TechCrunch Mobility: Blue-green is the color of autonomy

Key Points:

• The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed new lighting requirements for autonomous vehicles, recommending cyan-colored lights to signal when a vehicle is operating autonomously without human oversight, aiming to standardize AV identification.
• General Motors announced a major technological overhaul debuting in 2028 with the Cadillac Escalade IQ, featuring faster software, advanced autonomous highway driving allowing hands- and eyes-off-road operation, and a conversational AI assistant updating its OnStar service.
• Rivian acquired UK-based AI startup Third Dimension to enhance simulation technology for autonomous driving, aiming to bridge the gap between real-world driving data and virtual environments, although deal terms were not disclosed.
• Additional industry moves include inDrive partnering with Pony.ai and Nvidia to test robotaxis in Kazakhstan by 2027, and Reliable Robotics raising $115 million to advance autonomous flying tech, pushing its valuation over $1 billion.
• Tesla and SpaceX reported Q3 earnings with mixed results; SpaceX’s AI segment generated $7.5 billion in revenue, while Tesla’s profits fell 43% year-over-year despite progress in AI, robotics, and plans to start selling the Cybercab by year-end.