NHTSA investigates comma.ai’s openpilot over 5 crashes that killed 3

A new defect petition accuses Tesla’s Robotaxis of speeding through active school zones, and NHTSA has opened a file to decide whether to investigate. The agency puts the affected fleet at about 1,000 vehicles, Model Y and Cybercab. It’s the third federal action aimed at Tesla’s driverless fleet in about five weeks, after an audit query and a Special Order over how the Cybercab was certified.

NHTSA has ordered Tesla to prove that its Cybercab is even legal to sell. The agency issued a formal Special Order on September 10 demanding that the company show, under oath, how a vehicle with no steering wheel, no pedals, and no mirrors complies with federal safety standards written for human drivers. Tesla has until September 30 to respond. Failing to answer fully and truthfully carries penalties of up to $139 million. more…

Tesla’s Cybercab is already under federal investigation. NHTSA opened an audit into how Tesla certified the vehicle the same day the company started putting passengers in it in Austin. The probe targets the exact thing that makes the Cybercab unusual: it has no steering wheel, no pedals, and no mirrors, and Tesla certified it as road-legal anyway.

The last Nissan GT-R spent nearly 20 years giving Nissan something most mainstream brands didn't have. Specifically, it had supercar-like speed, killer looks, and it cost less than cars it outperformed. Then, in August of last year, it ended production without a direct successor, leaving a high-horsepower gap in the market. Based on new comments from Kia's R&D boss, it would love to be the brand that fills the gap. Speaking to Autocar, Hyundai Motor Group R&D chief Manfred Harrer talked about the GT line and the potential for something above it. "I like the idea," says Harrer. "You see a lot of car makers going that way, so why not?," he said. Keep in mind, this is a guy who previously worked at BMW and Porsche. Performance machines at the top end of the segment are familiar to him. That said, his focus right now appears to be something between what Kia offers now and a GT-R-esque model.

Charlen holds a BA Languages & Culture degree and has over a decade of experience in automotive journalism. His work experience includes stints at CAR Mag and News24 Motoring. Charlen didn't grow up in a 'car family' like other journalists, but the vehicles that treaded his family home's driveway ignited a deep appreciation for it. The spark that ignited a thousand flames began when he started his grandfather's 1970s Chevrolet El Camino - revving the straight-six 4.1-litre engine and feeling things a 9-year-old probably should not feel (just yet). Years later, while studying BA Languages & Culture at the University of Stellenbosch, he interned at CAR Magazine - South Africa's oldest motor publication - during the holidays, followed by a year-long internship at Wheels24 in 2016. He joined News24 Motoring permanently in 2020, followed by a move to News24 Sport where he was the motorsport editor. In 2024, he rejoined CAR as its Used-Car Editor. However, a restructuring at CAR left him in a freelance position - one he still holds - contributing content to the title's print and digital platforms. These days, the midsize pickup segment has become an arms race of turbocharged

Gerhard started his career in automotive journalism in 2010, after finishing degrees in Communication, English, and Politics, and diplomas in Film and Art Appreciation and Graphic Design. He's currently a senior editor with experience in local and global coverage, and more than 1,000 test cars driven. He started his career at CarBuzz in January 2021. We take a closer look at the team responsible for transforming this easily overlooked Škoda.