L.A. Times - Auto Industry News

Rivian begins deliveries of cheaper electric vehicles

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Rivian will deliver its first R2 Performance vehicles to public customers this week. The new EV starts at $57,990.

A massive car fest is coming to SoCal with drift rides that feel like 'throttle therapy'

Christopher Buchanan — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A love letter to late actor Paul Walker, FuelFest is a global car show coming to Orange County on Saturday. Organizers plan to celebrate the first 'Fast and Furious' movie.

Waymo launches cheaper robotaxis in Los Angeles

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Waymo unveils the Ojai, its new self-driving taxi that has more leg room and is better equipped for snowy roads. The rollout begins in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix.

Newsom blames Chevron for California's gas-price problem

Itzel Luna — Fri, 22 May 2026 19:16:19 GMT

The California governor encouraged Californians to avoid pumping gas at Chevron, claiming the gas company is hiking up its prices. Chevron blamed the high prices on state policies.

Waymo recalls thousands of its driverless cars after some failed to avoid flooded roads

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The autonomous taxi company Waymo issued a voluntary recall of more than 3,000 vehicles due to a software issue that led some of the vehicles to drive into standing water.

General Motors to pay $12.5 million to settle claims that it illegally sold California driver data

Queenie Wong — Fri, 8 May 2026 20:34:54 GMT

The settlement is the largest California Consumer Privacy Act penalty in the state's history.

This Rivian spinoff is reinventing e-bikes in California with screens, software and swappable seats

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Fri, 1 May 2026 13:12:59 GMT

The e-bike startup, called Also, was incubated within Rivian before launching publicly last year with a $3,500 flagship product.

Waymos, robotaxis can now be ticketed by California police. But how exactly?

Karen Garcia — Fri, 1 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Driverless cars haven't always obeyed the rules of the road but, unlike vehicles with humans behind the wheel, they've gotten away with it. That's about to change in California.

California's jet fuel stockpile hits two-year low, putting 'black cloud' over summer travel

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has squeezed global oil supply, putting pressure on California's jet fuel reserves.

How high gas prices have given used EV sales a jump start

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Used electric vehicle sales increased 20% in the first quarter this year compared to last as prices at the pump continue to climb.

How Waymo and Waze are pitching in to help solve L.A.'s pothole problem

Itzel Luna — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Waze, a GPS navigation company, is teaming up with Waymo to use the company's self-driving cars to detect potholes in Los Angeles and four other major metro areas.

Sony and Honda pull plug on the $100,000 EV that was set to debut in California

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

After the Japanese automaker Honda discontinued plans for three of its EVs, its joint venture with Sony announced it's shutting down its luxury EV Afeela.

Zoox robotaxis to roam in more San Francisco neighborhoods and cover new cities

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Amazon-backed robotaxi firm Zoox is quadrupling its service area in San Francisco, adding destinations in Las Vegas and preparing to launch in Austin and Miami.

Uber and Rivian plan to bring robotaxis to California

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Uber plans to invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian through 2031 to bring robotaxis to San Francisco and other cities.