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Andrew J. Hawkins

Andrew J. Hawkins

Transportation editor

Transportation editor

    More From Andrew J. Hawkins

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Hyundai made its own version of the Ford Bronco.

    The Hyundai Boulder was a surprise reveal at the New York Auto Show this week, and suffice to say it made a splash. The body-on-frame concept sits on massive 37-inch tires, and will be designed, built, and manufactured in the US. Hyundai says the platform will also spawn a mid-sized truck by 2030.

    1/9Image: Hyundai
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Rivian and Volkswagen go winter testing.

    The Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies joint venture brought one of its new software-defined test vehicles to Sweden and Germany to see how it handles the cold. They stress-tested the all-wheel drive system and validated over-the-air software functionality, amid other tests. Most importantly, the completion of these tests bring Rivian a step closer to receiving the next tranche of investment from VW, which will be crucial as the automaker ramps up its R2 production.

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Crooked cab, crooked cab.

    A prototype Tesla Cybercab was spotted out and about in Los Angeles recently, complete with a steering wheel and a human driver. The panel gaps, of course, were in full display. But the cab’s apparent misalignment was the thing that really caught this TikTok user’s attention. Also his observation that it looks like “a Pixar Model 3” is going to live rent-free in my brain for the rest of time.

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Stellantis employees are getting ticketed for parking their non-Stellantis vehicles at work.

    The company apparently gives parking priority to employees who own Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, or Ram vehicles, The Wall Street Journal reports. But if you get caught parking a rival brand in the wrong lot, you get a warning. And now many Stellantis employees are posting their frustrations on Reddit. One employee said he got a ticket for parking his Eagle Talon sports car in the lot — despite Eagle being a defunct nameplate from Chrysler.

    Andrew J. Hawkins
    Andrew J. Hawkins
    In a pinch, Waymo relies on cops and firefighters to move its robotaxis.

    The company has a roadside assistance team that it dispatches to move vehicles when they get trapped. But sometimes Waymo needs emergency responders to actually get behind the wheel. TechCrunch got the 911 dispatches and incident reports from California:

    “Highway patrol turned everyone around, but unfortunately our car is not able to turn around,” one of Waymo’s remote assistance workers told an area 911 dispatcher, according to a recording obtained by TechCrunch in a public records request. The employee wanted officers on the scene to drive the robotaxi away, and to arrange transportation for the passenger inside.