Factory co-founder Matan Grinberg said on X that he removed Chris Degnan from his role as board advisor after alleging Degnan shared confidential Factory information with competitor Cognition. Hours later, Degnan announced on X and LinkedIn that he had joined Cognition as chief revenue officer. Grinberg said Degnan had previously denied any interest in joining Cognition before disclosing ongoing talks with the company this week.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-30
Simon Sapin, a Factorio player, describes using matrix math to plan factory production and has released a free online calculator tool to model the game's Quality system introduced in the Space Age expansion. The tool helps players calculate probabilities and outcomes when using quality modules to upgrade items through the game's five tiers, from normal to legendary.
exyr.org
· 2026-09-29
According to The Information, Tesla has been struggling for over a year to build reliable, durable hands for its Optimus humanoid robot, prompting engineers to develop a swappable 'sensing glove' instead of embedded touch sensors. Most Optimus units built so far are used for internal testing rather than sold to customers, and remain limited to simple repetitive tasks despite extensive training data.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-28
Volkswagen confirmed it is discontinuing the ID.4 crossover and replacing it with an all-electric ID.Tiguan, which launches in Europe in early 2027 and will reach the US at an unspecified later date. The ID.4, which sold roughly 950,000 units since 2021, ended production at VW's Chattanooga plant in April 2026, and the new model will join the ID.Polo and ID.Cross in VW's electric lineup.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-28
Google confirmed to Engadget it has stopped manufacturing the Nest Mini and Nest Audio speakers, following the launch of a new smart speaker earlier this year, but will keep providing software updates and support. Factory resets on these devices require physical button presses rather than voice commands or the Google Home app, with slightly different steps for the 1st-gen Home Mini, 2nd-gen Nest Mini, and Nest Hub displays.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-26
According to The Information, Tesla has converted its Fremont factory—no longer building the Model S or Model X—to Optimus humanoid robot production, shifting line workers and engineers onto the project. The report describes manufacturing difficulties with the Optimus V3, including trouble precisely aligning components and limits on production line speed, with output currently at hundreds of units weekly against a stated goal of over 1,000 per week by the end of 2026.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-25
Following Google's September Pixel Drop, some Pixel owners reported being unable to unlock their phones using pattern or PIN lock screens. Affected users described failed attempts with safe mode, screen cleaning, and external mice, with several forced to factory reset their devices and lose all data. Google has reportedly been reaching out to affected users on Reddit threads.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-25
Tesla held a ribbon-cutting for its first high-volume Semi manufacturing facility in Sparks, Nevada, nearly a decade after unveiling the heavy-duty electric truck. The company has already secured commitments including a 2,500-truck order from industry coalition ZET SCALE and a 500-truck order from trucking firm Einride, with deliveries beginning this month.
cnbc.com
· 2026-09-24
In a California state trial over alleged racist treatment of more than 6,000 Black workers at Tesla's Fremont factory, company attorneys argued the n-word can function as a 'term of respect and endearment.' The trial's first witness also testified that Tesla's senior counsel misrepresented themselves as state representatives before the case began, according to Electrek.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-24
California's Civil Rights Department began presenting its case against Tesla on Monday, alleging years of racist harassment at the company's Fremont assembly plant, including swastikas, Confederate flag imagery, and slurs directed at Black workers. The lawsuit, filed in 2022 after complaints dating back to 2012, also claims Black employees received unequal pay and fewer advancement opportunities than colleagues. Tesla has denied wrongdoing and called the suit misguided, while its attorney argued the N-word was used casually among workers rather than as an insult.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-24
Toyota plans to invest $6.42 billion annually beginning in 2028 to add 150,000 robots at its own auto plants and 250,000 more at group facilities making parts and materials, according to Nikkei Asia. Workers are already helping train Toyota's wheeled ELEY humanoid robots by wearing finger-shaped jigs to teach precise hand movements. Executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima said the goal is for robots to coexist with humans rather than replace them.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-22
Germany's automotive sector is confronting a sharp downturn, with European car sales dropping from nearly 18 million units in 2019 to about 13 million in 2025. Rising competition from Chinese manufacturers, new 25 percent US tariffs on imports, and an aging workforce have combined to push Volkswagen Group toward considering shutting four of its domestic factories, a move once thought unimaginable.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-22
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