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The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) introduced late this week that it plans to streamline the Half 555 exemption course of to make it quicker 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” (which means these firms engaged on AVs) is pretty opaque nonetheless. And producers will nonetheless need to reveal that autos with out conventional steering wheels, driver-operated brakes, or rearview mirrors present an equal security degree 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 is just not nicely fitted to automated driving system-equipped autos and that it’s a prolonged and sophisticated course of. Briefly: The company needs to hurry issues up.
In different federal agency-related information, Trump issued a few government orders associated to drones and fast-tracking supersonic journey.
Aspect word: I see that my predictions (from final version) that the Trump-Elon Musk fallout would flip into a type of on-again, off-again relationships was right.
Let’s get into the remainder of the information.
A little bit chook
Final week, I shared our scoop about Jony Ive’s LoveFrom agency working alongside Rivian designers and a skunkworks staff that may find yourself spinning out into Additionally, a micromobility startup.
Nicely, just a few extra little birds have popped as much as share a bit extra and to make clear the connection. I realized that the challenge was code-named Inder. Rivian truly utilized for a trademark of the identify Inder however later deserted it. Sources additionally shared that whereas the LoveFrom staff 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!
JetZero, the Lengthy Seaside, California-based zero-emissions jet plane firm engaged on blended wing airplanes, plans to construct a manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. The corporate, which has backing from quite a lot of enterprise capital (like Vans VC) and from strategic traders like United Airways and Alaska Airways, mentioned it would make investments $4.7 billion over the following decade on the challenge, The Wall Road Journal reported. Building on the power is predicted to start within the first half of 2026, with first buyer deliveries within the early 2030s, the corporate mentioned.
There is a crucial element on this deal: It contains greater than $1.1 billion in state efficiency incentives that may be paid over almost 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
Autonomous autos
Waymo rides price greater than Uber or Lyft — and individuals are paying anyway, in response to Obi, an app that aggregates real-time pricing and pickup instances throughout a number of ride-hailing providers. The corporate revealed what it’s calling the “first in-depth examination of Waymo’s pricing technique.” The TL;DR: Waymo’s self-driving automotive rides are constantly 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 accumulate 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 digicam footage to authorities to determine protesters. Waymo didn’t reply our questions on that.
June 22 is the massive Tesla robotaxi launch day in Austin, Texas, no less than in response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Wayve and Uber introduced plans to launch a absolutely driverless robotaxi service in London. This isn’t occurring immediately, although, and the timing is notable right here: The U.Ok. authorities lately introduced an accelerated framework for self-driving industrial 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 transport later this yr. The Olto will function 40 miles of vary, pulled from an simply swappable 48V lithium-ion battery.
In-car tech
Throughout Apple‘s WWDC 2025 occasion, a few car-related gadgets had been revealed, together with that the corporate is including widgets and message tapbacks to CarPlay with iOS 26.
