A Quebec man faces nearly 30 charges after police allege he stole more than a dozen vehicles in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, some of which he placed tracking devices on prior to the thefts. Halton Regional Police say they began an investigation in April after receiving a report of an attempted vehicle theft in Oakville. A resident had discovered an AccuTag tracking device attached to their vehicle, police said. Investigators allege the suspect placed tracking devices on multiple vehicles before they were stolen. Police say they executed several search warrants in connection with the investigation and linked 14 stolen Toyota and Lexus vehicles to the suspect. The vehicles were reported stolen between March and August, police said. As part of the investigation, police have released video footage that they say shows the suspect appearing to place a tracking device underneath a vehicle parked at Sherway Gardens. In the footage, the suspect pulls up alongside the vehicle in another vehicle and within seconds is gone. On Aug. 18, police arrested 25-year-old Darryl Davance of Saint-Jérôme, Que. He is charged with 29 offences, including 14 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, 14 counts of failing to comply with a release order and one count of mischief over $5,000. The charges have not been tested in court. Police allege Davance was on release for similar offences at the time of his arrest. The investigation is ongoing and police say the suspect may be connected to several additional vehicle thefts in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Halton police said vehicle thieves are known to target busy public places, including shopping malls and hotel parking lots. They may discreetly place GPS or Bluetooth tracking devices on target vehicles, including in trailer hitches, side mirrors, wheel wells or bumpers. Police say thieves
Aug 20, 2026 · via cp24.com
Waymo dropped the waitlist for its Ojai robotaxi on Wednesday, making the Chinese-built minivan commercially available to any rider in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco — a milestone that lands as a bipartisan Senate bill, cleared through committee without a dissenting vote last month, advances toward a vote that could make the Ojai's chassis illegal to import under the Connected Vehicle Security Act. What riders are actually stepping into is a vehicle whose body, battery, and electric drivetrain were built in Ningbo, China, by Zeekr — a brand owned by Geely Holding Group, the same Chinese automotive conglomerate whose Polestar subsidiary was banned from U.S. sales in June under the same national security framework now being debated in Congress. Waymo argues that its arrangement is fundamentally different from Polestar's. The government has not said so publicly. What the Ojai Is, and What Riders Are Hailing The Ojai (pronounced "oh-hi") is a boxy, van-shaped electric vehicle that looks nothing like the Jaguar I-Pace SUVs that have been Waymo's flagship in San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is Waymo's first purpose-built robotaxi — not a retrofitted consumer vehicle but a vehicle designed from the ground up for commercial driverless ride-hailing. The interior trades automotive styling for practical utility: a flat floor, low step-in height, dual B-pillarless sliding doors that open like elevator doors, and three LED touchscreens where riders can control temperature, audio, and ride preferences. Waymo describes the cabin as a "modern living room on wheels," and at 1,755 mm (69.1 inches) tall, it is substantially roomier than the I-Pace. The technology inside is Waymo's: a sixth-generation autonomous driving system with 13 cameras, four LiDAR units, six radar sensors, and external audio receivers (EARs). That represents a 42% reduction in sensor count compared to the fifth-generation hardware that runs Waymo's
Aug 20, 2026 · via techtimes.com
Why It Matters Modern vehicles gather geolocation information through GPS systems, telematics control units, electronic control units, dedicated short-range communications radio, and third-party monitoring devices. Manufacturers collect vehicle geolocation data for navigation and emergency response, and use it for targeted marketing; insurers access it to set personalized rates; data brokers buy it for market research; and law enforcement obtains it via warrant, subpoena, or direct purchase from brokers. A recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, published June 30, examines how modern vehicles collect and share precise location data, revealing regulatory gaps that could expose Americans to stalking, foreign surveillance, and discrimination, while leaving Congress with limited legislative options. Location tracking can reveal sensitive personal information including religion, sexual orientation, health conditions, and marital status. Foreign adversaries might access this data to target military and government personnel. Tracking a consumer's location via vehicle geolocation data may create stalking risks and domestic violence risks. Yet, Congress has not passed comprehensive federal data privacy legislation, and no existing federal laws specifically regulate the collection, processing, and use of vehicle geolocation data. The Big Picture The regulatory landscape is fragmented. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has authority over unfair and deceptive practices and can limit foreign adversary access. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has limited geolocation-specific authority. The Federal Communications Commission maintains a covered equipment list of national security risks and proposed a rulemaking to allow domestic abuse survivors to disable connected vehicle services. The Department of Justice issued a January 2025 rule restricting bulk transfers of precise location data to foreign adversaries. As of June 2026, however, the FTC has not taken action against any companies for violating relevant provisions of existing law regarding vehicle data. The report identifies five major categories of risk and concern: - Sensitive location tracking - Data
Aug 20, 2026 · via legis1.com
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Aug 20, 2026 · via youtube.com
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NJ Dealer Claims Polestar Intentionally Quit The U.S. With Government Ban As Cover Up
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August 20, 2026 at 11:32 AM EDT
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Aug 20, 2026 · via fuelcellsworks.com
You can soon stream Crunchyroll on your car's infotainment system The anime streaming service has started appearing on the Appning app store. Streaming video apps have become commonplace on in-car infotainment systems. You might soon have another way to watch anime in your car (depending on your model) as Crunchyroll has started appearing on the Appning app store. Appning is available in vehicles from more than 40 brands, including those from BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen Group, Mini, Lotus and SAIC Motor. You can already access Crunchyroll in BMW cars, and it's coming to more vehicles later, according to Appning. However, it won't appear in the Afeela 1 from Crunchyroll parent Sony and Honda, as the companies scrapped the car a few months ago. "Through Appning, Crunchyroll will be available directly within connected car environments across global regions including Asia, Australia, Europe, India, Latin America, and North America," Crunchyroll said in its announcement, which it made on LinkedIn of all places. As a safety measure, video streaming typically only works on an infotainment system while the car is parked. That's a good thing, as it's probably not a wise idea to tear along a highway with half an eye on the likes of Dan Da Dan or Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers.
Aug 20, 2026 · via engadget.com
By: Chris Perkins, Senior Writer and Editor, GM News Hero Image: Engineers love to chase efficiency, maximizing the potential of whatâs in front of them. With the pioneering GM EV1 â the first modern electric vehicle from General Motors â they looked in an unexpected place: The brakes. To meaningfully boost the EV1âs driving range, getting the most out of mid-1990s battery technology, GM engineers and designers left no stone unturned, creating a lightweight car with bodywork meant to slip through the air. They also reinvented the automotive braking system, setting a template for so many vehicles to come. A typical automotive braking system uses friction to convert kinetic (rolling) energy into thermal (heat) energy. When the driver pushes the brake pedal in a modern car, hydraulic fluid flows to brake pads that squeeze against a rotating disc attached to each wheel. Itâs a very effective method for slowing a car down, but all that heat energy is wasted, lost into the atmosphere. EVs, however, offer another way of slowing a car down: Regenerative braking. The same electric motor that propels the vehicle forward can also act as an electricity generator, resisting the carâs momentum and putting energy back into the battery as the car slows down. By harnessing regenerative braking, the EV1 team could generate electricity to boost driving range. Caption: A cutaway illustration of the GM EV1 highlighting many of its novel tech features. The EV1 team wanted both regenerative and friction braking, and they wanted to keep things simple for drivers, controlling both with the conventional brake pedal. To do so, they created a new and revolutionary kind of braking system: Brake-by-wire, where the brake pedal activates an electronic system that controls regenerative braking and the conventional brakes simultaneously. In a conventional automotive braking system, the brake
Aug 20, 2026 · via news.gm.com
Suspect connected to stolen car arrested near Truckee
TRUCKEE, California (KOLO) - A Sacramento man will face stolen vehicle related charges after crashing a car in the Truckee area.
At around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Truckee Police Department received information about a stolen vehicle entering the Truckee area from I-80 in the area of Donner Pass Road near Richards Blvd.
Police say the vehicle was associated with a carjacking in Sacramento, and that the suspect, Andrew Coleman, was armed and dangerous.
The driver ultimately crashed the car down an embankment before fleeing on foot across I-80 and into a heavily wooded area.
Police ultimately found Coleman hiding along the bank of Donner Creek.
Coleman was taken into custody and is being held without bail in Nevada County on a parole violation. Additional charges are pending related to the stolen vehicle.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
Aug 20, 2026 · via kolotv.com
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Aug 20, 2026 · via youtube.com
Phoenix turns to AI to fight Chase Field game-day gridlock About 25 new signals will adjust timing on the fly during games and concerts PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The city of Phoenix is expanding its network of traffic signals run by artificial intelligence, with about 25 new ones coming downtown in the next few months. The signals, between Interstates 17 and 10, will use AI technology from a company called NoTraffic to move traffic during sporting events and concerts at Chase Field and Mortgage Matchup Center, adjusting timing in the moment instead of running a preset schedule, said Simon Ramos, a traffic engineering supervisor for the city. Another 16 are planned near Loop 101 on the north side of town, he said. Most U.S. traffic signals run on preset schedules written by an engineer, sometimes years ago. The Federal Highway Administration says fewer than 1% can adapt to the traffic in front of them and rewrite that timing. Phoenix has about 1,300 signals citywide and six traffic engineers responsible for monitoring and managing timing. The city has been experimenting with AI traffic signals since 2020, and there are now about 50 to 60 intersections outfitted with AI detection technology, Ramos said. “If you just sit there and do the math with 1,300 signals and six staff members – we take any help that we can get,” Ramos said on the latest episode of Generation AI. The systems detect cars, bicycles and pedestrians, count vehicles, identify traffic trends and alert the city to congestion or crashes, he said. The work began with a Maricopa Association of Governments pilot on Glendale Avenue between Central Avenue and State Route 51, later expanding to about 20 nearby intersections. A recently completed University of Arizona study used the technology at roughly 30 more intersections to examine
Aug 20, 2026 · via azfamily.com
AUTOCRYPT, the South Korean automotive cybersecurity firm, has won the Car Hacking Village Capture the Flag competition at DEF CON 34, besting 83 teams from around the world in a contest widely regarded as the proving ground for real-world vehicle hacking talent. The company’s Red Team became the first in the event’s history to complete every challenge on the roster, finishing in 25 hours against a 50-hour window, according to the firm and multiple industry outlets that covered the win. The competition ran August 7 through 9 in Las Vegas as part of DEF CON 34, one of the world’s largest and longest-running hacking conferences. The Car Hacking Village has staged its CTF since 2015, and this year’s field asked competitors to move fluidly between the abstract and the physical: identifying attack vectors, chasing down vulnerabilities, and breaking cryptographic protections across testbeds built around electronic control units, embedded controller boards, and full production vehicle architectures. A Second Title After a Near Miss For AUTOCRYPT, the victory closes a loop that opened in 2022, the year the company first entered the competition and took the top prize. Last year’s team finished third, a result that by AUTOCRYPT’s own account sharpened its preparation for this summer’s return. Finishing the entire challenge set in half the allotted time was enough to distinguish the team from the rest of the 83-team field, a number that underscores how competitive and how global the car-hacking discipline has become since the Village’s founding. Humans and AI Agents Working the Same Bench What set this year’s run apart, according to AUTOCRYPT, was not just speed but method. The Red Team paired its human security researchers with the company’s proprietary AI-powered security analysis platform, deploying multiple autonomous agents to comb through firmware and probe target subsystems at the same
Aug 20, 2026 · via autoconnectedcar.com
Waymo has opened its next-generation robotaxi to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco — a notable milestone for the Alphabet company as it pushes to expand its fleet with vehicles that are cheaper to build, operate, and maintain. For now, customers in these markets may be matched with the new robotaxi, called the Ojai (pronounced oh-hi) when they hail a ride. Once Waymo has enough Ojais in its fleet, riders will be able to choose between the new vehicle and the older Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi. Waymo has about 300 Ojai robotaxis in its commercial fleet today, according to a company spokesperson. The company said Wednesday that it plans to roll out the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year. For years, Waymo has relied on the all-electric, modified Jaguar I-Pace for its robotaxi fleet, which now operates in 11 U.S. cities. While the white, sensor-laden autonomous hatchback has become ubiquitous in markets such as San Francisco, it has been more of a stopgap in Waymo’s longer-term push toward mass scale, and eventually, profitability. The Waymo Ojai robotaxi is meant to deliver on that ambition. The Ojai is equipped with Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving system, which is critical to the company’s commercial strategy because it’s modular and designed to work across multiple vehicles types. The robotaxi also comes with a redesigned user interface and Google’s Gemini AI, which acts as an in-car assistant for riders. Strip away that technology, though, and the Ojai is a minivan made by Zeekr, a brand owned by China’s Geely Holding Group. Waymo partnered with Zeekr in 2021 and has spent years testing a prototype, and later a production-intent version of the vehicle. It’s built on Zeekr’s SEA-M platform, an updated version of the automaker’s “Sustainable Experience Architecture,” which the
Aug 19, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Waymo opens cheaper Ojai robotaxi to riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco
● 8 hours ago
Waymo has opened its next-generation Ojai robotaxi to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The Alphabet company plans to expand to Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.
Waymo currently has about 300 Ojai robotaxis in its commercial fleet. The vehicles, manufactured by China's Zeekr, are equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system and Google's Gemini AI assistant.
The Ojai is designed to be cheaper to build, operate, and maintain than Waymo's existing Jaguar I-Pace fleet. However, steep US import tariffs on Chinese-built vehicles have added costs. The vehicles arrive without Chinese connected-car technology and are outfitted with self-driving systems at Waymo's Arizona factory.
Research firm MoffettNathanson projects Waymo will import 5,000 Ojai vehicles by end of 2026, more than doubling its current fleet.
Source: techcrunch.com
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Aug 19, 2026 · via app.dealroom.co
Ford expands US production as auto reshoring gathers pace Subscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing news. Ford Motor Co. plans to increase Lincoln production in the US beginning in 2030, a decision that puts one of America’s oldest automotive brands at the center of the debate over manufacturing reshoring, tariffs and industrial employment. Under the plan announced Aug. 12, Lincoln will gradually shift US-market production away from China as Ford increases domestic manufacturing capacity. The automaker expects the change to generate thousands of direct and indirect US jobs, with further details on investment levels, plant assignments and hiring expected as the program develops. Those details will shape how the economic impact is measured because factory expansions can support employment across suppliers, logistics companies and service businesses in addition to the workforce inside the assembly plant itself. Ford already has a considerable domestic manufacturing footprint. The company said it assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the US in 2025 and employs about 56,300 hourly manufacturing workers in the country. Lincoln currently builds the Navigator at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville and the Aviator at Chicago Assembly Plant. The Lincoln decision gives Ford another way to position domestic manufacturing as part of its competitive strategy, with production location increasingly connected to supply chain resilience, market access and long-term investment planning. Ford’s Lincoln decision adds weight to the reshoring argument Moving vehicle production closer to American customers can reduce some forms of trade exposure while changing the economics surrounding freight, inventory, supplier coordination and production planning. It can also give manufacturers greater control over scheduling when geopolitical or trade conditions shift. For Ford, the decision carries symbolic weight because Lincoln is an American luxury brand. Ford CEO Jim Farley characterized the plan as
Aug 19, 2026 · via manufacturing-today.com
When a professional political operative describes an election as “nationalized,” it means the outcome could have consequences far beyond the locality in which it occurs and therefore is drawing outside attention and resources. This year’s congressional elections in California are a prime example, with two distinct and unusual aspects. First and most obviously, Democrats are hoping to gain as many as five California seats in the House of Representatives due to a partisan gerrymander of the state’s 52 districts last year. Thus the outcome in California could determine whether their party regains control of the House, where Republicans now hold a paper-thin majority. Meanwhile, outside the five districts that Democrats hope to switch, there are safely Democratic districts where progressive candidates are jousting with mainstream rivals, a subset of the national party’s ideological conflict. One example is the duel between progressive state Sen. Aisha Wahab and Melissa Hernandez, president of the Bay Area Regional Transit board, over the east Bay Area congressional seat Eric Swalwell held until resigning amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Another is in San Francisco, where state Sen. Scott Wiener faces San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for the seat that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is vacating. While both are self-proclaimed progressives, there are specific issues dividing them, such as housing. Wiener has long championed making housing easier to build, but in San Francisco resisting development is a bedrock cause for those on the city’s left. There’s another conflict on California’s November ballot that’s become nationalized: Proposition 40, which would impose a 5% tax on the wealth of California’s roughly 200 billionaires. Once again, it’s on two distinct levels. First, it tests a concept of taxation that, if enacted, could spread to other states or even become a national issue. It has drawn attention in national political
Aug 19, 2026 · via syvnews.com
China as Pacesetter Automotive leaders huddled on where North America stands in the global picture and how it can strengthen its position against the Asian juggernaut’s surging industry. China’s automotive industry has become the competitor North America’s counterpart must now try to catch up with. A recent conference of domestic players discussed how to go about it. The nonprofit Center for Automotive Research convened U.S. and Canadian auto industry leaders to consider China’s position and how the North American allies can get in line with “China Speed,” as the roundtable was called. The event’s intent was to assess China’s position in automotive and how North America’s auto industry can respond to its growing presence. Participants agreed that trade tariffs and other protectionist approaches won’t be enough to keep up. The discussion identified a mix of factors that fuel China’s auto industry, not just an abbreviated product-development cycle. Other sources of grease to what’s been the world’s biggest auto industry for nearly 20 years include government industrial policy, plenty of capital, streamlined decision-making, local materials sourcing, vertical integration and digital-first vehicle development, according to the center. “It reflects a coordinated system designed to move quickly and build scale,” said center President and CEO Elizabeth Krear. “North America does not need to replicate that system, but it must become more intentional about reducing complexity, accelerating collaboration and investing in the capabilities that will define the next generation of automotive leadership.” Participants compiled a list of responses North America’s industry and governments should pursue to stay in the game with China: - Use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies to make faster development decisions - More collaborative research in auto technologies, including advanced manufacturing, batteries and connectivity - More benchmarking of Chinese automakers and North American startups to “challenge legacy assumptions
Aug 19, 2026 · via fi-magazine.com
Federal data shows roughly 95% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. carry Event Data Recorders—essentially crash-resistant “black boxes” that log seconds of critical incident data. Beyond those EDRs, dozens of electronic control units track everything from speed and braking habits to voice commands and seatbelt clicks. Modern cars function as rolling data centers, and the information they gather doesn’t stay locked inside. That “Accept” button on your infotainment screen? It might be the digital handshake that lets your vehicle whisper your driving life straight to the cloud. 1. Event Data Recorder (EDR) The digital flight recorder installed in nearly every new U.S. light vehicle Roughly 95% of new U.S. light vehicles come equipped with an Event Data Recorder, integrated into the airbag control module and built to survive severe impacts. This device captures seconds—not minutes—of data surrounding a crash: pre-impact vehicle dynamics, driver inputs such as braking and steering, crash forces, seatbelt use, airbag deployment timing, and impact severity. Federal regulations mandate specific minimum datasets for EDRs, ensuring consistent post-collision reporting. The device acts as an unblinking witness, delivering objective facts when reconstruction teams need to know exactly what happened in those final moments before impact. 2. Journey Data Recorders (JDRs) and Accident Data Recorders (ADRs) Continuous loggers that track driving behavior throughout entire trips Standard Event Data Recorders capture only crash-adjacent moments. Journey Data Recorders and Accident Data Recorders operate differently, continuously logging vehicle status and driving behavior before, during, and after accidents—much like an aircraft’s flight recorder. These systems track speed, direction of travel, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, light and turn signal status, braking, and GPS position. Data cycles through on a loop, overwriting older information to keep the record fresh. Commercial fleets and safety researchers use JDRs to monitor driver behavior, validate new technologies, and establish
Aug 19, 2026 · via gadgetreview.com
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Aug 19, 2026 · via youtube.com
The Human Side of Electrification: Future of Mobility is More 'Behaviour', Less 'Batteries'
As the automotive industry accelerates towards electrification, consumers are making powertrain choices based less on technology and more on how each option fits their lifestyle, aspirations and comfort with change. This article explores three distinct mobility mindsets—The Pioneer, The Balancer and The Optimiser—and introduces the Human Readiness Matrix to explain why BEVs, PHEVs and Hybrids appeal to different consumers. It argues that the next competitive advantage for OEMs will lie in understanding human behaviour as deeply as they understand engineering.
The implication is profound: consumers are not progressing through technologies. They are selecting the technology that best fits who they are today.
This distinction has significant strategic implications. If powertrain choice is fundamentally behavioural rather than purely technological, then success will depend not only on engineering excellence but also on understanding the emotional and psychological needs that different technologies fulfil.
This article was first published in Autocar Professional: Click here to read
Aug 19, 2026 · via ipsos.com
What if you gave an e-bike some of the same safety equipment you might find on a car? How would that even work? Volkswagen thinks it could work just fine. It’s actually equipped a new e-bike with a host of automotive safety tech you might find in a Tiguan, like a rear-facing radar and a camera, along with optional connected glasses and a helmet that can warn riders about surrounding traffic. The VW Smart eBike is developed and manufactured under license by bicycle company n+ and will debut in September at IFA Berlin, a trade show similar to CES. The Smart eBike’s most notable feature is Smart View, which combines radar and a rear-facing camera with a display integrated into the handlebar. The radar can monitor traffic up to 230 feet behind the rider and also detect vehicles approaching at higher speeds. The camera provides a live view of what’s happening behind the bike. Bicycle-based radar itself isn’t new. Garmin, Trek, and other companies already offer rear-facing systems that alert riders to approaching vehicles. The difference with Volkswagen’s approach is in how it ties the radar to the camera, dashboard, and lighting system. Riders can use the screen as a conventional IP-like display, monitoring speed, battery charge, and pedal-assist information, or they can leave it showing the rear-camera feed. In an automatic setting, the screen switches to the camera when the radar detects an approaching vehicle and displays an orange warning. LED strips along the bicycle’s top tube also respond to the radar. Normally functioning as amber side-marker lights, they become brighter when a vehicle approaches and double as turn signals and brake lights. The system can be paired with optional Smart Glasses, which put traffic alerts and other information directly in front of the rider. A microOLED display shows
Aug 19, 2026 · via autoweek.com