Automotive

Tesla renamed its European Full Self-Driving feature Tesla Assisted Driving while seeking regulatory approval, WIRED reports. Germany’s transport ministry says Tesla offered the change after concerns over misleading naming. Drivers must remain alert and ready to intervene; EU-wide approval has not been granted.

EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič says an agreement with China could cut hybrid-car exports to Europe by more than half over four years, DW reports. It also covers import duties and rare-earth licensing. Implementation details remain undisclosed, and the agreement still requires approval by EU leaders.

Jaguar unveiled its Type 01 electric grand tourer, with US deliveries expected in mid-2027, Ars Technica reports. The company targets about 400 miles of range and claims a 10–80% fast charge in 22 minutes. A formal EPA range estimate is still pending; the figures are manufacturer expectations rather than independent road-test results.

The administration finalized rules targeting a fleet average of 34.9 miles per gallon in model year 2031, down from 50.4 under the prior standards, NPR reports. Officials predict lower purchase prices; critics warn of higher fuel spending and pollution. These are regulatory fleet averages, not promised mileage for individual cars.

Tesla has started high-volume Semi production in Nevada, but specialized charging infrastructure remains limited, Ars Technica reports. Tesla says it plans more public charging sites as fleet orders grow. The launch marks a manufacturing milestone; operating costs and the pace of infrastructure expansion will help determine wider adoption.

Tesla faces production difficulties with its Optimus robots and objections from workers asked to supply training data, Ars Technica reports, citing The Information. Reported problems include complex hand assembly, unreliable sensors and limited task flexibility. The company’s production targets remain goals, while broad, economical deployment is still unproven.

Toyota is asking workers to help train humanoid robots as it expands its automation plans, Ars Technica reports. The company says the initiative will not replace human workers. The rollout adds to the debate over how factory automation will change jobs.