Tue April 14, 2026 | Mobility Monitor

Autonomous Vehicles

Uber and Nuro have begun early test rides of Lucid Gravity robotaxis equipped with Nuro's Level 4 autonomy systems, with a select group of riders now participating in tests in California (TechCrunch)
A LinkedIn analysis explores how robotaxis could disrupt traditional car rentals once geofences expand and multi-day booking reaches cost parity with rental rates (LinkedIn)

Slate Auto closed a $650 million Series C round led by TWG Global, with its budget electric pickup truck expected to start in the mid-$20,000s and launch in late 2026 (Electrek)
Mercedes-Benz unveiled an overhauled EQS with 926 km WLTP range, 800V architecture, up to 350 kW DC charging, and steer-by-wire technology, the first for a German production car, starting at roughly $103,000 (Electrek)
Volkswagen CEO promised a renewed EV lineup starting with updated ID.3 and ID.4 models, admitting the brand had lost touch with buyers (Electrek)
Kia began building the first EV3 prototypes at its Mexico plant ahead of US sales later this year (Electrek)
Toyota's bZ electric SUV became the third best-selling EV in the US in Q1, surpassing the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Chevy Equinox EV, and Ford Mustang Mach-E (Electrek)
Tesla rolled out its Spring Update 2026 software featuring voice-activated Grok, a redesigned Self-Driving subscription app, and auto-install for updates (Electrek)
Nissan revealed the first images of the next-gen Xterra, confirming hybrid and non-hybrid V6 options, as part of a broader turnaround plan to cut its model lineup from 56 to 45 vehicles (The Drive)
Infiniti announced a push for five new models in five years, including new body-on-frame luxury SUVs, as part of Nissan's turnaround plan (The Drive)

Uber is testing a rental car delivery model that lets customers skip the counter and shuttle, with cars brought directly to them, in partnership with Avis (View from the Wing)
Hertz is expanding its rental car facility at Denver International Airport with a nine-acre parking lot addition as part of a broader brand consolidation and modernization effort (LinkedIn)

United Airlines reportedly floated a possible merger with American Airlines, which would create the largest US carrier (Skift)
Southwest CEO Bob Jordan claimed a 20% cost advantage over American, Delta, and United despite rising fuel costs (Skift)
Qantas is cutting US and domestic routes as a fuel crisis forces a strategic pivot toward European flying (Skift)
American Airlines now supports the revamped iOS 26 Wallet boarding pass experience (MacRumors)

Uber for Business is promoting its business travel program offering streamlined trips and perks for frequent work travelers (Uber for Business)

Sierra AI CEO Bret Taylor, who also chairs the OpenAI board, discussed how AI agents are reshaping loyalty programs and travel distribution in a Skift session (Skift)
Research shows consumers remain uncomfortable letting AI fully take over travel booking, with loss of control and data privacy cited as top concerns (Phocuswire)
AI is increasingly being used behind the scenes in luxury travel for efficiency and personalization, but human expertise remains central to the high-touch experience (Phocuswire)

Chipotle overhauled its rewards program with more free items, greater redemption flexibility, and an in-store enrollment campaign to grow its loyalty base (CX Dive)
Consumer sentiment dropped sharply, with research indicating stressed consumers have less tolerance for friction and are quicker to abandon brands over poor experiences (CX Dive)
Dollar General is rolling out an AI-powered in-store audio program through its media network to approximately 6,000 locations via a new partnership with QSIC (Retail Dive)

Booking.com disclosed a data breach affecting reservation details, leaving travelers with limited information to assess their risk (Skift)
US tourism continues its rebound but Asian visitors, among the highest-value travelers, are not returning at expected levels (Skift)
TowneBank sold its vacation rental management business in a $250 million deal, reflecting continued investor appetite for scaled short-term rental operations (Skift)
LVMH's quarterly results offer signals about how Middle East conflict is reshaping demand for high-end travel and hospitality (Skift)
BWH Hotels launched a new upscale outdoor camping brand under its WorldHotels soft-brand portfolio as part of an effort to capitalize on the outdoor travel trend (Skift)