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GMC Hummer EV recalled over faulty taillamp embedded software issue
UPDATE: GMC has informed Teslarati that following the recall decision on March 3, 2022, representatives from the automaker contacted customers with affected vehicles and made the necessary arrangements to replace the taillamps on the Hummer EVs. All 10 vehicles that were affected by the recall have been fixed as of writing.
General Motors (GM) has decided to initiate a recall for the 2022 GMC Hummer EV over issues surrounding the vehicles’ taillamps. A Safety Recall Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the issue is linked to the embedded software in the microcontroller of the Hummer EV’s taillamp assembly.
According to the description of noncompliance outlined in the NHTSA’s Safety Recall Report, affected Hummer EVs fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, which refers to regulations around “lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.” Embedded software in the taillamp can cause one or two of the Hummer EV’s taillights to either become inoperative or partially illuminated.
In the event that the Hummer EV’s taillamp is inoperative, all functions related to the component — such as brake lights, turn signals, backup lamps, side markers, clearance lamp, and taillight — would end up being disabled. Such an issue could potentially reduce the visibility of a vehicle or communicate incorrect information to other drivers on the road, leading to an increased risk of accidents.
According to the chronology of the issue outlined in the NHTSA’s Safety Recall Report, a GM employee submitted a report about two field incidents involving Hummer EV units with malfunctioning taillamps to the company’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program on February 1, 2022. A product investigation was opened on February 11, 2022, and on March 3, GM’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) decided to perform a noncompliance recall for affected vehicles.
Interestingly enough, only ten Hummer EVs are expected be affected by the taillamp recall. The automaker noted that it was aware of three field complaints about the issue so far, which were received from January 8, 2022 through February 7, 2022. The company noted that no accidents have been connected to the Hummer EV’s taillamp recall to date.
To address the embedded software issue in the affected Hummer EV units, GM’s dealers would inspect and possibly replace the all-electric vehicle’s left and/or right rear taillamp assemblies. These replacement taillamp assemblies feature corrected embedded software in their microcontroller, which should address the taillamp problems.
It should be noted that GM’s assembly plant initiated containment efforts for the Hummer EV’s issue on February 9, 2022. As such, Hummer EV units with build dates after January 20, 2022 were already built with taillamp assemblies that have corrected software.
The NHTSA’s Safety Recall Notice for the Hummer EV’s recall can be viewed below.
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Tesla FSD fleet is nearing 7 billion total miles, including 2.5 billion city miles
As can be seen on Tesla’s official FSD webpage, vehicles equipped with the system have now navigated over 6.99 billion miles.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) fleet is closing in on almost 7 billion total miles driven, as per data posted by the company on its official FSD webpage.
These figures hint at the massive scale of data fueling Tesla’s rapid FSD improvements, which have been quite notable as of late.
FSD mileage milestones
As can be seen on Tesla’s official FSD webpage, vehicles equipped with the system have now navigated over 6.99 billion miles. Tesla owner and avid FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog also shared a screenshot indicating that from the nearly 7 billion miles traveled by the FSD fleet, more than 2.5 billion miles were driven inside cities.
City miles are particularly valuable for complex urban scenarios like unprotected turns, pedestrian interactions, and traffic lights. This is also the difference-maker for FSD, as only complex solutions, such as Waymo’s self-driving taxis, operate similarly on inner-city streets. And even then, incidents such as the San Francisco blackouts have proven challenging for sensor-rich vehicles like Waymos.
Tesla’s data edge
Tesla has a number of advantages in the autonomous vehicle sector, one of which is the size of its fleet and the number of vehicles training FSD on real-world roads. Tesla’s nearly 7 billion FSD miles then allow the company to roll out updates that make its vehicles behave like they are being driven by experienced drivers, even if they are operating on their own.
So notable are Tesla’s improvements to FSD that NVIDIA Director of Robotics Jim Fan, after experiencing FSD v14, noted that the system is the first AI that passes what he described as a “Physical Turing Test.”
“Despite knowing exactly how robot learning works, I still find it magical watching the steering wheel turn by itself. First it feels surreal, next it becomes routine. Then, like the smartphone, taking it away actively hurts. This is how humanity gets rewired and glued to god-like technologies,” Fan wrote in a post on X.
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Tesla starts showing how FSD will change lives in Europe
Local officials tested the system on narrow country roads and were impressed by FSD’s smooth, human-like driving, with some calling the service a game-changer for everyday life in areas that are far from urban centers.
Tesla has launched Europe’s first public shuttle service using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in the rural Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm region of Germany, demonstrating how the technology can restore independence and mobility for people who struggle with limited transport options.
Local officials tested the system on narrow country roads and were impressed by FSD’s smooth, human-like driving, with some calling the service a game-changer for everyday life in areas that are far from urban centers.
Officials see real impact on rural residents
Arzfeld Mayor Johannes Kuhl and District Administrator Andreas Kruppert personally tested the Tesla shuttle service. This allowed them to see just how well FSD navigated winding lanes and rural roads confidently. Kruppert said, “Autonomous driving sounds like science fiction to many, but we simply see here that it works totally well in rural regions too.” Kuhl, for his part, also noted that FSD “feels like a very experienced driver.”
The pilot complements the area’s “Citizen Bus” program, which provides on-demand rides for elderly residents who can no longer drive themselves. Tesla Europe shared a video of a demonstration of the service, highlighting how FSD gives people their freedom back, even in places where public transport is not as prevalent.
What the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Transport says
Rhineland-Palatinate’s Minister Daniela Schmitt supported the project, praising the collaboration that made this “first of its kind in Europe” possible. As per the ministry, the rural rollout for the service shows FSD’s potential beyond major cities, and it delivers tangible benefits like grocery runs, doctor visits, and social connections for isolated residents.
“Reliable and flexible mobility is especially vital in rural areas. With the launch of a shuttle service using self-driving vehicles (FSD supervised) by Tesla in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, an innovative pilot project is now getting underway that complements local community bus services. It is the first project of its kind in Europe.
“The result is a real gain for rural mobility: greater accessibility, more flexibility and tangible benefits for everyday life. A strong signal for innovation, cooperation and future-oriented mobility beyond urban centers,” the ministry wrote in a LinkedIn post.
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Tesla China quietly posts Robotaxi-related job listing
Tesla China is currently seeking a Low Voltage Electrical Engineer to work on circuit board design for the company’s autonomous vehicles.
Tesla has posted a new job listing in Shanghai explicitly tied to its Robotaxi program, fueling speculation that the company is preparing to launch its dedicated autonomous ride-hailing service in China.
As noted in the listing, Tesla China is currently seeking a Low Voltage Electrical Engineer to work on circuit board design for the company’s autonomous vehicles.
Robotaxi-specific role
The listing, which was shared on social media platform X by industry watcher @tslaming, suggested that Tesla China is looking to fill the role urgently. The job listing itself specifically mentions that the person hired for the role will be working on the Low Voltage Hardware team, which would design the circuit boards that would serve as the nervous system of the Robotaxi.
Key tasks for the role, as indicated in the job listing, include collaboration with PCB layout, firmware, mechanical, program management, and validation teams, among other responsibilities. The role is based in Shanghai.
China Robotaxi launch
China represents a massive potential market for robotaxis, with its dense urban centers and supportive policies in select cities. Tesla has limited permission to roll out FSD in the country, though despite this, its vehicles have been hailed as among the best in the market when it comes to autonomous features. So far, at least, it appears that China supports Tesla’s FSD and Robotaxi rollout.
This was hinted at in November, when Tesla brought the Cybercab to the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, marking the first time that the autonomous two-seater was brought to the Asia-Pacific region. The vehicle, despite not having a release date in China, received a significant amount of interest among the event’s attendees.
Tesla FSD fleet is nearing 7 billion total miles, including 2.5 billion city miles
Tesla starts showing how FSD will change lives in Europe
