News
GM looks to close gap from Tesla with sizable EV tech hiring ramp
General Motors has announced that it will begin hiring 3,000 new employees across engineering, design, and information technology through Q1 201 in an attempt to begin preparing for a massive transition to produce all-electric vehicles.
In a press release from November 9th, GM announced its intentions to hire new talent that could introduce fresh ideas and innovative designs as the company begins to prepare for the “development of autonomous and electric vehicles and advanced platforms like the Ultium battery system.” The plan intends to increase GM’s efficiency as it transitions to new powertrains and vehicle types while keeping costs low to allow for affordable models for customers.
GM to hire 3,000 people to work on future products and "software as a service". Company expects an inflection mid-decade where public demand for EV's will increase, and with it, will come greater demand for software related services. $GM
— Phil LeBeau (@Lebeaucarnews) November 9, 2020
“As we evolve and grow our software expertise and services, it’s important that we continue to recruit and add diverse talent. This will clearly show that we’re committed to further developing the software we need to lead in EVs, enhance the customer experience, and become a software expertise-driven workforce,” GM President Mark Reuss said.
GM’s first steps in refining their new EV project involve developing and integrating “world-class software and services” that will increase the company’s vision for the future. This includes zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion, the press release says. There will be no shortage of employment opportunities. Everything from electrical engineers to infotainment software developers is being sought out by the legacy automaker, building onto the already-existing GM platform.
- General Motors announced Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 it will hire 3,000 new employees across engineering, design and IT to help transform the future of product development and software as a service. GM will offer more remote opportunities than ever before as development of autonomous and electric vehicles and advanced platforms like the Ultium battery system continue at a fast pace. GM Software Automation Engineer Daniel Heintzel works with a telematics robot Wednesday, September 19, 2019 at the GM Infotainment Lab in Warren, Michigan. This facility now follows GM-mandated guidelines to help protect against the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory use of face masks and social distancing. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)
- General Motors announced Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 it will hire 3,000 new employees across engineering, design and IT to help transform the future of product development and software as a service. GM will offer more remote opportunities than ever before as development of autonomous and electric vehicles and advanced platforms like the Ultium battery system continue at a fast pace. GM Software Test Engineer Shashank Lakshmikanth conducts connectivity checks and stress tests Wednesday, September 19, 2019 at the GM Infotainment Lab in Warren, Michigan. This facility now follows GM-mandated guidelines to help protect against the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory use of face masks and social distancing. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)
- General Motors announced Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 it will hire 3,000 new employees across engineering, design and IT to help transform the future of product development and software as a service. GM will offer more remote opportunities than ever before as development of autonomous and electric vehicles and advanced platforms like the Ultium battery system continue at a fast pace. GM System Bench Lead Engineer Radha Iyer performs tests at the full system bench Wednesday, September 19, 2019 at the GM Electrical Integration Lab in Warren, Michigan. This facility now follows GM-mandated guidelines to help protect against the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory use of face masks and social distancing. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)
Additionally, GM plans to improve upon its Vehicle Intelligence Platform, which includes its Tesla Autopilot rival, Super Cruise, a driver assistance feature. Recently, Consumer Reports controversially ranked Super Cruise above Tesla’s Autopilot, stating that the Elon Musk-headed company was a “distant second” compared to General Motors’ software.
GM has adopted a somewhat opened-mind regarding EVs and alternative forms of energy for passenger transportation. It has unveiled its Hummer EV, which will bring both the Tesla Cybertruck and the Rivian R1T some competition in the electric pickup truck market. However, some are still skeptical about GM’s total commitment to a full EV transition.
While the legacy automaker has committed to building 20 new fully-electric cars by 2023, it has also stated that it plans to allocate more than $20 billion of capital and engineering resources to its future EV programs through the next five years.
Cybertruck
Tesla Cybertruck’s newest trim will undergo massive change in ten days, Musk says
It appears as if the new All-Wheel-Drive trim of Cybertruck won’t be around for too long, however. Elon Musk revealed this morning that it will be around “only for the next 10 days.”
Tesla’s new Cybertruck trim has already gotten the axe from CEO Elon Musk, who said the All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the all-electric pickup will only be available “for the next ten days.”
Musk could mean the price, which is $59,990, or the availability of the trim altogether.
Last night, Tesla launched the All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the Cybertruck, a pickup that comes in at less than $60,000 and features a competitive range and features that are not far off from the offerings of the premium trim.
Tesla launches new Cybertruck trim with more features than ever for a low price
It was a nice surprise from Tesla, considering that last year, it offered a Rear-Wheel-Drive trim of the Cybertruck that only lasted a few months. It had extremely underwhelming demand because it was only $10,000 cheaper than the next trim level up, and it was missing a significant number of premium features.
Simply put, it was not worth the money. Tesla killed the RWD Cybertruck just a few months after offering it.
With the news that Tesla was offering this All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the Cybertruck, many fans and consumers were encouraged. The Cybertruck has been an underwhelming seller, and this seemed to be a lot of truck for the price when looking at its features:
- Dual Motor AWD w/ est. 325 mi of range
- Powered tonneau cover
- Bed outlets (2x 120V + 1x 240V) & Powershare capability
- Coil springs w/ adaptive damping
- Heated first-row seats w/ textile material that is easy to clean
- Steer-by-wire & Four Wheel Steering
- 6’ x 4’ composite bed
- Towing capacity of up to 7,500 lbs
- Powered frunk
It appears as if this trim of Cybertruck won’t be around for too long, however. Musk revealed this morning that it will be around “only for the next 10 days.”
Only for the next 10 days https://t.co/82JnvZQGh2
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 20, 2026
Musk could mean the price of the truck and not necessarily the ability to order it. However, most are taking it as a cancellation.
If it is, in fact, a short-term availability decision, it is baffling, especially as Tesla fans and analysts claim that metrics like quarterly deliveries are no longer important. This seems like a way to boost sales short-term, and if so many people are encouraged about this offering, why would it be kept around for such a short period of time?
Some are even considering the potential that Tesla axes the Cybertruck program as a whole. Although Musk said during the recent Q4 Earnings Call that Cybertruck would still be produced, the end of the Model S and Model X programs indicates Tesla might be prepared to do away with any low-volume vehicles that do not contribute to the company’s future visions of autonomy.
The decision to axe the car just ten days after making it available seems like a true head-scratcher.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Neuralink sparks BCI race in China
One of the most prominent is NeuroXess, which launched in 2021 and is already testing implants in patients.
Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is helping spark a surge of brain-computer interface (BCI) development in China, where startups are moving quickly into human trials with strong state backing.
One of the most prominent is NeuroXess, which launched in 2021 and is already testing implants in patients.
Neuralink’s clinical work and public demonstrations have drawn worldwide attention to invasive brain implants that allow patients to control digital devices using their minds. The company is currently running a global clinical trial and is also busy preparing for its next product, Blindsight, which would restore vision to people with visual impairments.
Neuralink’s visibility has helped accelerate similar efforts in China. Beijing last year classified brain-computer interfaces as a strategic sector and issued a roadmap calling for two or three globally competitive companies by 2030, as per the Financial Times. Since February last year, at least 10 clinical trials for invasive brain chips have launched in the country.
NeuroXess recently reported that a paralyzed patient was able to control a computer cursor within five days of implantation. Founder Tiger Tao credited government support for helping shorten the path from research to trials.
Investment activity has followed the policy push. Industry data show dozens of financing rounds for Chinese BCI startups over the past year, reflecting rising capital interest in the field. Ultimately, while Neuralink remains one of the most closely watched players globally, its momentum has clearly energized competitors abroad.
News
Tesla Supercharger vandalized with frozen cables and anti-Musk imagery amid Sweden union dispute
The incident comes amid Tesla’s ongoing labor dispute with IF Metall.
Tesla’s Supercharger site in Vansbro, Sweden, was vandalized during peak winter travel weeks. Images shared to local media showed frozen charging cables and a banner reading “Go home Elon,” which was complete with a graphic of Musk’s controversial gesture.
The incident comes amid Tesla’s ongoing labor dispute with IF Metall, which has been striking against the company for more than two years over collective bargaining agreements, as noted in a report from Expressen.
Local resident Stefan Jakobsson said he arrived at the Vansbro charging station to find a board criticizing Elon Musk and accusing Tesla of strikebreaking. He also found the charging cables frozen after someone seemingly poured water over them.
“I laughed a little and it was pretty nicely drawn. But it was a bit unnecessary,” Jakobsson said. “They don’t have to do vandalism because they’re angry at Elon Musk.”
The site has seen heavy traffic during Sweden’s winter sports holidays, with travelers heading toward Sälen and other mountain destinations. Jakobsson said long lines formed last weekend, with roughly 50 Teslas and other EVs waiting to charge.
Tesla Superchargers in Sweden are typically open to other electric vehicle brands, making them a reliable option for all EV owners.
Tesla installed a generator at the location after sympathy strikes from other unions disrupted power supply to some stations. The generator itself was reportedly not working on the morning of the incident, though it is unclear whether that was connected to the protest.
The dispute between Tesla and IF Metall centers on the company’s refusal to sign a collective agreement covering Swedish workers. The strike has drawn support from other unions, including Seko, which has taken steps affecting electricity supply to certain Tesla facilities. Tesla Sweden, for its part, has insisted that its workers are already fairly compensated and it does not need a collective agreement,
Jesper Pettersson, press spokesperson for IF Metall, criticized Tesla’s use of generators to keep charging stations running. Still, IF Metall emphasized that it strongly distances itself from the vandalism incident at the Vansbro Supercharger.
“We think it is remarkable that instead of taking the easy route and signing a collective agreement for our members, they are choosing to use every possible means to get around the strike,” Pettersson said.


