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The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) introduced late this week that it plans to streamline the Half 555 exemption course of to make it sooner for automakers that need to deploy self-driving autos constructed with out human controls like a steering wheel or pedals.
The letter despatched to “stakeholders” (that means these firms engaged on AVs) is pretty opaque nonetheless. And producers will nonetheless need to show that autos with out conventional steering wheels, driver-operated brakes, or rearview mirrors present an equal security stage as compliant autos and that the exemption is within the public curiosity.
The principle gist right here is that the NHTSA contends the present Half 555 exemption course of shouldn’t be properly suited to automated driving system-equipped autos and that it’s a prolonged and sophisticated course of. Briefly: The company desires to hurry issues up.
In different federal agency-related information, Trump issued a number of govt orders associated to drones and fast-tracking supersonic journey.
Facet observe: I see that my predictions (from final version) that the Trump-Elon Musk fallout would flip into a kind of on-again, off-again relationships was appropriate.
Let’s get into the remainder of the information.
Somewhat chook
Picture Credit:Bryce Durbin
Final week, I shared our scoop about Jony Ive’s LoveFrom agency working alongside Rivian designers and a skunkworks group that will find yourself spinning out into Additionally, a micromobility startup.
Effectively, a number of extra little birds have popped as much as share a bit extra and to make clear the connection. I discovered that the undertaking was code-named Inder. Rivian truly utilized for a trademark of the title Inder however later deserted it. Sources additionally shared that whereas the LoveFrom group introduced its industrial design experience to the trouble — and apparently a cool motor design — it was not concerned in any UI/UX.
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Offers!
Picture Credit:Bryce Durbin
JetZerothe Lengthy Seaside, California-based zero-emissions jet plane firm engaged on blended wing airplanes, plans to construct a manufacturing unit in Greensboro, North Carolina. The corporate, which has backing from a wide range of enterprise capital (like Vehicles VC) and from strategic buyers like United Airways and Alaska Airways, stated it can make investments $4.7 billion over the subsequent decade on the undertaking, The Wall Road Journal reported. Development on the power is anticipated to start within the first half of 2026, with first buyer deliveries within the early 2030s, the corporate stated.
There is a crucial element on this deal: It contains greater than $1.1 billion in state efficiency incentives that will be paid over practically 40 years and are contingent on JetZero creating over 14,000 jobs between 2027 and 2036, Reuters reported.
Different offers price noting …
Mitra Chem, a battery materials startup, raised $15.6 million of a deliberate $50 million funding spherical.
Notable reads and different tidbits
Picture Credit:Bryce Durbin
Autonomous autos
Waymo rides price greater than Uber or Lyft — and individuals are paying anyway, in line with Obi, an app that aggregates real-time pricing and pickup occasions throughout a number of ride-hailing companies. The corporate revealed what it’s calling the “first in-depth examination of Waymo’s pricing technique.” The TL;DR: Waymo’s self-driving automobile rides are persistently costlier than comparative choices from Uber and Lyft — and it doesn’t appear to matter.
Waymo robotaxis turned a logo of the LA protests after imagery exhibiting a number of driverless autos — with anti-ICE graffiti and slashed tires — on hearth. Waymo eliminated its remaining autos from the downtown LA space and plans to pursue prison prosecution of and acquire damages from those that vandalized its robotaxis. The incident raises some vital surveillance questions about how the quite a few cameras and sensors on Waymo autos are used and whether or not it’s offering digital camera footage to authorities to establish protesters. Waymo didn’t reply our questions on that.
June 22 is the large Tesla robotaxi launch day in Austin, Texas, a minimum of in line with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Wayve and Uber introduced plans to launch a completely driverless robotaxi service in London. This isn’t taking place straight away, although, and the timing is notable right here: The U.Okay. authorities just lately introduced an accelerated framework for self-driving business pilots to roll out in spring 2026, up from late 2027.
Electrical autos, batteries, & charging
Infinite Machine, the New York-based micromobility startup backed by a16z, revealed a seated scooter known as Olto that may price $3,495 when it begins delivery later this yr. The Olto will characteristic 40 miles of vary, pulled from an simply swappable 48V lithium-ion battery.
In-car tech
Throughout Apple‘s WWDC 2025 occasion, a number of car-related objects have been revealed, together with that the corporate is including widgets and message tapbacks to CarPlay with iOS 26.
