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News

Lucid to Build 25,000 Robotaxis for Bolt in Europe

Lucid and Bolt have announced a major partnership that could put as many as 25,000 autonomous electric robotaxis on European roads, marking another significant step in the continent’s rapidly developing driverless mobility market.

The agreement will see American electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid supply a fleet of autonomous vehicles for Bolt, one of Europe’s largest ride-hailing platforms. The partnership forms part of Bolt’s long-term plan to give its customers access to 100,000 driverless vehicles by 2035.

Bolt currently operates in more than 850 cities across 50 countries, giving the company a substantial platform from which to introduce autonomous transportation at scale.

Lucid Targets Europe With New Mid-Size EV Platform

One of the most interesting aspects of the Lucid-Bolt agreement is the vehicle platform that will underpin the European robotaxis.

Unlike Lucid’s partnership with Uber in North America, where the companies plan to use the Gravity SUV alongside Lucid’s forthcoming mid-size model, the vehicles developed for Bolt will be based on Lucid’s new mid-size platform.

That decision could prove particularly important in Europe, where urban streets and parking spaces are generally more constrained than those found in many parts of the United States.

The smaller platform should therefore provide Lucid and Bolt with a vehicle better suited to European cities, although specific details about the production robotaxi, including its final dimensions and interior configuration, have yet to be revealed.

Lucid and Uber Already Have a 35,000-Robotaxi Agreement

The Bolt partnership expands Lucid’s ambitions in the autonomous mobility sector after the company announced an agreement with Uber to deploy 35,000 robotaxis across North America.

Those vehicles are scheduled to begin entering service this year, with the Lucid Gravity SUV forming the initial basis of the autonomous fleet. Lucid’s upcoming mid-size vehicle will also become part of the Uber program once it reaches the market.

The two partnerships share a fundamental objective: using Lucid electric vehicles as dedicated autonomous ride-hailing platforms. However, the technology behind the vehicles will be different.

Nvidia Hyperion Technology for Bolt Robotaxis

Bolt’s 25,000 robotaxis will use Nvidia’s Hyperion autonomous-driving platform as their technological foundation.

The system is designed to provide the hardware and computing capabilities required for Level 4 autonomous driving. At Level 4, a vehicle can perform the entire driving task without a human driver within defined operational conditions.

Lucid’s autonomous vehicles for Uber, by comparison, will use autonomous-driving hardware and software supplied by Nuro.

This creates an interesting technological split between Lucid’s two major robotaxi programs, with the same electric vehicle manufacturer effectively working with different autonomous-driving technology partners depending on the market and ride-hailing platform.

Bolt also says it will own the entire fleet of 25,000 autonomous vehicles, rather than simply providing access to third-party robotaxis through its platform.

Europe’s Robotaxi Race Is Heating Up

The Lucid-Bolt announcement arrives as competition in Europe’s robotaxi market is accelerating.

Zagreb, Croatia, has already become one of the continent’s most interesting testing grounds for autonomous ride-hailing. Uber, Verne and Pony.ai have begun offering robotaxi rides in the Croatian capital, putting Europe among the regions where consumers can already experience autonomous transportation services.

Verne is particularly notable because the company was co-founded by Mate Rimac, the Croatian entrepreneur behind Rimac and the Rimac Nevera electric hypercar.

Meanwhile, Waymo is expanding its European activities and conducting testing ahead of a planned German launch before the end of 2027.

London is also becoming an important battleground for autonomous ride-hailing technology.

Uber has partnered with Wayve to deploy 15 autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles in London. For now, however, those cars still require a human driver while Wayve awaits final regulatory approval for fully autonomous operation.

Tesla Cybercab Also Planned for Europe

Tesla is another major player expected to enter the European robotaxi market.

Elon Musk has previously said that Tesla plans to bring its Cybercab autonomous vehicle to Europe. However, the company has not announced a firm European launch timeline.

Tesla’s approach differs from the Lucid-Bolt strategy because the Cybercab is being developed specifically as an autonomous vehicle rather than as a conventional passenger car subsequently adapted for robotaxi operations.

Regulation Remains a Major Challenge

The technology required for Level 4 autonomous driving is advancing rapidly, but deploying thousands of driverless vehicles across Europe will require more than sophisticated sensors, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

European regulatory frameworks, individual national laws and approval processes will play a crucial role in determining how quickly autonomous ride-hailing services can expand.

That is already evident in London, where Wayve’s autonomous Mustang Mach-E vehicles continue to require human drivers while regulatory approval is pending.

The same issue will influence the rollout of Bolt and Lucid’s 25,000-vehicle fleet. The companies have announced their ambition, but the timing and scale of deployment will ultimately depend on vehicle development, autonomous-driving validation and regulatory approval across individual European markets.

A Major Step Toward Driverless Ride-Hailing

The partnership between Lucid and Bolt represents one of the largest announced robotaxi programs in Europe, with 25,000 autonomous electric vehicles potentially joining Bolt’s ride-hailing network.

For Lucid, the deal provides another major opportunity to expand beyond traditional electric vehicle manufacturing and become a supplier of dedicated autonomous mobility platforms.

For Bolt, autonomous vehicles could eventually transform the economics and availability of ride-hailing by reducing dependence on human drivers and allowing vehicles to operate for longer periods.

The bigger picture is even more significant. With Lucid, Uber, Bolt, Waymo, Wayve, Pony.ai, Verne and Tesla all pursuing autonomous ride-hailing opportunities, Europe is emerging as a major arena in the global robotaxi race.

If regulatory approval and technological development progress as planned, the sight of driverless electric taxis operating through European cities could become considerably more common before the end of this decade.

Source: Lucid

News

BMW Regensburg Plant Produces Nine Millionth Car as Electric iX1 Marks 40 Years of Production

BMW’s Regensburg plant has reached a major production milestone, building its nine-millionth vehicle since opening in 1986. The landmark car is a fully electric BMW iX1 finished in Velvet Orchid II Metallic, produced for a customer in Sweden. The achievement also coincides with the plant’s 40th year of vehicle production, highlighting how dramatically BMW’s European manufacturing operations have evolved.

BMW’s Regensburg factory has spent four decades building everything from the E30 3 Series to today’s electrified crossovers. Now, the plant has reached nine million vehicles, and the milestone car is a particularly fitting example of BMW’s changing production strategy: an electric crossover, painted in a bespoke BMW Individual color, built on the same production line as gasoline and plug-in hybrid models.

The nine-millionth vehicle, an BMW iX1, was built to the specifications of a Swedish customer. Its Velvet Orchid II Metallic finish comes from BMW Individual, the company’s personalization program, giving the milestone car a color that is unlikely to blend into a typical dealership parking lot.

From the E30 3 Series to BMW’s Electric Crossovers

Regensburg began automobile production in 1986 with the BMW 3 Series E30. At the time, BMW’s agreement with the city called for an output of 400 vehicles per day and the creation of 3,500 jobs.

Four decades later, the scale is considerably different. In 2025, the plant was operating across three shifts, with a new vehicle leaving the assembly line approximately every 57 seconds. That production rate helped establish Regensburg as BMW’s highest-volume plant in Europe, with approximately 356,000 vehicles delivered worldwide during 2025.

The workforce has expanded alongside production. Today, approximately 9,000 employees work across the Regensburg and Wackersdorf sites, a substantial increase from the factory’s early years.

One Production Line, Multiple Powertrains

Regensburg’s current lineup is centered primarily on the BMW X1 and BMW X2 crossover models. What makes the factory particularly significant is that gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric versions are manufactured on the same production line.

That flexibility allowed BMW to produce more than 150,000 electrified vehicles at Regensburg in 2025, without requiring the plant to stop or separate production of internal combustion engine models.

The approach is increasingly important as automakers transition toward electrification. Rather than relying exclusively on dedicated electric vehicle factories, BMW is using flexible manufacturing systems that can adapt to changing customer demand across different powertrains.

In practical terms, Regensburg can build an electric iX1 alongside conventionally powered X1 models, allowing BMW to adjust production according to market conditions without completely reorganizing its manufacturing footprint.

Nine Million Cars—and a Milestone Built to Order

BMW says the Regensburg plant had surpassed 8.7 million vehicles by the end of 2025, before reaching the nine-million mark in September 2026, during its 40th year of operation.

The company has not disclosed exactly how many of those nine million vehicles were 3 Series models, although the model has played a major role in the plant’s history. The factory’s production story began with the E30, and the 3 Series continued to contribute significantly to its output over the decades.

The milestone vehicle itself reflects another important change: customers increasingly expect personalization, even from mass-produced vehicles. Through BMW Individual, the Swedish buyer was able to specify Velvet Orchid II Metallic rather than selecting from the standard color palette.

That means the nine-millionth car was not simply pulled from existing inventory. It was built according to a customer order, making the production milestone both a factory achievement and a personalized delivery.

Why the Regensburg Milestone Matters

The significance of BMW’s nine-millionth vehicle is not limited to the number itself. The iX1 represents the production philosophy BMW is increasingly applying across its manufacturing network.

Regensburg demonstrates that a modern factory does not necessarily need to be dedicated exclusively to electric vehicles to support BMW’s electrification strategy. Instead, it can manufacture different powertrains on one line while maintaining high output.

That is particularly relevant for crossovers based on front-wheel-drive architectures, which remain an important part of BMW’s global lineup. The X1 and X2 families give the company a platform for offering gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and electric variants without requiring entirely separate manufacturing systems for every version.

At the same time, BMW is introducing new architectures designed primarily around electric powertrains. Regensburg’s flexible production model provides a bridge between those approaches, allowing the company to continue building combustion-engine vehicles while expanding its electric portfolio.

BMW Regensburg Production Milestone: Key Facts

  • Plant: BMW Regensburg, Germany
  • Production began: 1986
  • First model: BMW E30 3 Series
  • Nine-millionth vehicle: BMW iX1
  • Milestone color: Velvet Orchid II Metallic
  • Customer: Sweden
  • Production milestone: September 2026
  • 2025 annual output: Approximately 356,000 vehicles
  • 2025 electrified production: More than 150,000 vehicles
  • Current lineup: Primarily BMW X1 and X2
  • Powertrains: Gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric
  • Workforce: Approximately 9,000 employees across Regensburg and Wackersdorf

Source: BMW

News

Volkswagen Jetta Driver Tried to Outsmart California Toll Cameras

Some drivers will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying a few dollars in tolls. In California, however, one Volkswagen Jetta driver allegedly discovered that hiding a license plate can attract more attention than it saves money.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), officers recently stopped a Jetta equipped with a device designed to obscure its license plate. The driver reportedly admitted that the device was being used specifically to avoid paying tolls on express lanes and bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The incident highlights California’s increasingly strict approach to license plate tampering—and the potentially expensive consequences of trying to outsmart toll cameras.

CHP Spots Volkswagen Jetta With Obscured License Plate

The CHP shared video of the traffic stop on Instagram. The footage, recorded by a dashcam in a police vehicle traveling in an adjacent lane, shows the Jetta passing with its license plate apparently completely hidden.

After a brief section of sped-up footage, the same vehicle appears again, this time with the license plate fully visible. Officers subsequently pulled the Volkswagen over.

While the video itself shows the plate changing from obscured to visible, the CHP’s account provides the explanation: the driver allegedly used the device to conceal the plate when passing through toll collection points.

Driver Allegedly Admitted Using the Device to Avoid Tolls

The CHP said the driver openly admitted that the purpose of the device was to avoid paying tolls for express lanes and bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For drivers who regularly use the region’s toll roads, the motivation may be understandable. But the potential penalties for concealing a license plate can quickly outweigh the money saved on individual trips.

The case also illustrates why license plate-obscuring devices are a particularly risky way to evade toll enforcement. Even if a plate is hidden from a camera, the mechanism itself can become a reason for police to investigate.

California License Plate Laws Carry Significant Fines

California law requires license plates to remain visible and legible. The CHP specifically cited California Vehicle Code Section 5201.1, which establishes a base fine of $250 per offense for operating a vehicle with a movable license plate frame, plate-turning mechanism or other obscuring device.

That amount is only the starting point. Additional state and county fines and fees can increase the total cost considerably.

The agency also referenced California Vehicle Code Section 5201, which requires license plates to be visible and legible at all times, as well as CVC Section 23302(a)(1), which addresses toll evasion.

California has also tightened restrictions on license plate tampering. A law taking effect in 2025 expanded restrictions involving alterations to a plate’s reflective coating when those changes are intended to evade detection.

Toll Evasion Can Lead to More Than a Traffic Ticket

The CHP warned that unpaid toll violations can result in civil fines and may potentially affect vehicle registration. That means the consequences of avoiding toll payments can extend beyond the initial traffic stop.

For the Jetta driver in this case, the alleged attempt to save a few dollars per trip could therefore result in substantially higher costs.

The incident is a reminder that license plate visibility is not merely a matter of convenience. It is a legal requirement, and devices designed to defeat toll cameras can create additional violations even before the toll itself is considered.

The Device Meant to Avoid Cameras May Have Attracted Police Attention

The irony of the case is difficult to miss: a device allegedly installed to prevent toll cameras from reading the Jetta’s license plate ended up giving police another reason to stop the vehicle.

For drivers considering similar modifications, the lesson is straightforward. Attempting to hide a license plate may save a toll payment in the short term, but the potential fines, civil penalties and registration consequences can make the strategy a very expensive one.

Source: chp_solano via Instagram