Dec 13, 2019

Self-driving truck makes historic cross-country trek

Joann Muller

Plus.ai encountered sleet on its cross-country trek. Photo courtesy of Plus.ai

Self-driving truck company Plus.ai says it completed the first coast-to-coast commercial freight run with an autonomous truck.

Why it matters: Driving both day and night, Plus.ai completed the 2,800-mile trip from Tulare, Calif., to Quakertown, Pa., in less than three days, an important milestone in validating the system’s ability to safely handle a wide range of weather and road conditions.

  • Notably, the truck drove primarily in autonomous mode without disengaging, even while navigating challenging winter weather, winding mountain roads, road construction and tunnels.
  • A safety driver was on board at all times to monitor and assume control if needed, and a safety engineer was present to monitor system operations.
  • The truck was hauling 40,000 pounds of refrigerated butter for Land O’Lakes.

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Marisa Fernandez

GM to bring Hummer back as an electric vehicle

A discontinued Hummer pickup truck. GM has yet to debut revivied electric vehicle's new look. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

General Motors plans to reintroduce the Hummer to consumers as an electric pickup truck under the GMC brand, unnamed sources familiar with the matter tell the Wall Street Journal.

The big picture: The revival is a part of automakers' race to introduce more electric trucks and SUVs to the market. Tesla unveiled its version of an electric pickup dubbed the Cybertruck in November, expected to arrive by late 2021.

Go deeperArrowJan 10, 2020
Joann Muller

Nothing but sunshine for AVs in Florida

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Florida has become a hotbed for self-driving cars, thanks to its mild weather, unique demographics, lenient laws and an ambitious state senator.

Why it matters: States at the forefront of autonomous vehicle testing stand to reap the economic benefits — and perhaps problems, too — of self-driving cars.

Go deeperArrowDec 13, 2019
Joann Muller

Keeping expectations for self-driving cars in check

Argo AI CEO Bryan Salesky. Photo: Courtesy of Argo AI

The rollout of self-driving cars is happening as it should — gradually and safely — Bryan Salesky, CEO of Argo AI, a leading developer of automated driving technology, tells Axios.

The big picture: Self-driving vehicles could help improve safety, reduce traffic congestion and improve access to transportation for many, but those benefits will come slowly and as part of a larger transportation system, Salesky said.

Go deeperArrowDec 20, 2019