Global — Ekhbary News Agency
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently acknowledged that millions of existing Tesla owners will require hardware upgrades to utilize a future, more advanced version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software that aims for full autonomy without human supervision. This admission carries significant financial and legal implications for the electric vehicle manufacturer, as owners of Hardware 3 cars, sold between 2019 and 2023, have long sought clarity on their vehicles' compatibility with upcoming FSD capabilities. The company plans to establish "microfactories" in major cities to facilitate these upgrades, a costly endeavor contributing to Tesla's expanded capital expenditures budget of $25 billion this year.
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Separately, Redwood Materials, a battery recycling company founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, has announced layoffs affecting approximately 135 employees, or 10% of its workforce. An internal memo, verified by senior reporter Sean O’Kane, indicated the restructuring is intended to better support the company's growing energy storage business. Several executives, including Chief Operating Officer Chris Lister, have also departed in recent months as the company focuses on reducing management layers.
Humble Robotics Secures Seed Funding for Autonomous Haulers
In other transportation technology news, San Francisco-based startup Humble Robotics has successfully raised $24 million in a seed funding round. The company, which specializes in autonomous haulers (cabless big rigs), saw investments led by Eclipse, with participation from Energy Impact Partners and RedBlue Capital. Humble Robotics boasts a team of experienced Silicon Valley professionals, including founder Eyal Cohen (formerly of Apple special projects, Uber ATG, Pronto, and Waabi) and Drew Gray (from Cruise, Otto, and Voyage), signaling a strong foundation for its venture into the autonomous vehicle industry.
