Automotive

EV recycling could be a win-win for recycling startups and carmakers: Ford’s $50M investment in Redwood Materials creates a partnership to build a US-based battery supply chain.

The UK’s digital advertising industry weathered the pandemic remarkably well. Among the industry sectors we track, digital ad spending will rise across the board (which was not universal last year), but these patterns of growth will fluctuate wildly across categories.

BCIs may one day mesh with AVs—when the tech and the public are both ready: Mercedes recently showed off an autonomous concept car whose operator uses a BCI helmet to set destinations and control in-car features with their mind.

Toyota EV battery spending will help it catch up to competitors, but resource scarcity could be a long-term challenge: The world’s second-largest carmaker said it will spend $13.5B over the next decade in EV battery production and research.

They’re pitched as a means to combat climate change, but autonomous EV robotaxis may increase emissions if used for single rides. AV robotaxi makers will need to design shareable vehicles to keep their promise of lowering emissions.

The company is ditching its lidar business to focus on bringing its AVs to market before the clock runs out. AV timelines are notoriously fickle, but we expect adoption to accelerate in the next two years.

The smartphone giant acquired AV startup Deepmotion for $77.4 million. Xiaomi could use its consumer electronic experience to create compelling entertainment-focused vehicles, but it will have to overcome manufacturing challenges and potential regulatory scrutiny.

The $1.8 billion recall exposes the perils EV makers face in relying on third-party battery suppliers.