In this episode of At The Wheel, Tu and Joe break down one of the most important weeks 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 sub-$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.
If you want the smartest take on where autonomy, EVs, and global manufacturing are headed, this one’s for you.
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