AD #4233 - China to Ban Yoke Steering Wheels and Mandate Physical Buttons; Trump Admin Eliminates EPA Endangerment Finding; Rivian Stock Sur
About this episode
China is set to ban yoke steering wheels and mandate physical buttons for vehicle controls, addressing safety concerns over driver distraction and screen failures. The Trump administration's elimination of the EPA's endangerment finding could reshape US auto regulations. Rivian's stock surged despite a dip in vehicle sales, thanks to optimistic future guidance. Weimo is expanding its autonomous driving capabilities, while Canada's APMA showcases innovative electric vehicle prototypes. The Myextro S800 emerges as a top luxury sedan in China, and Mercedes Benz considers selling shares of its truck division amidst financial challenges.
yoke steering wheel
"...and it's also going to ban yoke like steering wheels like the one Tesla pioneered. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed new regulations that would require physical controls for things like turn signals..."
A yoke steering wheel looks like the steering wheel in an airplane, instead of the usual round shape. It's used in some modern cars that have special driving features.
A yoke steering wheel is a type of steering device that resembles an airplane control yoke rather than a traditional round steering wheel. It is designed to provide a different driving experience, often associated with advanced vehicle technologies like assisted driving systems.
level three and four systems
"...to provide documented evidence that their level three and four systems can handle daily in high risk scenarios, and China is introducing new rules..."
Level three and four systems are types of self-driving technology. Level three can drive itself in certain situations, but you might need to take over sometimes. Level four can drive itself completely without needing a human to help in specific areas.
Level three and four systems refer to classifications of automated driving capabilities defined by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). Level three allows the vehicle to handle most driving tasks under certain conditions, while level four can operate without human intervention in specific scenarios.
endangerment ruling
"...the Trump administration got rid of the endangerment ruling, which was used as the justification for most of the ev regulation in the US."
The endangerment ruling is a decision that says certain gases are harmful to people's health and the environment. This decision helped create rules to limit pollution from cars and other things.
The endangerment ruling refers to a legal finding by the EPA that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and the environment. This ruling was used to justify regulations aimed at reducing emissions from vehicles and other sources.
Rivian
"Rivian posted its twenty twenty five earnings yesterday. While investors may not have been all that impressed by the results, they sure liked its guidance, and the company's stock shot up twenty five percent in pre market trading."
Rivian is a company that makes electric vehicles, like trucks and SUVs. They focus on creating eco-friendly cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline.
Rivian is an American electric vehicle manufacturer known for producing electric trucks and SUVs. The company aims to create sustainable transportation solutions and has gained attention for its innovative designs and technology.
Volkswagen Group
"...because it took in one point five billion dollars in payments for software and services from the Volkswagen Group. Rivian's revenue from its operations"
The Volkswagen Group is a big car company from Germany that makes many different brands of cars, like Volkswagen and Audi. They are one of the largest car makers globally.
The Volkswagen Group is a major automotive manufacturer based in Germany, known for producing a wide range of vehicles under various brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and more. It is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.
Waymo
"Weimo is rolling out the sixth generation of its autonomous driving system, which was designed to integrate into multiple vehicle types. Thanks to new in house algorithms, it now works in more environments, including rain and snow, and at a bigger scale, as you can see in this video."
Waymo is a company that creates technology for self-driving cars. They work on making cars that can drive themselves without a human driver.
Waymo is a self-driving technology company that originated as a project within Google. It focuses on developing autonomous driving systems that can be integrated into various vehicle types, enhancing transportation safety and efficiency.
lidar
"The cost of the lidar has also been reduced and when combined with Waimo's custom design chips and optical designs. It can see at greater distances with higher dependability."
Lidar is a technology that helps self-driving cars see their surroundings by using lasers to measure distances. It creates detailed maps that help the car navigate safely.
Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create high-resolution maps of the environment. It's crucial for autonomous vehicles to understand their surroundings accurately.
Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association (APMA)
"...the president of Canada's APMA, or Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association on Auto Line after."
The Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association is a group in Canada that helps companies that make car parts. They work to support these businesses and improve the automotive industry in the country.
The Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association (APMA) is a Canadian trade association representing the automotive parts manufacturing industry. It focuses on promoting the interests of its members and advancing the automotive sector in Canada.
Project Arrow
"...the APMA has developed the next gen versions of its Project Aero series. The Vector and Borealis."
Project Arrow is a project in Canada that shows how the country can make electric cars. It brings together different companies and organizations to work on building these vehicles.
Project Arrow is an initiative by the Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association (APMA) in Canada aimed at showcasing the country's capability to produce competitive electric vehicles. It represents a collaborative effort to demonstrate the entire supply chain involved in electric vehicle manufacturing.
electric vehicles
"...to show that Canada has the entire supply chain necessary to build competitive electric vehicles. Now three years later..."
Electric vehicles are cars that run on electricity instead of gas. They are better for the environment because they produce less pollution.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are cars that are powered entirely or partially by electricity, rather than traditional gasoline or diesel engines. They are often seen as a more sustainable alternative to conventional vehicles due to their lower emissions.
Level three hands free driving
"The Vector is a sporty hatchback with six hundred and fifty horse power, three hundred and forty miles of range, and Level three hands free driving..."
Level three means the car can drive itself most of the time, but you still need to be ready to take over if needed.
Level three hands-free driving refers to a level of automation where the vehicle can handle most driving tasks, but the driver must be ready to take control when requested. It is part of the SAE's classification of automated driving.
Level five capability
"The Borealis is a fully autonomous shuttle with Level five capability..."
Level five means the car can drive itself completely without any help from a person, no matter the situation.
Level five capability indicates full automation where the vehicle can operate without any human intervention in all conditions. This is the highest level of automation defined by the SAE.
horsepower
"The Vector is a sporty hatchback with six hundred and fifty horse power..."
Horsepower measures how powerful an engine is. The higher the horsepower, the faster and more powerful the car can be.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for power, commonly used to describe the power output of engines. In automotive terms, it indicates how much work an engine can perform over time.
Maextro S800
"Despite launching just last August, the Myextro S eight hundred is now... The best selling luxury sedan in China."
The Myextro S800 is a fancy car that's very popular in China. It's made by a company that works with a tech firm to create high-end vehicles.
The Myextro S800 is a luxury sedan produced by the Myextro brand, a joint venture between the automaker Jac and tech company Huawei. It has gained popularity in China since its launch.
BMW 7 Series
"My Extro delivered two thousand, six hundred and twenty five S eight hundreds in January, which was more than the BMW seven Series and the Mercedes Maybach."
The BMW 7 Series is a luxury car that's very comfortable and packed with features. It's one of the top models from BMW.
The BMW 7 Series is a line of luxury sedans produced by BMW, known for their high-end features, performance, and advanced technology.
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
"My Extro delivered two thousand, six hundred and twenty five S eight hundreds in January, which was more than the BMW seven Series and the Mercedes Maybach S-Class combined..."
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is one of the most luxurious cars you can buy, with lots of comfort and fancy features.
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is a luxury sedan that represents the pinnacle of comfort and technology from Mercedes-Benz, often featuring bespoke options and high-end materials.
pure electric
"The S eight hundred costs between one hundred and two and one hundred and forty seven thousand dollars and is offered as a pure electric or as an e rev."
A pure electric car runs only on electricity, so it doesn't use gas or produce pollution from a tailpipe.
A pure electric vehicle is powered entirely by electricity and does not use any gasoline or diesel fuel. They rely on batteries for energy and produce zero tailpipe emissions.
e-rev
"The S eight hundred costs between one hundred and two and one hundred and forty seven thousand dollars and is offered as a pure electric or as an e rev."
An e-rev is a car that mainly runs on electricity but has a gas engine to help it go further when the battery runs low.
An e-rev, or extended-range electric vehicle, is a type of hybrid vehicle that uses an electric motor for propulsion but has a gasoline engine that can generate electricity to extend the driving range.
Mercedes-Benz
"Mercedes Benz gets credit for coming up with the world's first car, the eighteen eighty six patent motor wagon, but did you know it also gets credit for making the first truck, the eighteen ninety six Leafer owns wagon. Trucks have been part of Mercedes Benz core business for one hundred and thirty years now..."
Mercedes-Benz is a famous car brand from Germany that makes luxury cars. They created the first car ever in 1886.
Mercedes-Benz is a German automotive brand known for luxury vehicles and innovation. It is credited with creating the world's first car, the Patent Motorwagen, in 1886.
Patent Motorwagen
"Mercedes Benz gets credit for coming up with the world's first car, the eighteen eighty six patent motor wagon, but did you know it also gets credit for making the first truck..."
The Patent Motorwagen is considered the first real car ever made, created by Mercedes-Benz in 1886. It was powered by a gasoline engine.
The Patent Motorwagen, created by Mercedes-Benz in 1886, is widely regarded as the first true automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. It laid the foundation for the modern automotive industry.
Daimler Truck
"...in twenty twenty one, Mercedes spun off its truck group into an independent company called Daimler Truck. Though Mercedes held on to about thirty five percent of the shares in Daimler..."
Daimler Truck is a company that makes trucks and was created when Mercedes-Benz decided to focus more on cars. They still own part of this truck company.
Daimler Truck is a company that was spun off from Mercedes-Benz in 2021, focusing on manufacturing trucks. This separation allowed Mercedes-Benz to concentrate on its core automotive business while still retaining a stake in the truck division.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.