autonomous vehicle sector lifted ride-hailing stocks. The company's subsidiary, Flexdrive, partnered with Waymo in Nashville to manage and service its newly launched robotaxi fleet. This development came as the broader ride-hailing industry saw a surge in optimism. Competitor Uber Technologies announced a significant commitment of over $10 billion to invest in and acquire autonomous vehicles, aiming to integrate robotaxis into its own platform. Uber's stock also climbed on the news, signaling strong investor confidence in the future of autonomous technology for the sector. This created a positive updraft that benefited Lyft as well. Is now the time to buy Lyft? Access our full analysis report here, itâs free. What Is The Market Telling Us Lyftâs shares are very volatile and have had 22 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, todayâs move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business. The previous big move we wrote about was about 1 month ago when the stock gained 2.9% on the news that the price of oil fell and concerns eased regarding potential supply chain disruptions from the conflict in Iran. A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude dropped 4% to $94.75, alleviating some economic pressure. This, combined with abating fears over a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, helped fuel a broad market rally. The S&P 500 jumped 1.2%, putting it on track for its best day in five weeks, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the tech-heavy Nasdaq also saw significant gains. The positive sentiment was widespread,
Apr 15, 2026 · via stockstory.org
チューリング、経営体制変更のお知らせ
生成AIを活用した完全自動運転技術の開発に取り組むTuring株式会社（東京都品川区、代表取締役：山本一成、以下「チューリング」）は、経営体制の強化を目的に、8月19日付で新たにCTO、CFO、CBOを選任したことをお知らせします。
経営体制変更について
チューリングは、完全自動運転技術の開発に取り組むスタートアップです。カメラから取得したデータのみでステアリング、アクセル、ブレーキなど、運転に必要なすべての判断をAIが行うE2E（End-to-End）の自動運転システムを開発しています。
これまで、言語（テキスト）や視覚（カメラ）など複数種類のデータを用いて高度な判断を行うマルチモーダル生成AI「Heron」、および現実世界の物理法則や物体間の相互作用など複雑な状況を理解し、リアルな運転シーンを動画として生成可能な自動運転向け生成世界モデル「Terra」の開発等を通じて、より高度な自動運転の実現に向けた技術革新を推進してきました。
そしてこのたび、2025年12月までに人間の介入なしで都内を30分間走行可能な自動運転システムを開発するプロジェクト「Tokyo30」の更なる開発加速、およびそれに伴う組織の拡大や資金の調達を背景に、経営体制強化を目的として、新たにCTO、CFO、CBOを選任しました。なお、前CTOの青木俊介は取締役 共同創業者として引き続きチューリングの経営にコミットします。
名前 / 新役職
山口 祐 / CTO (Chief Technology Officer)
盛島 正人 / CFO (Chief Financial Officer)
徳地 佑悟 / CBO (Chief Business Officer)
新任役員プロフィール
山口 祐 / CTO
産業技術総合研究所・米国立標準技術研究所で研究する傍ら、独自に深層学習ゲームAIの開発を始め、日本の囲碁AIプロジェクトで開発代表を務める。最大1,100GPUの分散強化学習を実現し、囲碁AIで世界大会準優勝の他、将棋AIでも世界大会優勝などの実績。HEROZ株式会社 執行役員を経て、2022年チューリングに創業メンバーとして参画。自動運転AIの研究開発の他、LLMを含む生成AI開発全般のマネジメントを担当。東京大学大学院理学系研究科卒。
盛島 正人 / CFO
日本GE、およびGE米国本社を経て、モルガン・スタンレー メンローパークオフィスにてテクノロジー企業のIPO、資金調達、M&Aアドバイザリーに従事。日本に帰国後、One Capital株式会社に参画。投資先であるoVice株式会社のシリーズB 45億円の資金調達を主導し、その後oVice株式会社のCFOに就任。2024年7月、CFOとしてチューリングに参画。ダートマス大学タック経営大学院卒（High Distinction）。
徳地 佑悟 / CBO
バンダイナムコエンターテイメントにて海外向けゲーム機器の企画・販売に従事。その後、単身インド・ムンバイに渡り、和食店”Yugo Sushi”を創業。現地人向けのレストランとして盛況を博し新聞社主催の”The guide Restaurant Award”を受賞。帰国後はブロックチェーンサービスの立ち上げ・事業責任者をMetaps社、メディアドゥ社で務め、2023年3月チューリングに参画。車両開発責任者、事業企画、アライアンスなどを担当。東京外国語大学卒。
チューリングについて
会社名 ：Turing株式会社（読み：チューリング、英語表記：Turing Inc.）
所在地 ：東京都品川区大崎1丁目11−2 ゲートシティ大崎 イーストタワー4階
代表者 ：代表取締役 ⼭本⼀成
設⽴ ：2021年8⽉
事業内容：完全自動運転AIの開発
URL ：https://tur.ing/
採⽤情報
チューリングは、日本発の完全自動運転実現により世界を変える仲間を積極的に募集しています。会社紹介イベントや自動運転体験会も頻繁に実施していますので、お気軽にお問い合わせください。
採⽤ページ：https://tur.ing/jobs
報道機関からのお問い合わせ先
広報担当（阿部）：pr@turing-motors.com
Apr 15, 2026 · via tur.ing
AutoTrust Dealer Alliance is rapidly expanding its footprint across franchised dealerships as operators seek new ways to strengthen purchasing power, reduce costs, and maintain independence amid industry consolidation. Founder and CEO David Mondragon joins us on the latest episode of Driving Solutions to discuss the platforms designed to help dealers “level the playing field” by leveraging collective scale across multiple business functions, including finance and insurance, lending, and general purchasing. Since its appearance at NADA, AutoTrust has grown from 10 dealer rooftops to 125 committed rooftops on its platform. The company also reports that approximately 300 additional dealers are currently under consideration, with more than half of those moving into active participation. Mondragon said the pace of growth reflects strong demand among dealers for alternatives to traditional operating models. The platform is structured as a low-barrier membership model, with dealers able to join for a one-time $100 fee. Members receive a stake in the business while maintaining full ownership and control of their dealerships. AutoTrust emphasizes a partnership approach that avoids requiring operational changes at the store level. Upon joining, dealers retain autonomy in how they run their operations. The company focuses on identifying efficiency opportunities rather than mandating changes, allowing dealers to choose where they participate across its three core platforms. These include finance and insurance programs, lending optimization, and consolidated general purchasing. A key component of the lending strategy centers on consolidating non-OEM financing relationships into a smaller group of preferred partners. The goal is to improve terms, increase lender performance, and enhance dealer returns while preserving OEM relationships and incentives. The company continues to emphasize alignment with manufacturers and maintains that OEM programs remain a priority channel for dealer contracts. Beyond financial services, AutoTrust is building a general purchasing network to aggregate dealer demand across categories such
Apr 15, 2026 · via cbtnews.com
Automotive retail is known for its fast pace and entrepreneurial mindset, but sustaining high performance remains a challenge for many dealerships. Joining us on the latest episode of Training Camp is Danelle Delgado, CEO of The Alpha Group, who shares insights into how leadership habits, cultural challenges, and performance inconsistencies continue to limit dealership growth. According to Delgado, she started in automotive by developing leadership teams, executives, and employees across all departments. Her approach prioritizes human performance as the foundation of business success, emphasizing discipline, accountability, and consistent behavior over reliance on process changes alone. Across the dealerships, she identified recurring challenges that limit growth. She alluded that inconsistent sales and operational behavior continue to impact performance, while emotional decision-making under pressure often leads to avoidable mistakes at the leadership level. Additionally, Delgado addressed the widespread issue of underperformance among otherwise “capable employees,” driven by a lack of structure and accountability. A key area of opportunity, she noted, lies within the middle tier of dealership staff. While top performers often deliver results, many organizations tolerate average performance, rather than raising standards and improving consistency among mid-level employees, she said, which could significantly improve overall dealership outcomes. “There is never a boring day in automotive… for now, I really found my niche in auto by building the humans that run everything…Humans outperform any market.” To address these challenges, Delgado has implemented strategies focused on aligning dealership operations under a unified communication framework. For instance, she notes that departments such as sales, service, parts, and administration often operate independently, with differing processes and expectations. Creating a shared language and consistent standards across the organization helps improve coordination and execution. However, his type of transformation, she notes, requires sustained effort. While early improvements can emerge within the first few months, building a fully
Apr 15, 2026 · via cbtnews.com
Nashville videos show Waymo vehicle mishaps. What drivers should know Autonomous vehicles from Waymo and Tesla have recently been under scrutiny due to mishaps and safety concerns as users and bystanders record odd driving behaviors from the self-driving vehicles. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. is a public commercial robotaxi company that offers driver-less rideshare services. The autonomous vehicle rideshare company operates in over 10 American cities including one of its most recent additions: Nashville, as of April 7. Here's what Tennesseans need to know about Waymo autonomous vehicles and why some have concerns regarding the innovative technology. Waymo autonomous vehicles already glitching after Nashville launch Citizens have taken to social media and YouTube to post videos of abnormal driving behavior from Waymo autonomous vehicles. In the video above, a Waymo autonomous vehicle drives into a construction zone and is chased down by a construction worker. The vehicle allegedly damaged fresh asphalt after ignoring signage and driving norms that human drivers can easily abide. Another TikTok video showed a Waymo in Nashville struggling to deal with road construction. There are several videos of Waymo vehicles blocking intersections and holding up traffic posted by drivers. Waymo maps new areas "with incredible detail, from lane markers to stop signs to curbs and crosswalks" according to the company website. Waymos also use artificial intelligence and real-time sensor data to make driving decisions. Since Waymo vehicles have been seen struggling to navigate around construction sites in Nashville, it's clear that the technology is still fallible despite its progress in recent years. Are Waymo autonomous vehicles safe? Waymo has covered millions of cumulative miles between its many rides in big cities. It's generally considered safe to use, but the autonomous vehicles haven't been completely free of occasional mishaps that cause safety concerns.
Apr 15, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
ADELPHI, Md. – Army partnerships with university researchers can unlock academia’s potential for supporting America’s industrial growth and warfighter readiness. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory is positioned as the scientific nexus between academia, industry and the Army. ARL harnesses the expertise of Army researchers and the creative energy of enterprising external partners to inspire the creation of new technologies. As an example, autonomy researcher Dr. Byron Boots began his partnership with ARL while he was an assistant professor before he transformed his research on self-driving robotic vehicles into a tech startup called Overland AI. Boots collaborated with ARL for years on fundamental research relevant to the Army’s biggest challenges in autonomous navigation in rugged and unpredictable terrains. In 2022, Boots co-founded Overland AI, a university spinoff dedicated to developing ground autonomy solutions and other robotic capabilities for defense. Three years later, his company showcased its latest technology as part of Project Convergence Capstone 5, the Army’s premier technology experimentation event. “We approached Byron in 2018 at an IEEE conference where he was showcasing his machine learning research on small radio-controlled cars,” said Dr. Ethan Stump, ARL autonomy scientist. “We saw how relevant his work could be for Army off-road autonomy, so we invited him to work with us to apply his research on military unmanned ground vehicles, and he agreed.” This example showcases how academia and industry, and especially small businesses, can benefit from conducting fundamental research with ARL to help transition Army-relevant research into commercial ventures. For years, ARL worked closely with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to spearhead the advancement of off-road autonomous driving research in industry and academia. Boots was one of the many university researchers to whom ARL introduced a range of terrain scenarios that
Apr 15, 2026 · via army.mil
SAN ANTONIO – They naturally capture attention as they cruise along San Antonio streets, cars with no one behind the wheel. Several Waymo fully autonomous vehicles, lately, however, have been the focus of videos posted online for losing their way. In one instance in March, a parent captured images of one of the vehicles heading the wrong way in an Alamo Heights school zone. In another case, a stalled Waymo vehicle had been heading in the wrong direction at a fast-food restaurant’s drive-through just north of downtown. The autonomous cars’ parent company emailed KSAT 12 News following those incidents, saying its vehicles were essentially safer than human drivers. The statement said Waymo cars travel more than four million miles each week and have “13 times fewer serious injury crashes, six times fewer crashes with airbag deployment, and 13 times fewer crashes with injuries to pedestrians.” In an effort to put the theory to the test, KSAT 12 News took a ride to and from San Antonio International Airport with a local driving expert to grade the driverless cars’ driving skills. “As the car is moving, what I want to see is how it’s changing lanes and if it’s doing the proper signaling,” said Marc Alonso, owner of Ayala & Associates Driving School and a certified administrator of state driving tests. After entering the car, Alonso was immediately impressed by the technology, including screens that show the car’s movement and the traffic around it in real time. He also pointed out safety features, such as a voice reminding passengers to buckle up. Once the car hit the road, his reaction became more mixed. Alonso noticed that the vehicle took a lengthy route to the airport from downtown that seemed to intentionally avoid highways and railroad tracks. “It’s moving into a turning
Apr 14, 2026 · via ksat.com
SPRINGFIELD — A coalition of unions representing workers from bus drivers to construction workers converged on the statehouse Tuesday to lobby against legislation that would create pilot programs for driverless vehicles in Chicago and other parts of Illinois, calling the legislative effort the start of “a major domino effect against the middle class.” The coalition, which includes the Teamsters, Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor, raised concerns about the bill, saying they fear it could jeopardize public safety and the jobs of some or all of its hundreds of thousands of workers with problematic technology. Sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Kam Buckner of Chicago and Republican state Rep. Jeff Keicher of Sycamore, the legislation would authorize autonomous vehicle pilot programs in a handful of Illinois counties, including Cook, before opening the door to statewide legalization of self-driving cars three years later. It is among several high-profile measures taken up by lawmakers this spring that respond to technological innovation during the advent of artificial intelligence. The bill hasn’t gained any traction, however, remaining stuck in the House Rules Committee, which means it’s unclear whether it’s going to advance through the legislative process anytime soon. Other bills that would regulate these pilot programs also remain in limbo. The debate comes as Waymo, the self-driving car company already operating fully autonomous robo-taxi services in cities in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and other U.S. cities, has been pushing to expand into Illinois. Company representatives have said Waymo “strongly supports” the Buckner-Keicher legislation. Dozens of union members or advocates held signs, some of which read “AI DOESN’T VOTE. WE DO,” before a news conference urging lawmakers to take a pause on the legislation. “Putting an autonomous vehicle in any form takes away a job. You keep eliminating jobs, who’s going to buy
Apr 14, 2026 · via chicagotribune.com
On the Dash: - Tesla continues to use software updates to drive recurring revenue, particularly through simplified FSD subscription access and usage tracking. - Hardware dependency is increasing, creating a clearer distinction between legacy and new-vehicle capabilities. - Incremental software updates remain central to Tesla’s ownership experience, reinforcing long-term customer engagement. Tesla has begun rolling out its Spring 2026 software update, introducing a range of new features aimed at expanding in-car AI functionality, improving safety systems and increasing adoption of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscription. The update includes a redesigned self-driving app, hands-free voice activation through “Hey Grok,” and automatic overnight software installation, reflecting Tesla’s continued push to differentiate through software capabilities. A central feature is the new self-driving app, which allows eligible owners with newer AI4 hardware to subscribe to FSD with a single tap and monitor usage through built-in performance tracking and daily engagement metrics. Tesla also expanded its in-car AI assistant, enabling drivers to activate Grok with a wake phrase and set location-based reminders. However, the assistant still lacks deeper vehicle control integration, limiting its functionality compared to some competitors. Notably, safety and convenience updates include enhanced blind-spot alerts using interior lighting, extended dashcam storage up to 24 hours, and improved weather mapping. Vehicles can now automatically install updates overnight, eliminating the need for manual approval. Additional features include: - Upgraded vehicle visualization - Multi-trip energy tracking - Customizable Pet Mode displays - Expanded in-car entertainment and personalization options. While the update introduces incremental improvements, many features are limited to newer hardware, reinforcing a growing divide between Tesla’s latest vehicles and older models.
Apr 14, 2026 · via cbtnews.com
Lucid Motors has finally found a new CEO in long-time industrial executive Silvio Napoli, marking the end of a more than year-long search following the sudden resignation of its former chief, Peter Rawlinson. The company on Tuesday said that Napoli, who has spent the last few decades in various leadership positions at elevator and escalator company Schindler Group, will also join its board of directors. Alongside the CEO appointment, Lucid said it has received another $200 million commitment from Uber, which has agreed to buy an additional 25,000 robotaxi-ready versions of Lucid’s upcoming mid-size vehicle. That brings Uber’s total committed investments in Lucid Motors to $500 million, and its minimum vehicle order to 35,000. Finally, Lucid’s majority owner, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, is purchasing another $550 million of its shares. The announcements come during an all-important year for Lucid Motors. The company is currently trying to ramp up production and sales of its second model, the Gravity SUV, after struggling to find a large market for its Air sedan. Lucid is also planning on releasing the first of three vehicles built on its mid-sized platform, which will allow it to target buyers looking to spend around $50,000 on a new car. The company has taken tough measures to ensure it gets that vehicle into production. In February, it decided to lay off 12% of its workforce, TechCrunch reported. On Tuesday, Lucid Motors said in a regulatory filing that it has recently “reduced contractor headcount” at its Arizona factory “to improve cost efficiency.” Lucid Motors has been without a permanent CEO since February 2025, when long-time leader Rawlinson suddenly left the company. Its chief operating officer, Marc Winterhoff, has served as interim CEO since, and had designs on taking over the CEO role, as TechCrunch previously reported, while the
Apr 14, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
ADELPHI, Md. – Army partnerships with university researchers can unlock academia’s potential for supporting America’s industrial growth and warfighter readiness. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory is positioned as the scientific nexus between academia, industry and the Army. ARL harnesses the expertise of Army researchers and the creative energy of enterprising external partners to inspire the creation of new technologies. As an example, autonomy researcher Dr. Byron Boots began his partnership with ARL while he was an assistant professor before he transformed his research on self-driving robotic vehicles into a tech startup called Overland AI. Boots collaborated with ARL for years on fundamental research relevant to the Army’s biggest challenges in autonomous navigation in rugged and unpredictable terrains. In 2022, Boots co-founded Overland AI, a university spinoff dedicated to developing ground autonomy solutions and other robotic capabilities for defense. Three years later, his company showcased its latest technology as part of Project Convergence Capstone 5, the Army’s premier technology experimentation event. “We approached Byron in 2018 at an IEEE conference where he was showcasing his machine learning research on small radio-controlled cars,” said Dr. Ethan Stump, ARL autonomy scientist. “We saw how relevant his work could be for Army off-road autonomy, so we invited him to work with us to apply his research on military unmanned ground vehicles, and he agreed.” This example showcases how academia and industry, and especially small businesses, can benefit from conducting fundamental research with ARL to help transition Army-relevant research into commercial ventures. For years, ARL worked closely with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to spearhead the advancement of off-road autonomous driving research in industry and academia. Boots was one of the many university researchers to whom ARL introduced a range of terrain scenarios that
Apr 14, 2026 · via army.mil