DEALS

Autopilot

News, deep dives, and analysis — every Autopilot story, newest first.

68
Articles
14
Beats covered
1
Reporter on beat
Jul 13
Last updated
Sort
DJI Spinoff ZYT Takes on Autonomous Trucking with Drone-Derived Tech
Elon Musk

DJI Spinoff ZYT Takes on Autonomous Trucking with Drone-Derived Tech

ZYT is betting that the same computer vision approach that made DJI drones dominant can now disrupt the autonomous trucking race – and they’re targeting the same H1 2026 mass production timeline as Pony.ai, but with a fraction of the computing power. The Shenzhen-based company, formerly DJI’s autonomous driving division, announced Tuesday that it will…

Tesla Optimus Scores Major Win as Apple AI Engineer Defects to Humanoid Team - Morgan Stanley Analyst Calls Tesla's xAI Investment Proposal A "Testing Of The Waters" For Deeper Musk Empire Integration
Tesla

Tesla Optimus Scores Major Win as Apple AI Engineer Defects to Humanoid Team

We’ve been tracking Tesla’s talent struggles all year, and this weekend’s announcement flips the script entirely. Yilun Chen, who spent nearly four years building Apple’s robotics and autonomous systems capabilities, has joined Tesla’s Optimus AI team, calling humanoid robots “the ultimate dream of our generation.” The move, announced on X on November 30, has already…

Model 3

Tesla Slashes Model 3 Lease Down Payment to $1,500 as Post-Tax-Credit Sales Pressure Mounts

Tesla has dropped the down payment requirement on Model 3 Premium RWD leases to just $1,500 while maintaining the $299 monthly payment, marking the automaker’s most aggressive pricing move since the federal EV tax credit expired two months ago. The deal represents a 63% reduction in upfront costs compared to the $3,993 down payment Tesla…

Tesla

Tesla’s China Sales Crater to 3-Year Low as Xiaomi Dominates Despite Safety Scandals

Tesla’s China sales collapsed to 26,006 vehicles in October 2024, marking a three-year low as the electric vehicle maker struggles with tepid demand in the world’s most competitive EV market. The 35.8% year-over-year decline represents a stunning reversal from September’s brief momentum, while Chinese rival Xiaomi posted record sales despite ongoing safety controversies. The October…

Tesla Cybertruck Prices Plummet as New Models Hit the Market
Model Y

Tesla Loses Model Y And Cybertruck Program Managers On Same Day, Completing Vehicle Leadership Exodus

Tesla lost two of its most critical vehicle program managers on the same day, with Model Y chief Emmanuel Lamacchia and Cybertruck lead Siddhant Awasthi both announcing their departures Sunday. The double exit marks the final collapse of Tesla’s vehicle program leadership structure—a team that once successfully launched the world’s best-selling car and the company’s…

GM Announces Eyes-Off Driving For Cadillac Escalade IQ In 2028, Pivoting From Failed $10 Billion Robotaxi Venture
Cadillac

GM Announces Eyes-Off Driving For Cadillac Escalade IQ In 2028, Pivoting From Failed $10 Billion Robotaxi Venture

General Motors unveiled plans today to bring eyes-off autonomous driving to the Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV by 2028, marking a dramatic strategic shift after shutting down its $10 billion Cruise robotaxi business. The announcement positions GM to compete directly with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology as the American EV market struggles following the expiration of…

The California Manufacturers and Technology Association (CMTA) hailed this electric beauty as the "Coolest Thing Made in California". Model Y. Photo courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Tesla

Tesla Probes to Intensify Under New NHTSA Chief Jonathan Morrison

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Jonathan Morrison to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the nation’s top auto safety agency, placing a former Apple lawyer and Trump-era official in charge of multiple, high-stakes investigations into Tesla’s vehicle safety. The confirmation, which passed in a 51-47 vote on Thursday, according to Reuters, fills a…

AdvertisementLEADERBOARD · 970 × 250
— The EVXL Briefing · Free

The EV industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.

One email with the EV news that matters — Tesla, Rivian, BYD, and everything in between, straight from the newsroom. No spam, no fluff.

1,900+
Articles published
60+
Brands & beats
2022
Covering EVs since
100%
Independent
Get The Briefing The EV news that matters
Subscribe