Former Uber Technologies Inc. engineer Anthony Levandowski was charged with stealing driverless-vehicle technology from Alphabet Inc.s Waymo unit, resurrecting the intrigue of the biggest legal battle to grip Silicon Valley in recent memory.The 33-count indictment announced August 27 by federal officials in California adds a new criminal chapter to the saga surrounding Waymos civil claims of trade-secret theft against Uber.Even after the companies abruptly settled the litigation in the middle of a high-stakes trial last year, questions remained about the mysterious engineer at the center of the turmoil.All of us have the right to change jobs, San Francisco U.S. Attorney David Anderson said at a press conference in San Jose. None of us has the right to fill our pockets on the way out the door. Theft is not innovation.Levandowski, 39, voluntarily surrendered to authorities and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if hes convicted. Anderson said the governments investigation is ongoing, but he declined to discuss the probe further.Levandowski didnt steal anything from anyone, his lawyer, Miles Ehrlich, said in a statement. The indictment rehashes claims discredited in a civil case that settled more than a year and a half ago.In his initial court appearance Tuesday, Levandowski pleaded not guilty and was released by a judge for now on US$2 million bail and a condition that he wear an ankle bracelet. He was told to return to court September 4 for another bail hearing after prosecutors voiced concern that with his vast wealth and dual citizenship in France, he might try to charter a private plane and flee.Legal experts had long speculated about what prosecutors might have found after the San Francisco judge handling the Waymo lawsuit referred it for further investigation in May 2017 and the case produced streams of evidence and testimony embarrassing to Uber. Emails and texts revealed a deeply personal connection between Levandowski and Ubers then-chief executive officer, Travis Kalanick. The criminal charges largely mirror Waymos civil claims that Levandowski while he was still at the company hatched a plan in 2015 with Uber for him to steal more than 14,000 proprietary files, including the designs for lidar technology that helps driverless cars see their surroundings.Throughout the case, U.S. District Judge William Alsup said it seemed overwhelmingly clear Levandowski took confidential files from Waymo but that theres no smoking gun proof Uber illegally used the information.Uber said in a statement Tuesday that it has cooperated with the governments investigation and will continue to do so.Waymo said, We have always believed competition should be fueled by innovation, and we appreciate the work of the U.S. Attorneys Office and the FBI on this case.Pronto, Levandowskis latest autonomous vehicle venture, said Tuesday that its chief safety officer will take over as CEO as a result of the
Origin: Ex-Uber engineer Levandowski charged by U.S. with stealing self-driving car secrets
U.S.
China tariffs will add 25 per cent to cars imported from U.S.
US President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he departs the White House, in Washington, DC, on June 2, 2019.Jim Watson / Getty Images China on Friday announced tariff hikes on US$75 billion of U.S. products in retaliation for President Donald Trumps latest planned increase, deepening a conflict over trade and technology that threatens to tip a weakening global economy into recession.China also will increase import duties on U.S.-made autos and auto parts, the Finance Ministry announced.Tariffs of 10 per cent and 5 per cent will take effect on two batches of goods on September 1 and December 15, the ministry said in a statement. It gave no details of what goods would be affected but the timing matches Trumps planned duty hikes.A separate statement said tariffs of 25 per cent and 5 per cent would be imposed on U.S.-made autos and auto parts on December 15. Beijing announced that increase last year but suspended it after Trump and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, agreed at a meeting in December in Argentina to put off further trade action while they negotiated.Trump and Xi agreed in June to resume negotiations. But talks in Shanghai in July ended with no indication of progress. Negotiators talked by phone this month and are due to meet again in Washington next month. BMW, Tesla, Ford and Mercedes-Benz are likely to be the hardest hit by the Chinese auto tariffs. In 2018, BMW exported about 87,000 luxury SUVs to China from a plant near Spartanburg, South Carolina. It exports more vehicles to China than any other U.S. auto plant.Together, Ford, BMW, Mercedes and others exported about 164,000 vehicles to China from the U.S. in 2018, according to the Center for Automotive Research, a think tank in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Most of them are luxury cars and SUVs with higher profit margins that can cover higher U.S. wages. The exports are down from about 262,000 in 2017.Tesla, which is building a plant in China, last year got about 12 per cent of its revenue by exporting about 14,300 electric cars and SUVs from California to China, according to Barclays. Most of Fords exports are from the Lincoln luxury brand, but most of the vehicles it sells in China are made in joint-venture
Origin: China tariffs will add 25 per cent to cars imported from U.S.
Tesla scrutinized by U.S. agency over Model 3 safety claims
The Tesla Model 3 PerformanceHandout / Tesla The U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration sent Teslas Elon Musk a cease-and-desist letter last year regarding Model 3 safety claims and has subpoenaed the carmaker for information on several crashes, according to documents posted by a nonprofit advocacy group.NHTSA lawyers took issue with an October 7 Tesla blog post that said the Model 3 had achieved the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle the agency ever tested, the documents released Tuesday by the legal transparency group Plainsite show.The regulator said the claims were inconsistent with its advertising guidelines regarding crash ratings and that it would ask the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the statements were unfair or deceptive acts.The documents, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, also include orders for information that NHTSA sent to Tesla following several crashes, including a fatal March 1 crash involving a Model 3 operating on Autopilot.Representatives for Tesla and NHTSA didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for the FTC declined to comment.NHTSA issued a statement in October that took exception with Teslas characterization of the agencys safety ratings. The agency said its crash tests combine into an overall safety rating and that it doesnt rank vehicles that score the same ratings. NHTSAs guidelines for the use of its test results in advertising warn that using terms such as safest and perfect to describe a particular rating or an overall score are misleading. NHTSA issued a similar statement in 2013, when Tesla said that its Model S achieved a vehicle safety score equated to 5.4 stars. The agency said then that it doesnt rate vehicles beyond 5 stars.This is not the first time that Tesla has disregarded the guidelines in a manner that may lead to consumer confusion and give Tesla an unfair market advantage, Jonathan Morrison, chief counsel at NHTSA, wrote in an October 17 letter addressed to Musk.Al Prescott, Teslas deputy general counsel, wrote in a reply letter that the company respectfully disagreed with NHTSA.Tesla has provided consumers with fair and objective information to compare the relative safety of vehicles having 5-star overall ratings, Prescott wrote in an Oct. 31
Origin: Tesla scrutinized by U.S. agency over Model 3 safety claims
U.S. car thieves target Hellcats, luxury cars versus Canadian truck-stealers
2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat RedeyeNick Tragianis / Driving The Dodge Charger Hemi and Challenger SRT Hellcat top a list of the U.S. most stolen vehicles, according to a study released early August by the Highway Loss Data Institute.The two Dodges were stolen at a rate five times the average for most 2016 through 2018 model year vehicles, as was the third-place Infiniti Q50. The U.S. data only includes vehicles as old as model year 2016.The models most likely to be stolen tend to be powerful, pricey or pickups, but vehicle theft is also a crime of opportunity, said Matt Moore, the institutes senior vice-president, in a statement.Its not all that surprising that Americans love to steal hot muscle cars its practically ingrained in their social consciousness from birth. (Gone in 60 Seconds, anyone?) Other oft-stolen vehicles included the Infiniti QX80 at number four, followed by the GMC Sierra 1500, Dodge Challenger (non-Hellcat), Nissan Maxima, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chrysler 300 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.In Canada, the preference seems instead to be to steal the absolute largest vehicles possible. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the number one most-stolen spot in Canada goes to the 2015 Lexus GX460, and the number eight spot on the list is another Toyota SUV, the 2016 4Runner. The rest of the list is filled with various model years of the Ford F-350, with the F-250 taking the final spot at number 10. Even when broken down by model instead of model year, trucks seem to be more regularly swiped than cars, here. It is also worth noting the Canadian data does not stop at model year 2016.The four main reasons a vehicle gets stolen in North America is so it can: be sold overseas; be resold with a fake VIN; be taken for a joyride; and be used for committing other crimes, only to be abandoned. In Canada, the older pickup trucks are easier to steal, and theyre useful for smash-and-grab crimes its unlikely theyre being sold
Origin: U.S. car thieves target Hellcats, luxury cars versus Canadian truck-stealers
The Tesla Model 3 AWD scores perfect in new U.S. crash tests
The Tesla Model 3 all-wheel-drive has just earned itself a five-star overall crash rating from American federal highway officials.The popular electric car scored the exact same as the rear-wheel-drive-only model in NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) testing, which is to say, perfect, according to Green Car Reports.The official data hasnt been released, but the dual-motor Model 3 apparently passed with flying colours, scoring five stars for front-and passenger-side front protection; for front and rear barrier and pole protection; and in a calculated rollover test.One of the marks the NHTSA scored against the car was for the lack of dynamic head restraints. The cars active safety features got thumbs-up from the administration, though.Another safety authority, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), was not as keen on the car’s driving aids, specifically because they ramped up owners’ tendencies to think of the car as self-driving.One name in particular (Teslas) Autopilot signals to drivers that they can turn their thoughts and their eyes elsewhere None of these systems reliably manage lane-keeping and speed control in all situations, the IIHS wrote in a report. The NHTSA achievement marks an improvement for the Model 3 compared to when it was last tested, earning better scores for its headlights, and earning the top score for its standard automatic emergency braking system.The Model 3 also earned top scores in Europe, which happens even more
Origin: The Tesla Model 3 AWD scores perfect in new U.S. crash tests
Most American-made cars sold in the U.S. are Japanese
The first American-built 2017 Subaru Impreza rolls off the assembly line at Subaru of Indiana Automotives (SIA) plant. While Donald Trump has been pressing for tariffs on foreign-made cars and parts, it turns out the most American-made cars sold in the U.S. today are usually Japanese.The annual American-Made Index compiled by Cars.com found nine of the 15 most U.S.-sourced vehicles are manufactured by Honda and Toyota.The two Japanese automakers dominated the latest study thanks to the big number of popular vehicles they assemble in America and their high content of U.S.-made parts.Its not surprising that theres a lot of vehicles here from Honda, Kelsey Mays, senior editor of Cars.com, said in an interview. About two-thirds of Hondas cars are assembled in the U.S., which is more than General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Mays said. Toyota also sells mostly American-made vehicles in the U.S. market.The 2019 study, published Tuesday, takes into account many of the issues Trump has stumped about when it comes to the automotive trade. Cars.com examined assembly location, parts sourcing as determined by the American Automobile Labeling Act, factory employment relative to sales and sourcing of engines and transmissions. The five factors arent equally weighed and Mays declined to give details of the breakdown.Fiat Chryslers Jeep Cherokee SUV topped the list, and GMs Chevrolet Corvette sports car placed fifth. But Japanese automakers dominated the ranking just as they did in 2018. The study, which debuted in 2006, was redesigned in 2017.While Japanese nameplates are among the most American-made, some American brand icons are not in the Top 10. One common misconception involves Fords F-150, Americas longtime best-selling vehicle: Some 71 per cent of respondents believed it to be the most American vehicle on the road, but Cars.com said it actually ranked No. 13.Many U.S. consumers give preferential consideration to American-made vehicles, according to the survey. But nearly 50 per cent of respondents said they were very or somewhat concerned about the impact of tariffs on their new car purchasing decisions.Cars.com hasnt seen a massive relocation of production in a way that would influence its rankings despite the Trump administrations imposition of tariffs on China and threats to do so on European and Japanese imports. Mays said Ford and GM have indicated a few employment changes because of the tariffs, but no automaker has significantly altered its assembly lines or supply chains in reaction to trade policy. Still, such changes could be coming and would likely raise costs for car buyers, he said.The White House delayed imposing tariffs on imported vehicles from the European Union, Japan and other nations on May 17 for 180 days. Earlier this month, the administration denied a GM request to exclude its Chinese-made Buick Envision from a 25 per cent import
Origin: Most American-made cars sold in the U.S. are Japanese
Europeans are buying literally tonnes of classic cars from the U.S.
American classic cars are quite popular in Europe. So popular, in fact, that Europeans are buying tens of thousands of them per year to send overseas, Hagerty reports. About 30,000 classic vehicles left American ports last year with destinations in Europe, says Dmitry Shibarshin, marketing director of West Coast Shipping; 12,000 alone were shipped by his Richmond, California-based company, along with 2,000 newer cars. Shibarshin explains how that data was collected: “We pull data from all vehicles and shippers, we look at shippers that specialize in classic cars, and we look at the volume of containers, plus our own data.” Most of the vehicles that are being shipped overseas are domestic, American-made steel, with muscle cars and Corvettes being the highest in demand. Shibarshin says, however, that French buyers are also purchasing British roadsters from owners Stateside, while VW buses from the U.S. are also going like hot-cakes. So why, and how, are Europeans scoping out cars from the US? Shibarshin has an explanation for that too. The cars here are in better condition than in Europe, he explains. There are more climates here that are kinder to the vehicles, and more cars to choose from. As to how buyers are finding these vehicles, Shibarshin says, There’s so much competition to get cars that we have clients who employ people in the U.S. to scan Craigslist all day. Cars are selling within minutes of posting, or people are showing up at the seller’s door with cash. Southern California remains the largest exporter of classic
Origin: Europeans are buying literally tonnes of classic cars from the U.S.
Audi recalls first electric vehicle in U.S. on battery fire risk
The 2019 Audi e-Tron, the luxury automakers first fully electric series-production model, will be in Canadian showrooms in the spring and pricing starts in the $90,000 neighbourhood.Audi Canada Volkswagens luxury brand Audi is recalling its first all-electric vehicle due to the risk of a battery fire. The company issued a voluntary recall of approximately 540 E-Tron SUV models sold in the U.S. because of a risk that moisture can seep into the battery cell through a wiring harness glitch, spokesman Mark Dahncke said. The company isn’t aware of any fires or injuries because of the flaw, which affects a total of 1,644 models, he said. The E-Tron, which went on sale in the U.S. in April, is Audi’s first fully-electric car and one in a wave of contenders from traditional automakers looking to challenge Tesla’s dominance of the segment. While electric vehicles are no more prone to accidents or fires than gasoline-powered cars – and might be less so, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – the lithium-ion battery technology that powers them is still evolving, and there is no consensus on safe system design. Audi said there have been five instances globally where a battery fault light turned on because of the moisture issue. It began contacting E-Tron owners in the U.S. last week, prior to a warning from federal safety regulators, and should have a repair available by August. “We are applying an abundance of caution as no such incidents have been reported globally,” the company said in a statement. Audi said it’s offering E-Tron owners loaner vehicles and an $800 cash card to cover gas or incidentals during the recall period, as well as free roadside assistance. There are still E-Trons unaffected by the recall available for sale, it
Origin: Audi recalls first electric vehicle in U.S. on battery fire risk
Fiat Chrysler’s U.S. sales chief files ‘whistleblower’ lawsuit over sales reports
Detroit, Michigan Ð Jan. 14, 2019 Ð Reid Bigland, Head of Ram Brand, celebrates after 2019 Ram 1500 was named North American Truck of the Year (NATOY) at the North American International Auto Show today. Selected by a jury of automotive journalists, the NATOY award joins a long list of awards won by the Ram brand this year. For more information contact Dave Elshoff at 248-797-2300 or Nick Cappa at 248-202-8039. Reid Bigland, the U.S. sales chief of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), has filed a “whistleblower” lawsuit against the automaker, claiming he’s been made a scapegoat over a federal probe into inflated sales reporting practices. According to the suit, Bigland said he has cooperated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and has testified about the sales reports, which he said predated his appointment to the position of sales chief in 2011. Bigland claimed that last March, as punishment for his testimony, FCA slashed his pay by about 90 per cent. The automaker would use his withheld salary to pay any penalties levied by the SEC. Bigland wrote a letter to federal investigators and to FCA last year outlining the reporting practices, which he said “he inherited.” He said he had not manipulated the methodology used to calculate sales. The lawsuit said the automaker’s actions will cost Bigland more than US$1.8 million in his bonus and stock payout. According to the suit, Bigland sold his shares in FCA last year, which the automaker did not like. The suit is asking for unspecified damages. FCA said in a statement that, like all of its corporate officers, Bigland’s bonus is subject to the company’s discretion. According to Automotive News, FCA voluntarily changed the way it reported its U.S. monthly sales, starting in July 2016. It then restated its results for the previous five years using the new method—which turned a previously-reported 75-month-long string of sales increases into about half that. Bigland said he wasn’t part of the new sales reporting process, and was only told that the automaker was considering using different methods. Born in Kamloops, British Columbia, Bigland became CEO of Chrysler Canada in 2006. Along with his position as head of U.S. sales, Bigland also heads up the Ram truck brand, and previously led Dodge, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati. According to the Detroit News, the SEC began its investigations after two dealers in Illinois filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against FCA in 2016, saying the company offered its dealers money to report unsold vehicles as sold. A judge dismissed the racketeering claims and FCA settled the civil
Origin: Fiat Chrysler’s U.S. sales chief files ‘whistleblower’ lawsuit over sales reports
Delays expected at border as U.S. agents reassigned to Mexican entry points
A FAST card application to speed crossing at the border proved to be a bureaucratic nightmare for one driver. Ian lindsay/PNG Files You may want to add extra time to your itinerary during your next jaunt to America, especially if you’re driving. More than 700 U.S. border agents have been moved from their posts at Canadian crossings to new duties along the southern U.S. border. With the summer travel season about to enter full swing, that could mean longer-than-normal wait times at checkpoints and other points of entry. Earlier this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said that 731 northern border agents are in the process of being sent south to the U.S.-Mexico border. That number includes CBP workers from land, air and ocean points of entry, meaning delays could be inevitable no matter what type of transportation one takes to the United States. Earlier in the year, it was estimated that about 100 agents would be moved. Predictably, shop owners and other businesses that rely on cross-border traffic during tourist season are concerned. If crossings at heavily travelled checkpoints in places like New Brunswick and Ontario are suddenly backed up thanks to a lack of available agents, some holiday-makers might choose to stay in their own backyard instead of touring to the States. Congress has waded into the fray, with thirteen bipartisan members writing to Homeland Security in an efforts to make their apprehensions known, citing damage to tourism and trade as key concerns. CBP has understandably not specified from which stations officers are being moved but did say they are being taken from over 300 points of entry. What does this mean for the average gearhead who’s driving to the States for leisure or to pick up a piece of memorabilia at Barrett-Jackson? Pack a lunch and plan ahead, essentially. You’ll probably need an extra stash of patience,
Origin: Delays expected at border as U.S. agents reassigned to Mexican entry points
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