Mobility Monitor

Autonomous Vehicles

• Waymo's autonomous vehicles successfully navigated over 7,000 dark traffic signals during a major outage, demonstrating the resilience of its self-driving technology. Self-Driven News
• South Korea's National Assembly dropped data privacy requirements for autonomous vehicle testing, easing regulatory barriers for AV development. EV Blog
• Hyundai unveiled its physical AI strategy, showcasing the Atlas humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics and outlining autonomous mobility plans. MOVEMNT

Electric Vehicles

• Tesla launched a new all-wheel drive Cybertruck starting at $59,990, but CEO Elon Musk indicated the model will only be available for 10 days before pricing changes. Electrek / The Verge
• Ethiopian officials report the country is doing well after becoming the first nation to ban new gas car sales in 2024, despite some implementation challenges. Electrek
• Chinese EV brand Nio performed 165,898 battery swaps in a single day, demonstrating the scalability of battery-swap infrastructure. Electrek
• Lucid Motors is cutting 12% of its US workforce ahead of launching its $50,000 midsize EV, marking the company's third formal layoff round since 2023. Electrek / TechCrunch
• Ganfeng Lithium, the world's largest lithium metal producer, began mass-producing semi-solid-state batteries with 650 Wh/kg energy density for major automakers including Tesla, Volkswagen, and Hyundai. Electrek
• Hyundai's IONIQ 9 three-row electric SUV outsold Kia's competing model by more than five times in Korea, though US sales have been slower. Electrek
• Kia's EV5 midsize electric SUV is getting a refresh with a major interior overhaul spotted during testing. Electrek
• Volvo announced price cuts of up to $5,251 on its EX30 and EX30 Cross Country electric SUVs in South Korea, effective March 1. EV Blog
• Pennsylvania is investing $100 million in federal funding to install public EV chargers in communities, expanding beyond highway corridors. Electrek
• Royal Enfield's first electric motorcycle, the Flying Flea C6, was spotted testing uncamouflaged in Chennai, revealing near-final production design details. Electrek

AI/Automation

• Walmart reports that half of its app users have interacted with its AI agent "Sparky," with those users showing higher average order values. CX Dive
• Klarna is pursuing an "Uber-style" customer service model where AI handles basic inquiries while human agents focus on VIP relationships and complex issues. CX Dive
• Wyndham and Marriott are developing AI agent platforms to drive direct bookings, potentially reducing dependence on OTAs like Booking Holdings. Skift / Phocuswire
• Anthropic faces potential exclusion from a major military contract due to its policies against AI use in autonomous weapons and government surveillance. Wired

Automotive Industry

• A federal judge rejected Tesla's bid to overturn a $243 million jury verdict over a fatal 2019 Autopilot crash, exhausting the company's trial court options. Electrek / TechCrunch
• Tech reviewer MKBHD revealed that Tesla cut off communication with him after he sold his Cybertruck and published criticism, forcing him to source vehicles from local dealers. EV Blog
• The US Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that President Trump's reciprocal tariffs are unlawful, potentially requiring at least $175 billion in refunds. Trump subsequently reaffirmed 25% auto tariffs and imposed an additional 10% global duty. Retail Dive / Wired / EV Blog
• EU car sales fell 3.6% year-over-year in January despite strong growth from Chinese brands, according to Dataforce. EV Blog
• America risks becoming an "automotive backwater" due to policy missteps, emissions rollbacks, and loss of competitive position in electric vehicles. The Verge
• Institutional investors increased their stakes in both Lucid Motors and Rivian during Q4 2025, despite stock volatility. EV Blog / EV Blog

Rental Car Industry

• Hertz held its annual employee car show at its Florida headquarters, featuring a new "Meet the Fleet" program to familiarize employees with vehicles joining the rental fleet. Hertz LinkedIn

Hotel Industry

• Ennismore CEO outlined plans for expansion in India following the Mumbai debut, focusing on building for Indian customers while maintaining global brand standards. Skift

Travel Technology

• Venture firm invested $465 million in Navan amid multiple law firm investigations into potential IPO violations following its October 2025 public offering. Phocuswire