Thu March 12, 2026 | Mobility Monitor

Electric Vehicles

Honda cancels three US-built electric vehicles before launch, taking up to $7.5 billion loss, citing tariffs, emissions regulations changes, and Chinese competition TechCrunch
GM's Chevrolet Bolt returns from the dead in unprecedented EV reversal The Drive
BMW's new iX3 Neue Klasse EV priced around $60,000 in Australia, more affordable than most luxury rivals Electrek
Volkswagen's entry-level ID. Polo spotted as R-Line hot hatch model ahead of official debut Electrek
Kia's cheapest EV, the EV2, looks like a baby Seltos with upright, boxy design Electrek
Rivian phasing out R1S Dual Standard, its most affordable SUV, ahead of R2 launch Electrek
CATL files international patent for solid-state battery technology to overcome market challenges Electrek

Zoox and Uber partner to deploy purpose-built robotaxis on Uber's network in Las Vegas this year and Los Angeles in 2027 Electrek / TechCrunch
Uber, Wayve, and Nissan plan to launch robotaxi service in Tokyo this year using self-driving Nissan Leaf vehicles TechCrunch
Nuro begins testing autonomous vehicle technology on Tokyo's public roads, marking first international expansion TechCrunch
NTSB documents reveal drivers in fatal Ford BlueCruise crashes were likely distracted before impact TechCrunch
UK industry experts describe 2026 as "pivotal year" for autonomy at CAM Innovators' Day MoveMnt
Nvidia's head of automotive discusses plan to compete with Waymo and Tesla in autonomous driving The Verge

inDrive acquires Pakistan's KraveMart to expand grocery delivery services TechCrunch

Air India raises fuel surcharge citing Iran war, taking upfront approach to discussing financial challenges Skift
Middle East aviation risk: three airlines create fragile global network vulnerable to geopolitical disruption Skift
U.S. citizen stuck in Qatar as State Department manages repatriation flights amid service cancellations Skift
Iran war disrupts Dubai travel, stranding million passengers and plunging Gulf travel hub into chaos The Verge
Indian hotels' cooking gas supply shut off by Iran war and reliance on imported fuel Skift

U-Save launches franchise at Istanbul Airport as part of rapid Turkey expansion Auto Rental News
Hertz data shows Spring Break travel stretching beyond single peak week into longer, value-focused season with Orlando, LA, Phoenix, Atlanta, Vegas topping destinations Hertz LinkedIn

Uber uses Figma Console MCP to automate design system documentation, reducing weeks of work to minutes Uber Engineering LinkedIn
Ford Pro AI assistant launches to help fleet owners monitor seatbelt usage and other metrics TechCrunch
Google Maps adds Gemini-powered "Ask Maps" feature for complex, personalized location queries The Verge
Meta developing four new MTIA chips to power AI and recommendation systems Wired
Nvidia investing $26 billion to build open-weight AI models, positioning to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic Wired

Study shows consumers only use five loyalty programs on average, seeking simplicity, speed, and relevance CX Dive
Half of consumers spend more at checkout when process is fast and frictionless, NMI survey finds CX Dive

Hyatt CFO reports wealthy travelers rerouting rather than canceling trips after Mexico violence and Iran war Skift
All-inclusive travel gains popularity as travelers seek personalized experiences and activity variety Skift
Montreal emerges as world's second most important travel tech hub with $15 billion infrastructure layer Skift
Bilt acquires travel commissions platform Sion for $30 million to support travel rewards offering Phocuswire
Short-term rental sector betting on AI search to drive direct bookings Phocuswire

Porsche teases models above 911 to help stem profit slide after weak 2025 The Drive
SRT to "push the limits" of Dodge's twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six engine for new Charger The Drive
Harbinger launches HC Series Cab low cab forward electric box truck in BEV and EREV versions Electrek
BLUETTI Elite 300 launches as world's smallest 3kWh power station with 58% launch discount Electrek
Lucid Motors names first two midsize EVs "Cosmos" and "Earth," ships Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Gravity SUV TechCrunch

Sodium-ion batteries deployed on Midwestern grid in first-of-its-kind pilot Electrek
Tesla Energy wins license to supply electricity to UK homes, effective March 11 Electrek
San Francisco moves to install curbside EV chargers on city streets Electrek
Group14 opens BAM-3 factory to produce silicon anode materials for flash-charging EVs TechCrunch

Texas woman sues Tesla for $1 million over Cybertruck Autopilot crash, alleging negligent retention of Elon Musk Electrek
Musk confirms xAI-Tesla joint "Digital Optimus" project after claiming Tesla didn't need xAI Electrek
Rivian spin-out Mind Robotics raises $500 million for industrial AI-powered robots TechCrunch
Disney taps new leader for Parks and Experiences division, company's financial engine Skift
Meta removed 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to criminal scam centers in 2025 Wired
Iran warns US tech firms including Google, Microsoft, and Palantir could become targets as war expands Wired

California cities considering bans on students riding e-bikes to school Electrek
More US cities allowing golf carts on public roads through simplified permitting and local ordinances Electrek