Andrew J. Hawkins

Two teenagers who were drinking alcohol and shooting a toy gun out the window of their Waymo were arrested last week after being tricked by a remote operator into thinking the vehicle had mechanical problems. Until recently, the debate around Waymo’s remote operators has mostly centered on where they are located, here in the US or overseas? Now we also have to contend with duplicitous remote operators snitching you out to the cops. (But really, don’t shoot water pellets out of your robotaxi. That’s just stupid.) [Link: Here’s how Waymo tricked unruly teen passengers in San Mateo

EV sales were up nearly 15 percent from the start of the year, but the recovery is a bit of a mixed bag.

Waymo is lobbying for a bill that would legalize robotaxis in the District of Columbia. Uber opposes the bill, arguing it would displace human drivers. The bill was up for debate during a marathon hearing today (I just checked; it’s still going), but don’t expect a vote any time soon. As TechCrunch notes, the bill is exposing fractures in the Waymo-Uber relationship that could deepen as more big cities confront similar debates. [Link: Uber’s robotaxi lobbying effort puts it on a collision course with Waymo

As telegraphed earlier this year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation today creating a $3,500 point-of-sale rebate for the purchase of a new electric vehicle priced up to $50,000. Used EVs sold for up to $25,000 get a $1,750 rebate. Automakers headquartered in California aren’t subject to price caps. Naturally, Tesla fans are mad. [Link: As Trump cedes global clean car race to China, Governor Newsom fights back with instant ZEV rebates for first-time buyers

In 2024, a dealership in Colorado offered a lease deal on the electric Fiat 500e that sounded too good to be true: $0 down, and $0 a month. Aside from taxes and insurance, the tiny Italian EV was essentially free. Two of the lads at the YouTube channel TFLEV were able to get in on the deal before it went away. So, 18 months in, how did it go? In a new video, they describe the ownership experience of an EV they call “essentially pretty fun” with a lot of flaws. [Media: https://www.youtube/watch?v=ybqgcAJGYms]

Volkswagen’s cost-cutting crusade could result in model cancellations at all of the auto giant’s brands, including the all-electric Porsche Taycan, Cayenne Coupe, and 718 successor. Other models to get the ax include the VW Jetta and Taos, and the Audi Q5 Sportback and Q6 E-Tron Sportback. VW’s profits have slumped as it faces billions in tariff costs and stiff competition from China. [Link: Porsche's Gas-Powered 718, Next-Gen Taycan Could Face the Chopping Block as VW Seeks Savings: Report

Last month, Slate Auto said its barebones electric truck would start at $24,950, but that amount excluded the destination charge, so it wasn’t the actual final price customers would end up paying. Today, Slate spokesperson Jeff Jablansky emailed to let us know that the freight charge will be $1,450, calling it “the lowest among all pickup trucks in the U.S., because we believe that trucks should be affordable.” That means the total price of the Slate Truck will be $26,400 before factoring in local sales tax. Still pretty cheap! [Image: https://platform.theverge/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/257777_Slate_truck_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]

The EV company's stock plummeted after a report that it was considering bankruptcy. And the panic bled into Lucid's rivals, too.

76 pts Lucid Motors found itself in a tough bind this week, fending off bankruptcy rumors and watching its stock price plunge as a result. The company quickly denied the report, calling it "completely false" and pointing to its available free cash flow as evidence that it has enough runway to operate into next year.…

Bloomberg has the details on some of the gnarlier aspects of a driverless car service, including finding blood, puke, and fecal matter in the vehicles. Emergency responders have received almost 100 calls about passengers falling asleep in their Waymos, and then failing to wake up at their destination. This story reminds me of one I helped report nearly six years ago about Waymo contractors discovering hypodermic needles in the cars. The more things change… [Link: Robotaxi Riders Are Falling Asleep, Sparking Frantic 911 Calls