April 23, 2026 01:20 PM EDT Featured Stories How to protect your dealership from AI website cloning scams before they damage your reputation Fraudsters create fake dealership websites using AI to scam consumers out of tens of thousands of dollars. Fraudsters create fake dealership websites using AI to scam consumers out of tens of thousands of dollars.
An automated parking garage coming to downtown Raleigh could be a "catalyst" for furthering conversations for driverless cars in the city, says Mayor Janet Cowell. The city has approved the permitting for a 228-space automated parking deck that will be part of the greater Gateway Corridor project, located at 130 Kindley Street. Other WRAL Top Stories Christopher Alan, CEO of AUTOParkit, previously told WRAL the technology for the kiosk-like system can accommodate all car types, including driverless vehicles. He told WRAL this April while the company currently does not have a project in the United States that houses autonomous vehicles, there have been active discussions to make that a reality. "We would like to," Alan said. "We've had talks on the perimeter, and hopefully those will move forward, but multiple facilities that are capable." When asked for comment for the initial story earlier this April, Mayor Cowell responded, acknowledging the city has previously engaged in "very high-level introductory conversations" about it. "It’s been a while - more than a year - but, the City has engaged in very high-level introductory conversations with driverless car companies," she wrote. About the AUTOParkit deck specifically: "A project like the Kindley Street project could certainly be a catalyst to furthering conversations in Raleigh." Mayor Cowell also told WRAL that many of the city's major roads, being state-owned and maintained, would need to be involved in potential planning. WRAL sought comment from NCDOT, to which a spokesperson said while autonomous vehicle testing is rising in North Carolina, there have not been any new inquiries from other companies to locate to Raleigh since Waymo's deployment to Charlotte: Over the years, NCDOT has spoken with several companies about self-driving technologies. We are encouraging self-driving technology and are eager to discuss it with any interested companies. We recognize
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After over a decade of promising that fully autonomous driving is right around the corner, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has yet to bring his ambitious vision to fruition. In early 2019, Tesla started installing a system called Hardware 3 (HW3) in its cars, which according to Musk would enable what the company continues to misleadingly refer to as “Full Self-Driving” (FSD). (As it currently exists, the feature still requires owners to be ready to take over the wheel at any point.) Over the next four years, Tesla sold millions of vehicles with the hardware, only for Musk to finally admit in January 2025 that HW3 actually wasn’t good enough after all, and that a retrofit would be required to enable fully autonomous driving. The news came to the dismay of countless owners who shelled out thousands of additional dollars to access FSD, and who claim Musk had lied to them all these years, triggering numerous class action lawsuits. During Wednesday’s earnings call, the mercurial CEO put it as bluntly as ever. “Unfortunately, Hardware 3 — I wish it were otherwise — but Hardware 3 simply does not have the capability to achieve unsupervised FSD,” he said, saying that its “memory bandwidth” is the “chokepoint.” Tesla introduced a confusingly-named version of the software, called “FSD (Supervised)” in April 2024, while an “unsupervised” version would seemingly refer to actual, autonomous driving. Despite Musk first making the concession well over a year ago, Tesla has yet to make good on its promise of providing millions of owners with the necessary hardware upgrade — a process that will be long and painful. Musk explained during this week’s call that Tesla is now looking into constructing “microfactories” in cities to retrofit HW3 vehicles with a new computer and camera system. “I do think over time
I feel safer in a Waymo than an Uber. Am I wrong? Tell us here. | Opinion Would you ride in a Waymo? Is an AI-powered rideshare service safer than a human-driven one? Take our poll on autonomous vehicles below. One of the first times I rode in a Waymo, we got stuck in an accident. To be clear: It wasn’t our accident. A vehicle collision had taken over a major intersection in the middle of our route. It was one of those crashes that blocked traffic just enough to be an inconvenience, to require a quick-thinking, crafty driver – a human, if you would – to figure out a workaround. Waymo, as you may know, is an autonomous rideshare company. No one is in the driver’s seat. (And don’t even think about touching the steering wheel.) I sat there, helpless, as drivers around us maneuvered into our lane, figuring out long before our artificially intelligent pilot that to make a right-hand turn, you now had to go through a gas station parking lot. Simple! Smart! Not for Waymo. Waymo is coming to a city near you. Would you ride in one? Fortunately, after a series of increasingly embarrassing and jerky start-stops, tiny turns and “rerouting … rerouting …” confusion, the little white car finally figured it out. That was years ago, right around the time these robotaxis became ubiquitous in Phoenix. Since then, I’ve experienced a series of mishaps from the ridiculous (like most American drivers, they struggle with roundabouts) to the dangerous (literally being dropped on the side of the road – a major thoroughfare during rush hour). I’ve witnessed Waymo blockades like the recent one in downtown Nashville. I’ve even encountered an errant pair of underwear on the floor of the backseat. (Before you get any ideas,
The autonomous vehicle company Waymo announced a partnership with a navigation app to detect potholes using its operating cars in a pilot program, according to an April 9 news release. Waze, a satellite mapping software, partnered with Waymo to provide up-to-date information about potholes in cities where the autonomous car company operates, including Austin, according to the news release. Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, owns both companies. The gathered data will be available to the city and state Departments of Transportation, as well as Waze app users. “We want to build on the safety benefits of our service by partnering with organizations and city officials to help improve the infrastructure we all depend on,” Ariella Fleisher, the policy development and research manager for Waymo, wrote in the news release. “Waymo’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver; we’re also committed to becoming a trusted partner to the cities we serve.” Waymo vehicles have been available to Austin residents through the Uber app since early 2025, according to a company news release. Waymo’s service currently spans from North Austin to South Austin, encompassing the Domain and the University campus. “We have long desired increased data sharing from AV companies as they expand operations and gather data throughout the transportation network, and this pilot is a positive step to more collaboration between AV companies and local government,” Brad Cesak, a senior public information specialist for Austin Transportation and Public Works, wrote in an email. Austin has 8,000 lane miles of streets, according to the city of Austin’s website. Cesak wrote that the data received from this program could help determine where the city should dedicate its efforts to maintain and improve street quality. “City staff have received the first batch of data, and we are validating the accuracy
Updated: 1 hour ago |A Las Vegas Metro Police officer and a paramedic were hit by a suspected DUI driver Wednesday night, officials say. Updated: 1 hour ago |Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley delivered this year’s State of the City address Wednesday. Updated: 1 hour ago |MGM Grand announced its buffet will close at the end of May, ending a 30-year run at the resort. Updated: 1 hour ago |School district police arrest CCSD employee following February investigation at Schofield Middle School. Updated: 1 hour ago The Venetian Resort Las Vegas will host two limited runs of hit Broadway musicals this summer. Updated: 1 hour ago |The Country Music Awards announced Shania Twain will host the event for the first time.
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today unveiled the 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards. Despite the end of EV incentives, consumers’ interest in hybrids and electrified vehicles has been steadily increasing, particularly given the soaring price of gas. The 2026 awards include 15 newly expanded categories, recognizing 19 winners chosen for their mix of quality, efficiency and value. “Customers feel stretched every time they fill up at the pump, and there are more electric and hybrid options than ever. The 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards are designed to help consumers make informed choices and save money with vehicles they’ll like,” said Tony Markovich, U.S. News senior editor, Autos. “This year’s awards categories were expanded to better suit a broader set of buyers’ needs, and the winners stand out as leaders in sustainability, sophistication and value.” There are now enough electrified choices that meet award criteria to break our existing categories out by size, with the aim of helping consumers find an efficient vehicle that meets all of their needs. While a small hybrid car might be the most efficient, it won’t fit everyone’s life. There are now subcompact, compact and midsize hybrid SUVs, and multiple size categories of EVs and luxury models. In addition, as families increasingly turn toward environmentally friendly driving options and look to save money on fuel, the 2026 awards introduce the Best Hybrid Minivan class. Hyundai and Kia lead the industry in 2026, earning three awards each. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and Hyundai Ioniq 5 each earned their third consecutive titles, leading the breakout Best Compact Hybrid SUV and Best Compact Electric SUV categories, respectively, while the Hyundai Ioniq 9 secured top honors in the Midsize Electric SUV breakout
Waymo glitch sparks push for stronger autonomous vehicle regulations PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Eight dizzying loops through a Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport parking lot turned tech entrepreneur Mike Johns from a Waymo passenger into an advocate pushing for consumer protections and transparency in autonomous vehicle technology. Johns found himself trapped in a circling Waymo in December 2024 on his way to Sky Harbor Airport. The vehicle left the rental car area and began looping through a parking lot so many times that Johns worried he might miss his flight. “It’s this feeling like you’re at an amusement park,” Johns said. After eight loops, Waymo customer support resolved the problem. But the video of the incident received millions of views. From passenger to advocate Following the incident, Johns formed Consumer AI Protection Advocates to press for what the group considers responsible AI innovation. During Arizona Tech Week, the group previewed research from Dr. Sharon Bethea on the impact of outlier incidents on public trust. “Adoption is driven by perceived safety rather than actual safety, and perception is shaped by what people see,” said Bethea, a Northeastern Illinois University professor. “Not what the engineers have to say or what the engineers measure.” Bethea said that although the technology is advancing and showing it can outperform humans, people don’t emotionally connect to millions of safe miles. According to Waymo, its vehicles have been involved in 92% fewer serious injury crashes than human drivers over its first 170 million miles. The group wants states to adopt stronger data and transparency policies for autonomous vehicles. Dr. Michelle Traveler, another member of the group and an information technology expert, wants Waymo to make adjustments to the screens inside vehicles that share information with passengers. “We need to build that human-machine interface,” Traveler said. “So when people are
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) has opened registration for companies that commercially operate automated vehicles on Texas roads, marking a major step toward statewide oversight of driverless technology. Under a new law that will take effect May 28, companies that operate automated vehicles for commercial purposes are required to obtain authorization through the Texas Motor Carrier Credentialing System. Privately owned vehicles used for personal driving do not need authorization. Under the Texas DMV authorization process, a commercial automated vehicle must be: Capable of operating in compliance with all applicable Texas traffic and motor vehicle laws. Equipped with a required recording device. Equipped with an automated driving system that complies with applicable federal law. Capable of achieving a minimal risk condition if the automated driving system fails. Be registered and titled in Texas. Have the right insurance or self-insurance. Applicants must also provide the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) with a plan showing how first responders should interact with the vehicle during emergency services. The authorization does not expire, but it can be revoked, suspended, canceled or restricted if the state determines a vehicle is operating in a way that endangers the public. Beginning May 28, concerns about automated vehicles that could result in serious bodily injury can be submitted to the TxDMV Enforcement Division for review. The policy will affect companies operating in Austin, including Waymo, Zoox and Tesla robotaxis. Road safety advocates say the law is a step in the right direction, but not enough. Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said there are currently no federal regulations governing automated vehicles, which can create risks. She pointed to recent incidents involving Waymo vehicles, including reports of cars passing school buses unloading children and blocking emergency vehicles responding to calls.
April 22, 2026 09:18 AM EDT Featured Stories Tesla’s upcoming Roadster will be its only manually driven car long term, Elon Musk says Tesla CEO says automaker's future lineup will be autonomous vehicles of different sizes, with the second-generation Roadster as the sole exception for manual driving.
Senate transportation bill without Waymo highlights dysfunction in House ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota lawmakers are moving forward on a big transportation bill, but the debate over self-driving cars and legislative gridlock is shaping this year’s session. Senate advances transportation bill without House agreement What we know: The Minnesota Senate, led by the DFL majority, passed a transportation bill that includes some Republican-backed ideas. However, the bill does not address autonomous vehicles. Senate Republicans questioned the move, with Sen. Eric Pratt saying, "We should be meeting with the House and having that agreement on what's going to move and it feels like the Senate is going rogue on this one," said Pratt. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said the Senate will continue its work, explaining, "We're going to get the work done for the people of Minnesota. And I hope the other body gets their act together," said Murphy. The Senate’s bill moves forward as lawmakers begin negotiations with the House and Gov. Tim Walz. In the meantime, the Senate plans to keep passing bills. In the bill: It does include a clearer definition of e-bikes. Bicycles with electric motors providing less than 1,500 watts of power are fine for riding on the street without a license. Above that are e-motos and this proposed new law would make sure they get regulated and insured like gasoline-powered motorcycles. The bill also calls for e-bike riders under the age of 18 to wear helmets. And it funds an educational campaign about the laws for e-bikes. The Senate transportation bill also requires driver’s education classes for anyone under the age of 21 who is trying to get a new driver’s license. They’d have to finish classroom studies and behind-the-wheel training. Right now, the same requirements apply to anyone under the age
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April 22, 2026 08:00 PM EDT Featured Stories Tesla’s upcoming Roadster will be its only manually driven car long term, Elon Musk says Tesla CEO says automaker's future lineup will be autonomous vehicles of different sizes, with the second-generation Roadster as the sole exception for manual driving.
April 22, 2026 04:28 PM EDT Featured Stories Jennifer Gilbert to auction personal art collection to raise millions for new Detroit arts foundation The works could bring more than $13 million to the fledgling Lumana Art Foundation. The works could bring more than $13 million to the fledgling Lumana Art Foundation.
Tesla reported its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, disclosing some better-than-expected results but faltering in some key areas. The report failed to significantly buoy Tesla’s stock, which has limped along this year while its CEO, Elon Musk, has tried to sell the company’s new vision of humanoid robots and self-driving robotaxis. Its core car business has struggled in the face of competition from Chinese counterparts and backlash against his close involvement with the Trump administration. “There remains significant effort and hard work to realize our mission of Amazing Abundance,” Tesla said in its report, while claiming that demand for its vehicles was rebounding. Tesla revealed earnings of 41 cents a share on Wednesday after market close, more than the 37 cents per share that Wall Street expected. The company reported a positive free cash flow, but missed market expectations of its revenue with $22.39bn – weaker than the $22.6bn Wall Street estimated. Tesla’s stock rose over 3% immediately following the release of its report, but dropped and erased those gains after Musk announced plans for large capital expenditure this year. In an unusually subdued tone, Musk gave an outline of Tesla’s projects on the company’s earnings call, though he once again proclaiming that its robotics and self-driving products would take over the world. During a question-and-answer period, several investors asked questions about the timing of those goals as Musk tried to reassure them about future growth. “Tesla is working on a lot of large ambitious projects,” Musk answered, concluding some brief remarks. The earnings report comes as Tesla continues to pivot away from its automaker roots and emphasize its bets on AI, autonomous vehicle technology and robotics. Despite Musk’s usual grandiose promises and vows to dominate society’s future, Tesla’s stock has lagged behind mega-cap rivals recently and fallen around 11% so
Tesla narrowly missed Wall Street’s first-quarter revenue and profit expectations as it navigates rising global competition for its electric vehicle business and bets on the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles. Elon Musk’s carmaker, based in Austin, Texas, reported revenue of $22.3 billion for the three months ended March 31, compared with analysts’ average estimate of $22.6 billion, while net income rose by 17 per cent year-on-year to $477 million, compared with forecasts of $876.7 million. Tesla was formerly the world’s biggest electric vehicle maker. However, it lost the title to its Chinese rival BYD at the end of last year, when it reported its second straight annual decline in deliveries. In the first quarter, Tesla deliveries rose by 6.3 per cent year-on-year to 358,023, well below Tesla’s first-quarter peak in 2023, when the company sold 423,000 vehicles. The expiry of a $7,500 federal tax credit in the US at the end of September dealt a blow to electric vehicle demand, stripping away a key incentive for the purchase of an EV. Investors are pinning their hopes around Musk’s focus on artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and robotics. Yet, the traditional car business remains the primary revenue driver for the company. Wall Street expects Tesla to deliver 1.67 million units in 2026, representing an 2.4 per cent increase, according to Visible Alpha data. Tesla’s robotaxi service was launched in June 2025 and began offering robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, in January. It is preparing to expand the service to five other cities in Arizona, Florida and Nevada, Tesla said. The company said it was gearing up to start volume production of its Cybercab, a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals, this year. Excitement around Tesla’s ambitions for AI and robotics helped to push the shares to an all-time high
The North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA) and its partners have successfully tested a fully autonomous terminal tractor at the Port of Tyne. The project, known as P-CAL (Port-Connected and Automated Logistics), was delivered with support from the UK Government’s Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder programme. Working alongside technology firm Oxa and a consortium including Nissan, Newcastle University, ANGOKA, LOGISTEED UK Limited and Womble Bond Dickinson, the NEAA helped design and deploy a system capable of safely transporting containers on a busy quayside. The autonomous vehicle was supported by a secure communications network and integrated with port systems, allowing it to coordinate with crane operations in real time. The project also placed a strong emphasis on cybersecurity to ensure safe and reliable operation. The system was tested in a complex, real-world setting, where factors such as heavy traffic, changing conditions and human interaction pose challenges for autonomous technology. Despite this, the project showed that autonomous movements can be carried out safely in controlled areas. Cybersecurity specialist ANGOKA also played a key role, ensuring the system could operate securely within critical infrastructure, a factor seen as essential for the future of connected logistics. The project’s success is expected to pave the way for larger-scale deployments, with future phases likely to explore multiple autonomous vehicles operating alongside human workers in live commercial environments. Paul Butler, CEO of the NEAA, said: “P-CAL represents a defining moment in the North East’s journey from pilot projects to real‑world autonomous operations. This project has demonstrated not only technical capability, but the strength of collaboration across industry, academia and government. “The learning gained here will shape future CAM deployment and reinforces the region’s position as a national leader in connected and automated mobility.” Graeme Hardie, Operations Director at the Port of Tyne, said: “Delivering autonomous logistics in
Plant City welcomes world’s first autonomous ice microfactory: 'It's cleaner packaging, it's safer' PLANT CITY, Fla. - We're used to hearing a lot about autonomous vehicles, but what about autonomous factories? The backstory: A pilot project just launched in Plant City, bringing ice and innovation to the Bay Area. An ice ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday morning at the Winn-Dixie company's Plant City Distribution Center for the world's first autonomous ice microfactory. It operates just like a traditional factory, except on a much smaller scale and powered by artificial intelligence. "For every traditional or regional centralized factory, you'll have 20 or 30 microfactories in the local community. So, what that means is when you have a hurricane, a part of the network might go down, but people need ice to keep their food fresh, so now you can ship it along," Wayne McIntyre, CEO and co-founder of the tech company Relocalize, said. Dig deeper: Winn-Dixie is partnering with Relocalize, which is producing SE Grocers Party Cubes for all 130 of its Florida stores. It's expensive to ship and energy-intensive, so it's a huge advantage that the ice is produced locally and on demand. What they're saying: Chief of Store Operations Adam Kirk says this process is a lot cleaner, too. Courtesy: St. John "Not just a better product that tastes better; it's cleaner packaging. It's safer," Kirk said. "We're eliminating more plastic than we use in this process, and with the trucking reduction, we have the opportunity to reduce our CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent. That's why it's important right now, because it's sustainability and our environmental impact." It also lasts longer in a glass. "You can certainly get through your old fashioned before the ice melts," said Kirk. Big picture view: The microfactory is the second one
With $24M in seed funding, the company is developing cabless freight platforms to lower costs, improve payload efficiency, and accelerate the shift to zero-emission logistics SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Humble today announced its emergence from stealth with a revolutionary new vehicle: a fully autonomous, cabless, electric hauler designed for cost-efficient freight transportation. The company also revealed it has raised $24 million in seed funding, led by Eclipse with additional participation by Energy Impact Partners and others. The Humble Hauler is an entirely new take on the classic tractor-trailer combo, designed from the ground up with modern technology. This universal platform adapts to different cargo types and logistics environments like warehouses, railyards, and seaports, with the first vehicle built to move shipping containers. By removing the cab, the hauler is significantly lighter than a traditional Class 8 tractor and trailer, enabling a breadth of new logistics use cases. The novel vehicle design allows for 360° coverage of its surroundings with camera, LiDAR, and radar, which allows for true dock-to-dock operation. The hauler is driven by cutting-edge vision-language-action (VLA) models that allow it to reason about the world and take the right action even in scenarios it's never experienced, dramatically improving safety and time to market. The Humble Hauler's electric powertrain protects it from volatile fuel costs and an increased maintenance burden, allowing for freight moves without human intervention, while helping meet sustainability targets. In the U.S. alone, truck-based freight represents a $906 billion industry. Yet in spite of frequent driver shortages and supply chain fragmentation that plague even the most established shippers and logistics providers, autonomous trucking has yet to make meaningful commercial headway. Humble removes the last few obstacles to affordable, efficient AV freight movement, with the first Class 8 solution that can unload directly at the