Creative is out, CX is in: Agencies used to live and die by creative, but spending cuts from automakers has them hiring more customer experience employees.
Baidu’s Apollo robotaxis break driverless barrier: 10 fully-driverless taxis will run in two of China’s busiest city centers. The ultimate test for a fully autonomous robotaxis could herald wider global AV adoption.
CHIPS and Science Act a boon for US manufacturing: President Biden signs the bipartisan bill, and chipmakers like Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, and GlobalFoundries are on board with expanding their US chip fabrication.
A major ad spender is pulling back: Automakers spent less on TV ads for the second month in a row thanks to few sports events and a sour economy.
CHIPS Act draws a line in the sand: The $52 billion CHIPS Act will go a long way to help chipmakers fire up chip fabs in the US, with the proviso that they avoid chipmaking in China for 10 years.
EV segment shakeup: Economic uncertainty and inflation have resulted in job cuts across the EV sector, which could slow down bigger players and cripple startups that were beginning to ramp up production.
USPS commits to 40% EV fleet: Starting in late 2023, nearly half of the USPS’ fleet will be all-electric, which could accelerate EV adoption efforts as logistics companies modernize their own fleets.
AI to help train drones: Microsoft’s Project AirSim combines its expertise in AI, flight simulators, cloud computing, and military-grade security to develop the next generation of drones.
Chip fab plans are up in the air: Intel, TSMC, and others could pause US chip expansion plans while the $52 billion United States Innovation and Compatition Act languishes.
Tesla and Ford are neck and neck in the race to become North America’s most popular connected car brand, each making up nearly one-third of connected car systems in the region. Android-based system Atoto takes third at 11%, beating out multiple automakers due to its ability to upgrade nonconnected vehicles.
EVs on track to surpass adoption targets: An electrified future could happen sooner thanks to a range of prices and model choices, high gas prices, and promised charging infrastructure.
Rivian grew too quickly: The EV truck maker rushes to reduce its workforce after a hiring surge and persistent economic headwinds. The intensifying layoff trend could be a sign of strife in various industries.
Twitter’s value topples: Elon Musk withdraws from the $43.4B deal and causes a $2.5B drop in Twitter’s market value. A lawsuit could produce a range of possible outcomes for both parties.
Automakers reel in ad spending as the economy tightens: TV spend saw a major dip in June but has opportunities to recover.
Tesla workers up for grabs: The company’s workforce reduction is leading to key competitors acquiring much-needed talent. What does this mean for Tesla’s long-term growth as it faces trying times?
$52B chip bill stuck in legislative limbo: The CHIPS for America Act would help offset some of the losses suffered by American chipmakers or allow them to pursue expansion plans.
How safe is self-driving technology? Regulators are finding that self-driving technology may be advancing but is still prone to crashes. The news could delay availability of the tech beyond beta testing.
A litany of EV recalls: The industry's massive shift to technology-focused vehicles is riddled with bugs, putting early adopters on the hook as unwilling beta testers for future tech.
Toyota’s new sustainability initiative focuses on ads, not cars: The automaker announced a partnership to reduce the carbon footprint of its digital ads.
Intel presses pause on PC chip hires: Rising inflation, surging competition, and a shrinking PC market force Intel to evaluate PC chipsets. Its austerity measures could resonate across the industry.