At The Wheel, Episode #10 - Tesla Shifts to AI, Rivian Bleeds Cash, GM de-China'ing, AV Renaissance

---

In this episode of At The Wheel, Tu Le (SAI (Sino Auto Insights) Weekly) and Joe White - High Speed Rodeo break down one of the another important week in global mobility.

From Waymo’s aggressive expansion into four-season cities like Detroit and New York, to China’s robotaxi surge led by Baidu Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony.ai, we dig into why autonomous driving is suddenly heating up again.

We also unpack:

• The real state of AV deployments in the U.S. vs China

• Waymo’s strategy with Zeekr-built robotaxis

• Baidu’s <$50K L4 robotaxi and Why Chinese AV economics matter

• How Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Chinese AV startups are aligning

• The next wave of trade tensions: tariffs, supply chains, and the Supreme Court

• GM’s push to “de-China” suppliers & what it means for OEM profitability

• The future of North American manufacturing & UAW influence

• Tesla and Rivian mega-pay packages (Musk + Scaringe) — what they really signal

• Whether Tesla is shifting focus from EVs to AI & robotics

• Rivian’s cost crisis and whether R2 can save the company

• Updated EV demand numbers across China, the EU, and the U.S.

• Why BYD, Geely, and Wuling are Tesla’s real global threat

This is an episode rich with insider detail on autonomous vehicles, EV demand, supply chains, and the real economic pressures shaping automakers in 2025 and beyond.

---

Chapters:

00:00 The Rise of Robotaxis

08:43 US-China Trade Dynamics

19:04 Challenges in Reshoring Manufacturing

24:28 CEO Pay Packages and Market Competition

If you want the smartest take on where autonomy, EVs, and global manufacturing are headed, this one’s for you.

👍 Like, subscribe, and drop your questions or topics you want us to cover next time.

---

🔑 SEO Keywords / Tags:

• Waymo Detroit

• Waymo New York robotaxi

• Zeekr robotaxi

• Baidu Apollo Go

• Pony.ai IPO

• WeRide IPO

• China robotaxi market

• U.S. autonomous vehicles

• Tesla earnings breakdown

• Tesla robotaxi 2026

• Tesla Optimus robot

• Tesla China October sales

• BYD global EV sales

• Geely EVs

• Wuling Mini EV

• GM supplier de-risking

• U.S.–China tariffs

• EV supply chain North America

• Rivian R2

• Rivian cost structure

• RJ Scaringe pay package

• Autonomous vehicle trends 2025

• Florida Autonomous Vehicle Summit (FAV Summit)

• EVTOL and drones

• Uber AV partnerships

• Lyft AV partnerships

• Trade wars 2025 auto industry

• Automotive supply chain reshoring

• UAW labor impact

• EV demand 2025

• EU EV sales

• U.S. EV sales

• China EV export boom