Articles by David Shepardson and Nick Carey

NHTSA Probes Pedestrian Risks at GM’s Self-Driving Unit Cruise

U.S. auto safety regulators on Tuesday opened a probe into whether General Motors’ self-driving unit Cruise is taking sufficient precautions with its autonomous robotaxis to safeguard pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has received two reports …

UK Autonomous Vehicle Dreams Could Break Down at Starting Line Without Rules

Britain could lose out on investments in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and see startups shift testing elsewhere if promised laws to regulate the technology are not passed before the next general election, startups and insurance companies said. Despite the government’s vision …

Scratched EV Battery? Your Insurer May Be Forced to Junk the Whole Car

For many electric vehicles, there is no way to repair or assess even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, forcing insurance companies to write off cars with few miles – leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric. …

Ford Taps Vehicle Data to Attract Customers in Commercial Van Market

Ford Motor Co.’s push to use reams of data generated by its vans and trucks – from engines to oil filters or brake pads – to attract more customers in the European and U.S. commercial vehicle market plays out on …

Insurers, Leasing Firms Push European Commission for Access to Valuable Vehicle Data

A broad coalition of insurers, leasing companies, car repair shops and others are calling on the European Commission to propose rules for fair access to valuable vehicle data soon, fearing further delays could see the initiative shelved after European Parliament …

Autonomous Cars May Always Need Remote Human Supervisors, Experts Say

MILTON KEYNES, England — Autonomous vehicle (AV) startups have raised tens of billions of dollars based on promises to develop truly self-driving cars, but industry executives and experts say remote human supervisors may be needed permanently to help robot drivers …

Tussle Over Connected Vehicle Data Moving Into High Gear

LONDON — Where you go. What you pass. Where you stop. What you listen to. What you watch. Your good habits. Your bad habits. Companies in Europe and beyond are vying for control of the crown jewels of the connected …

Jeep, Dodge, Fiat Automaker Stellantis Plans Usage-Based Insurance Offering

Automaker Stellantis rolled out its software strategy on Tuesday including a 2030 target of 20 billion euros ($22.5 billion) in annual revenue from related products and subscriptions as it takes aim at rival Tesla. CEO Carlos Tavares said the world’s …

Renault’s Zoe Electric Model Gets Zero-Star Safety Rating From Europe Safety Agency

French carmaker Renault on Wednesday received a blow for its popular Zoe electric model, as the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) gave it a zero-star safety rating in tests that are standards for Europe. The carmaker, which is cutting …

Electric Scooter Providers Plan Selective Expansion, Seeking Scale to Survive

The era of breakneck growth for electric scooter firms is giving way to more selective expansion focused on profits as they face tougher regulations, more demanding customers and wary insurers. Hurt badly by global coronavirus lockdowns last year, companies offering …