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Tech News
Spotify has introduced a native in-car application that runs directly on vehicle dashboard systems rather than mirroring content from a connected phone. The app adds features such as video playback, synced lyrics, and improved playback controls designed for in-car use.
Tesla showcased its Roadster performing a jump and an upside-down landing using cold-gas thrusters and compressed air, part of CEO Elon Musk's pitch that the car can effectively 'fly.' Observers have since questioned whether the demo vehicles were stripped-down props lacking full batteries or the suction-fan system Tesla described, and whether two different cars were used for the two stunts.
Miles, a $99 OBD-II device from cofounders Matt McGovern and Kit Klein, tracks a vehicle's location, driving behavior, and health, and includes emergency accident response and roadside assistance. It pairs with an app that shows parents and teen drivers the same trip data and alerts, plus an AI chatbot called Miles Mechanic that interprets dashboard warning lights and estimates repair costs.
General Motors has begun rolling out Apple Wallet digital car key support across nine vehicles from Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC, including the Escalade, Lyriq, Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon lines. The rollout started in a limited form in late September, is expanding through October, and will reach the remaining vehicles by December, with GM saying more models will gain support over time.
Following Tesla's unveiling of a Roadster with cold-gas thrusters that let it briefly fly, some Tesla enthusiasts have created AI-generated videos imagining scenarios where this capability would be useful, such as leaping over a collapsing bridge or jumping toll booths. One widely shared clip depicts the car vaulting a gap in a bridge mid-collapse.
A driver recounts witnessing many cars without lights on during a heavy, low-visibility rainstorm, and investigating why. The explanation offered is that car light controls use ambiguous iconography distinguishing 'parking' lights (dim front only) from full 'driving' lights, with symbols that don't intuitively map to their function, and dashboard feedback that looks the same in both modes from inside the car.
Aviation experts say any version of Tesla's Roadster 2 capable of flight would need FAA certification, a process that could take at least a year, plus clearance to operate in national airspace. Pilots would likely need a recreational aviation license rather than a standard driver's license, and most states restrict takeoffs and landings to airports or designated helipads rather than public roads.
Tesla plans to reveal its next-generation Roadster on Thursday at a SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas, nearly ten years after it began collecting deposits for the car. The company recently reopened $50,000 reservations in the U.S., Canada and China, and executives are expected to share pricing, specifications and production targets at the event.
Tesla is set to unveil its long-delayed next-generation Roadster at an event scheduled for 8:55PM ET on October 15. The car was first previewed in 2017 with claimed specs of a 620-mile range and 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds, but its launch has been repeatedly postponed since a planned 2020 debut. CEO Elon Musk has teased the event on X, suggesting it will include a dramatic demonstration.
China's auto industry association reported that passenger car exports jumped 64% year-on-year in September, as domestic sales growth remains weak. Automakers are increasingly turning to overseas markets to sustain growth, even as the EU caps imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles at 350,000 units annually.
Lawmakers are pushing legislation that would mandate automakers include AM radio receivers in every new car sold, countering a trend of manufacturers removing the feature. Automakers have cited rising costs and technical issues, particularly interference from electric vehicle components, as reasons for dropping AM radio from new models. Supporters of the bill argue the technology remains critical for public safety and emergency broadcasts.
Citroën revealed the 2 CV Concept, an all-electric reimagining of its classic compact car, at the Paris Motor Show after teasing it in March. The company says a production version will launch within two years with a target starting price of about 15,000 euros ($16,800), though many of the concept's quirky design features are unlikely to survive regulatory requirements.