Wheels: Elon Musk Shows Off Tesla ‘Robotaxi’ That Drives Itself

"You could fall asleep and wake up at your destination," said Mr. Musk, Tesla's C.E.O.

View in browser|nytimes.com October 15, 2024 The Wheels newsletter is delivered monthly. The next one will appear on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Tingshu Wang/Reuters Elon Musk Shows Off Tesla 'Robotaxi' That Drives Itself "You could fall asleep and wake up at your destination," said Mr. Musk, Tesla's C.E.O., but some experts are skeptical that such cars will be ferrying passengers soon. By Jack Ewing Saul Martinez for The New York Times Can Your Electric Vehicle Catch Fire During a Hurricane? E.V. batteries that are submerged in saltwater can catch fire after the floods subside, but experts say it's a rarity. By Austyn Gaffney and Brad Plumer Ingmar Nolting for The New York Times Volkswagen's Woes Reflect a Stagnant German Economy Germany's largest automaker rode a wave of strong sales for years, but lagging demand and pressure from China are forcing it to consider layoffs. By Melissa Eddy Edgar Su/Reuters Six F1 Grands Prix Are Now Held at Night. Singapore Was the First. Initially there were doubts about holding events in the evening, and on the streets of a city, but they faded quickly. By Alex Kalinauckas Jason Henry for The New York Times times insider When Self-Driving Cars Don't Actually Drive Themselves An immersive article shows readers what a New York Times reporter has tracked for nearly a decade: Robot taxis still need human help. By Cade Metz Yonhap News Agency, via Reuters A Mercedes-Benz Fire Jolts South Korea's E.V. Transition The government is aggressively promoting electric cars. But a dramatic blaze in an underground lot has left some potential buyers worried about safety. By Jin Yu Young NEWS Cruise, G.M.'s Self-Driving Unit, Will Pay $1.5 Million Federal Fine The General Motors subsidiary reached a settlement with the main auto safety regulator after one of its self-driving taxis struck a pedestrian in San Francisco last year. By Jack Ewing Stellantis, Owner of Chrysler and Jeep, Slashes Profit Forecast The automaker, created by a 2021 merger, is dealing with labor unrest, slumping sales and a revolt from its dealers. By Jack Ewing G.M. Electric Vehicles Gain Access to Tesla Chargers After a delay of several months, General Motors said owners of its battery-powered models would now be able to use Tesla charging stations with adapters. By Jack Ewing G.M. and Hyundai Plan to Work Together on New Vehicles General Motors and the South Korean automaker say they will collaborate on new vehicles, buying parts and clean energy technologies. By Neal E. Boudette Volkswagen Quits Labor Agreement, Paving Way for Job Cuts A week after the automaker announced it was considering closing factories in Germany, the company said it was exiting a labor contract that protected workers from layoffs. By Melissa Eddy Former Volkswagen Chief Executive Faces Trial in Emissions Case Nine years after the carmaker admitted to concealing emissions on a massive scale, Martin Winterkorn will be tried in a German court. By Jack Ewing and Tatiana Firsova Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Wheels from The New York Times. To stop receiving Wheels, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018