Automotive

Hugging Face will use its open-source AI to build robots: It’s part of a broader industry push to use generative AI to make physical robots commercially viable.

The EV maker announces affordable R2 SUV and R3 and R3X crossovers and amasses 68,000 reservations. It’s challenging market norms and intensifying EV competition.

A flying car becomes a best-seller: Alef’s Model A has record preorders, with delivery set for next year. Meanwhile, its standard EV won’t be available until 2035, underscoring auto industry issues.

Honda fuses its personal mobility venture with VR: Its full-body device could provide novel immersive experiences at commercial venues, but the vision for VR is smaller, lighter devices.

It shifts 2,000 workers to generative AI projects amid slowing EV sales and heightened interest in AI. The abrupt move signals a necessary and strategic pivot.

The US auto industry’s shift to electric vehicles takes a detour: Hybrid vehicles are growing faster than EVs, thanks to consumers’ concerns about the relatively nascent technology.

Crashes, declining trust, and potential bans fuel safety concerns and activism, challenging the technology’s readiness and future expansion.

On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss how buying alcohol online is different, what Uber’s shutdown of Drizly means for its retail media business, and how consumption habits are changing. Then for "Red-Hot Retail," our analysts give us four spicy predictions about the future of alcohol. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analyst Blake Droesch and director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman.

Ford reformulates its EV strategy after premium model sales stall. Small and affordable EVs could reignite interest while enabling expansion to emerging markets.

The leading EV manufacturer is doubling outlets and focusing on local market needs to boost adoption—lessons US manufacturers might be able to learn from.

Recent winter storms have added a slew of new challenges for EV owners who are facing longer charging times and reduced range. It’s the latest hurdle EV makers need to overcome.

Automakers and tech companies are leaning on AI, gaming, and augmented reality for key feature upgrades in future vehicles.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what to expect in 2024, whether Google's new AI search tool will destroy traffic, a new self-checkout machine, loyalty in the age of the "zero consumer," if everyone will soon be creating digital clones of themselves, roads that can wirelessly charge electric vehicles, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian, analyst Blake Droesch, and vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti.

Auto sales bounced back last year: But high sticker prices and elevated borrowing costs are keeping many consumers on the sidelines—though this could unlock opportunities.

Some traditional automakers are making late but significant entries into the EV landscape. The transition to EVs has been a difficult one for car manufacturers, but partnerships and an increase in charging stations are starting to yield favorable results.

On today's special podcast episode, we conclude our monthly contest where we discuss the biggest trends of the moment and the newest research, sprinkle in some analysis, and bundle it up into a quiz. Every month this year, three of our analysts representing their respective coverage area teams have competed against each other—now it's time to crown a champion. Today, we cover how X (formerly Twitter) will look in 2024, whether people will buy cars online, and what we can expect from the ad market. Tune in to the discussion with this month's contestants: our analysts Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf, Carina Perkins, and Yory Wurmser.

GM’s Cruise faces upheaval with executive cuts and layoffs, while Alphabet’s Waymo expands into airport taxi services. Despite challenges, the robotaxi industry is poised for adoption.

Can EV manufacturers’ connected car technology surpass popular smartphone-based solutions? Leading carmakers, and their customers, could be forced to choose sides.

Led by Apple’s urgency to reduce reliance on China, manufacturers are pouring billions into factories in India that could expand beyond consumer electronics.