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Renault CEO calls for Auto European plan to protect against ‘onslaught of EVs from China’

(Credit: BYD)

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Renault CEO Luca de Meo released a 19-page open letter to Europe describing an auto European plan to protect against the ‘onslaught of electric vehicles (EV)’ coming from China.” 

Meo stated that the center of the global automotive market has gravitated toward Asia. He pointed out that electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids account for 14% of global car sales, led by Asian automakers.

“China is making rapid inroads into the all-electric vehicle segment. Buoyed by its huge domestic market (8.5 million electric vehicles sold in 2023, according to the Chinese Passenger Car Association, or 60% of the global total), it already had [a] market share of close to 4% in Europe in 2022. In 2023, around 35% of electric vehicles exported worldwide were Chinese. 

“As a logical consequence of this trend, European imports from China have increased fivefold since 2017…The brands with the highest exports in the first half of 2023 were MG and BYD. They were followed by Tesla, which ships the Model Y from its Shanghai plant to Europe,” writes de Meo. 

Non-Asian automakers have made moves to strengthen ties with China as it becomes a rising power in the global automotive market. In January, Volkswagen changed its Board of Management and reassigned Thomas Ullrich as the Chief Technology Officer in China to establish connections and develop future technologies in the region. 

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Stellantis is another automaker seeking to strengthen its ties with China’s auto industry. Last year, it signed a supply agreement with Chinese battery supplier CATL. Stellantis also invested in China-based Leapmotor to expand global EV sales.

Tesla also has ties to China through Gigafactory Shanghai. Tesla Giga Shanghai has become the company’s main export hub, delivering Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to certain countries worldwide.

China isn’t Europe’s only rival in the ever-growing auto industry, either. According to de Meo, the United States is also increasing its efforts in the expanding global EV market. He specifically mentions the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was passed in the U.S. to boost investments in North America

In his letter, de Meo lists 10 projects Europe must start to catch up to China and the United States’ EV industries. Number three on the list is a European Marshall Plan that would create a fund for the growth of a Europe-based EV industry. 

De Meo’s proposal is based on the United States’ Economic Recovery Act of 1948, signed by President Truman. It was also known as the Marshall Plan because it was proposed by Secretary of State George Marshall. The primary purpose of the Marshall Plan was to provide economic assistance to Europe so it could restore its economic infrastructure after World War II.

Read Renault CEO Luca de Meo’s full letter below!

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Renault CEO Calls for Auto European Plan to Protect Against ‘Onslaught of EVs From China’ by Maria Merano on Scribd

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Maria--aka "M"-- is an experienced writer and book editor. She's written about several topics including health, tech, and politics. As a book editor, she's worked with authors who write Sci-Fi, Romance, and Dark Fantasy. M loves hearing from TESLARATI readers. If you have any tips or article ideas, contact her at maria@teslarati.com or via X, @Writer_01001101.

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Lucid and Uber team with Nuro for new robotaxi program with Gravity SUV

The plan currently is to launch it to the public in the Bay later this year.

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Credit: Lucid

Lucid and Uber are teaming up with Nuro to launch an autonomous robotaxi program utilizing the automaker’s Gravity SUV. The project will be unveiled at CES 2026, introducing an in-cabin rider experience completely designed by Uber, the world’s largest ride-sharing service.

Back in 2025, the partnership between the three companies was announced, aiming to launch a unique ride-sharing platform using over 20,000 Lucid vehicles equipped with the Nuro Driver technology. The vehicles are owned and operated by Uber.

The companies have already initiated some testing in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is a big step in the right direction for the project. The plan currently is to launch it to the public in the Bay later this year. Nuro will lead the testing using robotaxi engineering prototypes that are supervised by autonomous vehicle operators.

Currently, there are over 100 robotaxis in the Engineering Test Fleet.

The Gravity vehicles are fitted with a next-gen sensor array featuring high-res cameras, solid-state LiDAR sensors, and radars that will provide a 360-perception model, as well as a “purpose-built roof-mounted halo designed to maximize sensor visibility,” which is seen on top of the Gravity unit above.

The halo also has integrated LEDs to help riders more easily identify the correct vehicle by displaying their initials. The halo will also provide clear status updates from pickup through dropoff.

These units for the robotaxi program between the three companies will start being produced later this year at Lucid’s Arizona AMP-1 factory.

Uber chose the Lucid Gravity specifically due to its “unprecedented comfort” and its reputation, as it was named to Car and Driver’s 10 Best for 2026. But Uber is customizing some things for the Gravity so that it is specifically catered to robotaxi riders:

  • For the first time, Uber is designing the in-vehicle rider experience, which will include interactive screens with entertainment and climate control options, as well as support contacts and vehicle maneuver requests, like a request to pull over.
  • It will also have in-vehicle visualization, showing what the robotaxi sees and its path in real-time. This will be a nice transition for those who are skeptical about driverless vehicles, and will show what the vehicle and its sensors, LiDAR, and cameras see.
  • The Gravity is also a sizeable SUV, which will give riders space for themselves and their luggage.

This is the latest application of a ride-hailing platform that leans on autonomy for its operation, essentially phasing out the need for human drivers in various markets, starting with the Bay Area.

More companies are dipping their toes in the project, giving them the opportunity to establish some early momentum, as there are only a handful of companies that are currently operating this in the United States. Uber, Lucid, and Nuro aim to be the next, and initiating this program at this time is big for their chance at success.

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Tesla Cybercab test fleet expands in Austin and Bay Area

In total, the Robotaxi fleet is comprised of 139 total vehicles in both Austin and the Bay Area. The vast majority of these units are Model Y cars, but the Cybercab is the most recent addition to the fleet. 

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Credit: Adan Guajardo

Tesla has expanded its fleet of Cybercab test units in both Austin and the Bay Area of California, as the vehicle is heading toward the first production stages, hopefully early this year.

As the first few units were spotted in Austin late last year, Tesla is now operating seven total Cybercab units in testing, three of which were spotted over the weekend in Texas. Bay Area testing just started on January 3, with both units also being added to the fleet on Saturday and Sunday.

In total, there are seven Cybercabs now operating, according to Robotaxi Tracker, each with different license plates that have been observed over the course of the last several weeks; the first unit was spotted in Austin on December 18.

The expansion of the Cybercab test fleet is a slow but steady process that Tesla is taking to get the car on public roads ahead of its initial production stages.

CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla has already started some test production phases of the vehicle at Gigafactory Texas, which is located outside of Austin.

Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units

However, it will likely be some time before Tesla actually adds it to the fleet for rides that are available to the public. Tesla plans to build it without a steering wheel or pedals, so the company will have to reach Level 5 autonomy at that point before customers can hail rides and take it to their destination.

In total, the Robotaxi fleet is comprised of 139 total vehicles in both Austin and the Bay Area. The vast majority of these units are Model Y cars, but the Cybercab is the most recent addition to the fleet.

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Tesla Germany’s “Giga Train’s” improved service gets rave reviews

As per recent reports, Tesla’s free “train”Giga Train” service will increase its daily trips to six starting this week. 

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Credit: Jürgen Stegemann/LinkedIn

Tesla has expanded its employee shuttle service from Berlin Ostbahnhof East Station to the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. As per recent reports, Tesla’s free “train”Giga Train” service has increased its daily trips to six starting this week. 

The service has so far received positive reviews from the facility’s employees, some of whom noted that the upgraded shuttle train has reduced their travel time by a notable margin.

Giga Berlin’s expanded shuttle service

As noted in a rbb24 report, Giga Berlin’s free shuttle train now operates six times daily, up from one previously. The service also goes directly to the Model Y production facility without stopping at other stations. Tesla employee Dené Schunck described the service to rbb24 in a comment: “The shuttle goes directly to the factory site, without any transfers, which reduces the commute time for our employees by almost half,” Schunck stated. 

Operated by Ostdeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft (Odeg) after switching from Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), Giga Berlin’s shuttle train, which also stops at Ostkreuz and Erkner, remains free for all riders, including non-Tesla employees. It has been fully funded by Tesla Germany since September 2023.

Employees praised the changes: One Giga Berlin worker stated that it “definitely makes the journey easier” because employees “used to need two hours for the round trip from Berlin, but now it’s significantly faster.”

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Tesla Germany’s previous comments

In late 2025, reports emerged stating that Tesla Germany will be expanding its shuttle train service by adding direct rail trips from Berlin Ostbahnhof to Giga Berlin-Brandenburg. In a comment, Tesla Germany stated that the updated service would mirror the shift changes for the Model Y factory’s employees.

“The service includes six daily trips, which also cover our shift times. The trains will run between Berlin Ostbahnhof (with a stop at Ostkreuz) and Erkner station to the Gigafactory,” Tesla Germany noted. 

At the time, Tesla Germany also stated that despite construction being done at Fangschleuse and Köpenick stations, the route of the Giga Train has been optimized to maintain a predictable 35-minute travel time. This should provide Tesla Germany’s employees with a convenient way to travel to and from Giga Berlin. 

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