Latest news with #autonomousdriving
The Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
China issues draft guidance on transfer of car-generated data
China on Friday published draft guidance to regulate the export of data generated by cars in the country, providing a potential road map for companies such as Tesla that have been keen to do so. The industry ministry detailed different scenarios where it may or may not require security assessments for companies seeking to transfer data abroad. For example, it said data collected in China for training and developing autonomous driving or advanced driving assistance systems was categorised as 'important' data that would require approvals for outbound transfers, according to the drafted rules that are open to public comment until July 13. It granted some exemptions, for instance to data processing companies registered in the country's free trade zones, saying they would not require approval to transfer abroad any data that had not been classified as restricted by the free trade zone. Tesla has been seeking approval from Chinese regulators to transfer data collected from its fleet of more than two million EVs in China, currently saved locally in Shanghai, back to the US for training its autonomous driving algorithms. The US also does not allow Tesla to train its AI software in China, a situation CEO Elon Musk has described as a 'quandary', which undermines the performance of its Full Self-Driving software on Chinese roads. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the drafted rules.
Reuters
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
China issues draft guidance on transfer of car-generated data
BEIJING, June 13 (Reuters) - China on Friday published draft guidance to regulate the export of data generated by cars in the country, providing a potential roadmap for companies such as Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab that have been keen to do so. The industry ministry detailed different scenarios where it may or may not require security assessments for companies seeking to transfer data abroad. For example, it said data collected in China for training and developing autonomous driving or advanced driving assistance systems was categorised as 'important' data that would require approvals for outbound transfers, according to the drafted rules that are open to public comment until July 13. It granted some exemptions, for instance to data processing companies registered in the country's free trade zones, saying that they would not require approval to transfer abroad any data that had not been classified as restricted by the free trade zone. Tesla has been seeking approval from Chinese regulators to transfer data collected from its fleet of more than 2 million EVs in China, currently saved locally in Shanghai, back to the United States for training its autonomous driving algorithms. The U.S. also does not allow Tesla to train its AI software in China, a situation chief executive Elon Musk has described as a "quandary", which undermines the performance of its Full Self-Driving software on Chinese roads. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the drafted rules.
Auto Blog
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Japan's Sub-$10K EV Seats One But Turns Heads
Tiny cars have never not been cool, but the one-seater MiBot from Japan-based KG Motors is making a real impression on the car-buying public A small 'mobility robot' could change the way Japan gets around Pricing is one of many reasons EV market penetration worldwide is slow. But in Japan, a country historically not as dependent on the automobile as places like the United States, the electric vehicle segment is growing at a particularly modest pace. With just 3.5 percent of the market share in Japan as of 2023, compared to a global percentage nearer to 20 percent, EVs are far from the popular choice. But a company called KG Motors, based near Hiroshima, is hoping that will change with their idea of the perfect city car: the MiBot. The MiBot is small and perfect for getting downtown KG Motors MiBot — Source: KG Motors Really, there's only one way to say it: the KG Motors MiBot is tiny. The single seater measures 98 inches long, 44 inches wide, and stands just 57 inches tall, making it more or less the size of a golf cart. Under the admittedly adorable exterior beats an electric heart that offers up to 62 miles of range at up to 37 mph. A 7.68 kWh LFP battery pack charges in around five hours on a 100-volt outlet, which is Japan's standard. Despite a spartan interior — KG Motors proudly touts 'doors and air conditioners are standard' — the company says it's looking into 'autonomous driving functions.' Reservations opened up last August, and KG Motors has already secured over 2,000 pre-orders. Now, small cars and electrification aren't a new pairing in Japan. The Nissan Sakura, arguably the most popular EV in Japan, is in fact a kei car. But the KG Motors MiBot differs in a few key ways. Funny enough, the most important difference is that it's smaller, conforming to regulations in Japan defining a 'microcar.' That's distinct from even the small kei car. Microcars benefit from lower insurance rates, no required inspections, and freedom from some other local regulations. The second most important part is pricing. Priced at roughly the equivalent of $7,650, the MiBot is less than half the price of the Sakura. KG Motors MiBot — Source: KG Motors MiBot, like Slate Auto, is filling a gap that legacy automakers seem to be content to ignore We won't be so bold as to suggest the MiBot would be a pragmatic choice, or at all successful, Stateside. We also recognize that there isn't anything quite analogous to a microcar that exists in the US. However, with KG Motors seeing a positive response in a country that otherwise eschews electrification in favor of gas — or nothing at all — it seems that pricing is perhaps a bigger factor than legacy automakers realize. Slate Auto is seeing a hugely successful reservation period, and the two share a common approach: few frills, and a price that undercuts everyone else, especially legacy automakers. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. KG Motors MiBot — Source: KG Motors Final thoughts In an interview with Bloomberg, KG Motors said the 'first batch' of MiBots will allow the company to 'break even,' financially speaking. Following reservation fulfillments, the MiBot makers will start churning these little guys out at a rate of 10,000 units per year. It's important to remember that Toyota, the world's largest automaker, sold around 2,000 EVs total in Japan last year. Price isn't everything, but we have a feeling keeping it low is a big boost for little cars like the MiBot in Japan, and value-packed offerings from companies like Slate in the US. About the Author Steven Paul View Profile
Digital Trends
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Digital Trends
The week in EV tech: From sky-high dreams to ground-level drama
Welcome to Digital Trends' weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles. Buckle up, folks — this week we're taking off with a look at the futuristic dream of flying electric cars possibly gliding above U.S. roads sooner than you think. But before we get carried away, let's bring it back down to the bumpy road of present-day realities. Recommended Videos Even if you're mostly interested about the tech powering the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, it's become increasingly hard to avoid the politics around it: You guessed it, we're talking about this week's public feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump. What does this have to do with EV tech? Well, quite a lot actually. For starters, the technology behind Tesla's Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) modes may return in the crosshairs of regulators: Despite the names, these are still driver-assist features that require active driver supervision, and until Trump's election, they had been under heavy scrutiny by safety regulators for several years. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD. Big questions remain about FSD's performance under adverse, yet naturally-occurring conditions such as fog, sun glare, rain, and snow. When Musk, who spent about $275 million to help elect Trump, was appointed to head a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it raised more than a few eyebrows about his power and influence over the regulators who are supposed to oversee traffic safety, and therefore Tesla. It didn't help that the Trump administration followed Musk's recommendations and relaxed crash-reporting requirements put in place since 2021, while also relaxing rules to accelerate the deployment of fully-automated robotaxis. The Trump/Musk clash takes place just as Tesla is due to launch its robotaxi pilot progam in Texas later this month. While Trump is now threatening to pull billions of dollars in government subsidies and contracts from Musk's companies, it's unclear whether he might pressure the Department of Transportation to again tighten the regulatory screws on Tesla. What is clear is that Trump has never been a fan of electric vehicles and is already trying to end federal subsidies on EV purchases and leases. And while he had made a big deal about buying a bright red Tesla Model S back in March, Trump now says he wants to sell it. Back to the tech Meanwhile, Tesla is still required to respond to information and data requests from NHTSA regarding the safety of its robotaxis by July 1. And ultimately, it should come down to the performance of the technology. For Autopilot and FSD, Tesla has opted for less expensive navigational tech relying on multiple onboard cameras that feed AI machine-learning models. But especially for so-called adverse driving conditions, it's the more expensive technology relying on a blend of pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar) which has received the nod of regulators. Waymo, the sole robotaxi service currently operating in the U.S., and Zoox, Amazon's upcoming robotaxi service, both use that blend of navigational tech. For its robotaxis, Tesla is said to have upped its game in terms of autonomous driving with its Hardware 4 (HW4) technology, which does include radar sensors and promises enhanced environmental perception. Will that be enough for Tesla to convince regulators, catch up with Waymo or compete effectively with Zoox? We'll have to wait and see. Flying cars In a recent edition, we noted that while consumer confidence about robotaxi technology is on the rise, most people also want more data before they hop into a self-driving vehicle. What about flying taxis? According to a recent survey by Honeywell, nearly all U.S. airline fliers, or 98%, said they would consider using a so-called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, as part of their travel journey. But while the buzz around flying electric vehicles has mostly focused on air taxis— like Archer Aviation's Midnight, expected to fly athletes around the 2028 LA Olympics, or Joby's slick air taxi, backed by Toyota — one California startup is shooting for something a little more… driveable. Meet Alef Aeronautics, a Bay Area company that wants to put the 'car' back in 'flying car.' This week, Alef announced it has received over 3,400 pre-orders for its electric flying vehicle, the Model A — and get this: it's not a futuristic prototype gathering dust in a lab. Alef says production could begin by the end of 2025, or early next year. On the ground, the Model A operates like a low-speed electric car, complete with hub motors in the wheels and—wait for it—a real steering wheel. You can legally drive it at up to 25 mph on public roads, parking it in a normal garage like any other EV. It's refreshingly manual in an increasingly hands-free world. But when it's time for lift off, the steering wheel takes a backseat. For vertical takeoff and flight, the Model A transforms into a drone-like aircraft. Its cabin rotates sideways to create lift, and eight electric rotors—controlled by a flight system and joysticks—take over. No pedals, no yoke, just a bit of joystick magic (or autopilot, if you prefer). The Model A has already received the nod from regulators for test flights. While the $300,000 price tag won't fit everyone's budget, the company is clearly betting on a future where you don't have to choose between a car and a flying machine—you can have both.
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
China's driverless mining trucks, BYD routs Tesla in Europe, price war worsens: 7 EV reads
We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing Chinese state-backed energy giant Huaneng Group on Thursday launched the world's largest fleet of unmanned electric mining trucks in Inner Mongolia, featuring 100 vehicles equipped with Huawei Technologies' autonomous driving systems, as the country rapidly adopts driverless technology. French President Emmanuel Macron (centre) holds a model of an electric lorry made by Windrose, a Chinese company founded by entrepreneur Wen Han (right), at the Choose France summit in Versailles, France on Monday. Photo: Instagram/whan6023 The European Union is locked in a trade dispute with China over electric vehicles. It is also wrestling with whether and how to harness Chinese investment in the sector. Around the continent, a debate is being waged on whether China's prowess in the sector can be a job creator or an industry killer.
