Ed Garsten

Rivian's new R2 electric SUV, starting at $49,990, offers luxurious features and instant acceleration, belying its lower price point. CEO RJ Scaringe hails it as Rivian's best product, anticipating it will be their highest-volume offering. The company achieved this affordability through "design by subtraction," cleverly reducing costs, complexity, and weight without compromising the Rivian experience. Innovations include significantly less wiring, in-sourced power electronics, a unibody structure, and a battery pack that doubles as the vehicle's floor. Rivian also developed components like light controllers in-house, saving immense costs. These strategic engineering and manufacturing efficiencies allowed Rivian to deliver a premium feel at a more accessible price, ensuring the R2 maintains the brand's core DNA.

Federal regulators are demanding automated vehicle (AV) developers address dangerous incidents where robotaxis interfere with emergency responders. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison called AVs blocking emergency vehicles and failing to recognize safety signals "unacceptable" and a "danger to the general public." He's launching an AV Framework and summit, but insists developers prioritize solutions for first responder interactions. However, experts like Dr. Henry Liu from the University of Michigan argue the operating environment isn't ready, advocating for rigorous safety testing and AI-enabled digital infrastructure. Tal Cohen of DriveTLV also suggests a centralized "habitat" is needed, not just smarter cars.

Brunswick Corporation has introduced AutoCaptain, an autonomous docking system under its Simrad brand, designed to simplify challenging boat maneuvers. Unlike parking a car, boat docking is complex due to environmental factors like wind and waves, and a vessel's unique control dynamics. AutoCaptain uses six stereo cameras and NVIDIA processing for 360-degree environmental understanding, plotting paths and avoiding obstacles via computer vision and machine learning. This specialized AI operates locally on the boat, addressing connectivity limitations. While currently focused on docking, Brunswick plans to expand its capabilities to open-water autopilot features. Experts view this "physical AI" as a broader trend, simplifying tasks across robotics, smart homes, and other industries.

Infinit, Nissan's luxury brand, is on a path to greatly expand its product line and fully embrace hybrids, its new vice president revealed in a wide-ranging interview.

Archer Aviation and Electra Aero used the Farnborough Air Show to make announcements on new aircraft and production facility. Elsewhere, Varshon unveiled a camper plane.

Archer Aviation and Anduril Industries unveiled their dual-use autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms, "Thunder" (defense) and "Halo" (commercial). Both share core systems, featuring a series-electric hybrid powertrain and dual tiltrotors for efficiency and noise reduction. Designed for low-cost, high-volume production, these VTOLs offer lower operating costs and eliminate human pilot risk, operating in small spaces. Halo targets resupply, freight, and emergency aid, with Thunder's first flight planned for 2027. Separately, Electra announced an $850 million production facility in Ohio for its EL9 Ultra-Short aircraft, creating nearly 2,000 jobs. Varshon Aircraft also introduced the Ranger Grand Teton, a rugged plane that doubles as a camper, starting at $241,000.

Author, marketing and PR powerhouse Don McLean is back on Tales From the Beat to discuss with host Ed Garsten, his new platform for democratizing PR for those who can't afford to pay for a PR agency, how AI has changed story pitching and release creation and its limitations.

Loccation-based audio storytelling platform Autio,, announced Tuesday, that it is launching its embedded app directly into select Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the U.S.

Cargo theft costs the trucking industry over $18 million daily, with auto transport companies increasingly targeted by sophisticated hackers. Thieves infiltrate shipping networks and reroute high-value vehicles, often new models worth around $80,000, to undisclosed locations and sometimes out of the country. An average of three vehicles are hijacked at a time, according to one transport platform. Another scam is called "double brokering," when carriers illegally pass loads to third parties but don't pay the actual transporter, voiding insurance and leaving shippers liable for significant losses. Industry experts emphasize robust cybersecurity to better recognize red flags, like altered contact information, and to use specialized tracking tools.

A spirited conversation with Kira Shishkin, creator and CEO of news text service informed.now that looks at how it works, how stories and links are chosen and why he thinks its daily feeds better serve those tired of news that contains ads, clickbait and clutter.