The American media company Vice Media has published an article in which it talks about the details of Tesla’s cooperation with beta testers under the Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) program, access to which is provided by subscription for $ 200 a month. In addition, the company received a copy of the non-disclosure agreement, which is signed by the program participants.
It all happened against the background of an incident related to testing the FSD V10 system. On September 4, 2021, Galileo Russell, author of the YouTube channel HyperChange, posted a video of testing an autopilot system while driving under a monorail in Seattle, the supporting structure of which runs along the middle of the road. At one point, Tesla turned sharply to the right towards the pedestrian crossing, thereby creating an emergency situation for people crossing the roadway. Russell managed to react in time and stopped the electric car.

Later, the owner of the hedge fund Taylor Ogan cut out the moment of the autopilot error and posted the clip on Twitter, the video went viral and received wide coverage among users. The short tweet gave the public the impression that Tesla was endangering pedestrians and drivers in order to beta test new versions of the software. At Russell’s request, the Twitter administration removed the post with the clip. September 19 David Zipper of the School of Management. John F. Kennedy, re-uploaded the video to the site, expressing concern about the impact of Tesla electric vehicles on the safety of road users.
In one of his latest videos, Galileo Russell mentioned that Tesla does not want beta testers to share clips from test drives, as materials that should build public confidence in the autopilot system backfire. After Vice received a copy of a non-disclosure agreement, according to which beta testers are prohibited from commenting in the media on the quality of the tested software and publishing videos that put the autopilot in a bad light, the blogger’s words were confirmed.

Earlier it became known about the lawsuit filed by police officers of the state of Texas after Tesla in autopilot mode rammed official cars and seriously injured law enforcement officers. In the lawsuit, Tesla Motors is accused of selling users of low-quality software, which creates potentially dangerous situations for drivers.

Volkswagen is setting up a new battery systems plant for electric vehicles in Hefei, eastern China, which will be ready for production in 2023.

By 2025, the automaker is investing more than € 140 million in its joint venture with state-owned JAC to produce 150,000-180,000 battery systems for electric vehicles annually. Volkswagen also owns a stake in battery manufacturer Gotion.

Previously, Volkswagen said that in the next decade, of its planned 22 million electric vehicles, more than half will be produced and sold in China. Before the end of the year, production starts at Byton and Tesla factories, and here we do not mention the production of several brands of electric vehicles outsourced. Previously, Volkswagen said that in the next decade, of its planned 22 million electric vehicles, more than half will be produced and sold in China. By the end of the year, production starts at Byton and Tesla factories, and here we do not mention the production of several brands of electric vehicles for outsourcing.

Already the first years of the next decade will be the time when electric vehicles will firmly take the mainstream, and, therefore, will require the same growth of the necessary infrastructure.

The Monte Carlo Rally 2022 will be centered on Monte Carlo, not Gap as usual. In addition, no lunch service will be available on the first day (Friday) of the rally.

Hyundai Motorsport team principal Andrea Adamo labeling the itinerary for the 2022 event “one of the most stupid things I’ve seen in my life”.

The initial plan makes no provision for a lunchtime service, only a remote tire zone in Puget-Théniers.

With the onset of the biggest change in technical regulations in the history of the World Rally Championship, the teams are concerned by the potential for early reliability issues forcing the all-new Rally1 cars out on the opening day of the event.

Andrea Adamo said: 

“This is a big problem. It means there is first of all a problem of communication between the partners and this is not a good way to start a new era. I hope they make a change to the race format because, like this, it is very stupid.”

M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson was on the same page as his Hyundai counterpart.

Malcolm Wilson talk about: “To leave Monte on Friday morning and then have no lunchtime service – it’s difficult enough in the current car, but with all of the teams launching a brand-new car and that coupled with the real challenges Monte can throw at you…

“Getting the right mapping, the right tires, it will be so difficult. If it’s nice and dry it can be simple, but we all know what Monte can be like.

“It could be one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced in many years.”

January’s Monte offers a route 95% new from 2021 and starts from Casino Square, Monaco at 6.45pm on Thursday January 20. Two stages that night, Lucéram-Lantosque and La Bollène-Vésubie-Moulinet mean the Col de Turini moves from the final day to the opening loop.

The Friday in question includes the Roure-Beuil, Pierlas-Ilonse and La Tour-sur-Tinée-Utelle stages run twice.

Saturday’s action – which also offers no central midday service in Monaco – moves to the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence for Le Fugeret-Thorame-Haute then a new stage Saint-Jeannet-Malijai and Saint-Geniez-Thoard. This loop is split by a tire zone in Digne-les-Bains.

Sunday’s final day includes the La Penne-Collongues test and Briançonnet-Val-de-Chalvagne-Entrevaux stage, which runs through Col du Buis and Val-de-Chalvagne.

The finish is back in Monaco at 2pm.

Recall that in 2022 started with many different cars compared to previous seasons. For the first time, cars of the highest class in rally sports will include electric motors, and are actually the first hybrid racing rally cars. All this may require much more serious service work, such as the first race with such cars.