TechCrunch Mobility: Is $16B enough to build a profitable robotaxi business?

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation.

Tesla hit with another wrongful death suit over its electronic door handles
Tesla hit with another wrongful death suit over its electronic door handles

The mother of 20-year-old man who died after becoming trapped in his burning Tesla Model Y is suing the company over its electronic door handles. It’s the latest wrongful death case centering on Tesla’s door handles, which have triggered numerous customer complaints over the years and is now under investigation by the federal safety regulators. […]

Senators grill Waymo and Tesla over robotaxi safety, liability, and China
Senators grill Waymo and Tesla over robotaxi safety, liability, and China

During a two-hour hearing in the US Senate Wednesday, top executives from Waymo and Tesla urged lawmakers to take action on long-stalled legislation to speed the deployment of self-driving cars on public roads. But after two hours of Q&A around a number of hot-button topics, including robotaxi safety, legal liability, remote operation, and China, it […]

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI to build data centers in space — or so he says
Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI to build data centers in space — or so he says

On Monday, Elon Musk announced that he was merging two of his companies, SpaceX and xAI, in a deal said to be worth $1.25 trillion. The reason, Musk said in an announcement, was that in order for AI to grow, it needed to go to space. AI relies on “large terrestrial data centers” that run […]

China is banning hidden electric door handles for EVs
China is banning hidden electric door handles for EVs

China is banning Tesla-style concealed door handles on electric vehicles to address safety concerns regarding people getting trapped inside their cars. The ban will take effect on January 1st next year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s announcement, and will require all vehicles sold in China to have mechanical release door handles […]

The Model S changed everything
The Model S changed everything

The Tesla Model S is at the end of its illustrious 14-year run – and what a dizzying ride it’s been. In 2012, when Tesla made its first Model S deliveries to customers, Facebook acquired Instagram. Apple launched the iPhone 5 and iOS 6. Barack Obama sailed into his second term. Superstorm Sandy shredded New […]

Tesla adds a new Model Y AWD option, and a new price point for you

Tesla listed a $41,990 Model Y AWD trim in the US, adding a new step above the Standard rear-wheel drive model as buyers face higher effective costs and tougher EV competition.
The post Tesla adds a new Model Y AWD option, and a new price point for you…

Pop-out door handles may be on their way out as China cracks down on the controversial design

China has banned hidden door handles on new cars, citing safety concerns around the controversial design.
The post Pop-out door handles may be on their way out as China cracks down on the controversial design appeared first on Digital Trends.

Elon is in the files, Tesla sales are down, and Ford is NOT working with Xiaomi
Elon is in the files, Tesla sales are down, and Ford is NOT working with Xiaomi

On today’s island-hopping episode of Quick Charge, we have to talk about Elon Musk’s cringey appearance in the Epstein files amid Tesla’s rapid sales decline in Europe, as well as the ultra-fast Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and its own rapid sales decline.

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China is leading the fight against hidden car door handles

The Chinese government issued a new rule that goes into effect January 1, 2027.