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GM has ditched plans to build Nikola's hybrid fuel-cell pickup
Under a restructured deal, GM will no longer take a stake in the EV startup either.
Ford reveals how much its Active Driver Assist option will cost
The self-driving tech will debut in the 2021 F-150 pickup and electric Mustang Mach-E.
Amazon Prime members get free one-hour grocery pickups at Whole Foods
Amazon is now giving Prime members free one-hour grocery pickups at Whole Foods stores, not just their usual delivery options.
Rivian won't start delivering its EV pickups until 2021
Rivian’s electric pickups are some of the most hotly anticipated EVs in the US, but potential buyers will have to wait to get their hands on one. After shutting down its plant last month due to the coronavirus crisis, the startup has announced that production will be delayed until 2021.
LeBron James helps GMC pitch its Hummer EV in a Super Bowl ad
GM thinks it has a simple way to drum up hype for its future GMC Hummer EV: give it the kind of celebrity endorsement that sports fans would notice. The brand is airing a teaser commercial during the Super Bowl (in the third quarter for US viewers) that has no less than LeBron James pitching the all-electric pickup truck. Don't expect to see more of the Hummer than you have so far. Instead, this is more about the EV's combination of raw power with near silence... and, of course, equating James' basketball dominance with the Hummer's performance.
Karma will unveil an electric pickup truck in late 2020
Karma is more than a little eager to capitalize on the fervor for electric pickup trucks. The former Fisker brand (not to be confused with the Fisker making the Ocean) has revealed that it will show an electric pickup truck concept near the end of 2020. While details are scarce, the truck will be based on a new all-wheel drive platform and will cost less in production form than the $135,000 of its Revero luxury sedan hybrid. The AWD platform will also be used for an upscale SUV, although there weren't further details for that model.
GM spends $2.2 billion to set up an EV-only plant in Detroit
GM just demonstrated that electric vehicles can create jobs in addition to taking them away. The automaker has revealed plans for a $2.2 billion investment that will turn its Detroit-Hamtramck facility into its first assembly plant completely devoted to EVs. When it's fully ready, it'll create over 2,200 "good-paying" jobs, GM claimed. The factory will produce a "variety" of electric trucks and SUVs. While GM didn't outline the full product mix, it noted that production on its first electric pickup truck will start at the plant in late 2021. The Cruise Origin self-driving shuttle should start production soon afterward.
Instacart pickups now include alcohol and let stores know you're nearby
Online grocery company Instacart has added a bunch of new features to its Pickup service, designed to make it even easier to click-and-collect your stuff. Customers can now shop via smart storefronts -- a single digital storefront for each of your favorite grocers on the platform -- and enable location-based notifications to let the store know when you're nearby, so handover is quick and seamless.
Chipotle is redesigning its restaurants to better serve mobile orders
No one wants to wait in line for their Chipotle order, and honestly, most people don't want to talk to anyone either. For those reasons, Chipotle's "digital business" -- orders placed through the app, online or via third-parties like DoorDash -- has grown to $1 billion. Now, Chipotle says it's going to make the digital ordering process even better with new restaurant designs optimized for pickups.
Ford will pass on a tug-of-war with Tesla's Cybertruck
Elon Musk isn't about to get a public duel between Tesla's Cybertruck and the Ford F-150 -- not officially, anyway. While Ford's venture incubator VP Sundeep Madra suggested he'd like an "apples to apples" test of the two pickups, a spokesperson told TechCrunch the exec's tweet was only a "tongue in cheek" remark pointing out the "absurdity" of a clip showing the Cybertruck winning a tug-of-war with the F-150. Effectively, Ford felt it had nothing to prove. "We've always focused on serving our truck customers regardless of what others say or do," the spokesperson said.
Elon Musk tells Ford VP 'bring it on' in F-150 vs. Cybertruck battle (update)
At the unveiling of Tesla's Cybertruck, Elon Musk showed off a video of the low-polygon-count pickup defeating an F-150 in a tug of war. Since then, many have complained it wasn't a good comparison, since the presumably AWD Cybertruck appeared to face off against a lower-spec RWD Ford with nothing in the bed to help its tires get grip, and took off first.
GM’s first electric truck could be ready in 2021
GM plans to bring an electric truck to the market in fall of 2021, TechCrunch reports. GM CEO Mary Barra made the announcement today during GM's investor day.
Tesla will reveal its 'cyberpunk' electric pickup on November 21st
If you've been eager to cast your eyes on Tesla's pickup truck, you won't have to wait too much longer. CEO Elon Musk says the automaker will reveal its Cybertruck at a Los Angeles event November 21st.
Tesla hopes to unveil its electric pickup truck in November
Tesla missed its goal of unveiling its electric pickup truck this summer, but it does have some idea of when to expect its smaller cargo hauler. Elon Musk told Twitter followers that the electric pickup's reveal will "most likely" take place in November. We'd take that with a grain of salt -- remember how Enhanced Summon is still a no-show 10 months after Musk said it was coming in six weeks? Still, it shows that Tesla is bent on showing the truck before 2020 arrives.
Watch an electric Ford F-150 tow over a million pounds
Ford is trying to show its rabid pickup truck fans that EVs aren't just for latte-sipping Tesla pilots. In an impressive demonstration of torque, an electric F-150 prototype towed 10 double-decker rail cars stuffed with 42 current-model F-150s, weighing over a million pounds (500 tons) in total. That shows promise that it could beat Ford's current towing champ, the 2019 F-150 with a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6, that's rated to tow 13,200 pounds (6.6 tons).
Amazon and GM may invest in Rivian's electric pickup trucks
Rivian might be attracting some big money just a few months after unveiling its electric pickup truck and SUV. Reuters and Bloomberg sources say Amazon and GM are in discussions to invest in Rivian in an agreement that would value the EV startup between $1 billion and $2 billion. They would have minority stakes in the company, but this would still represent a big boost for an automaker whose first vehicle won't roll off the assembly line until 2020.
VW and Ford may work together on EVs and autonomous vehicles
In the latest instance of major automakers teaming up, Volkswagen and Ford will work together on commercial vans and pickups, and they could start selling such vehicles by 2022. The companies are also exploring potential collaboration on electric vehicles, self-driving cars and transportation services.
Instacart’s grocery pickup service is live in a handful of cities
Instacart, known for its same-day grocery delivery services, is now giving customers the option of ordering their groceries and picking them up at the store later on. The company has been testing this service over the past few months, and now it's rolling it out to 25 markets across the US. "We want to make grocery shopping effortless by helping our customers get the groceries they need from the retailers they love," Instacart's chief business officer, Nilam Ganenthiran, said in a statement. "Our customers want choice and we're excited to now offer the pickup option they've been asking for."
Uber adds new features to ensure a smooth pickup
Uber is rolling out some new features aimed at making the pickup process simpler and more efficient. First, while the company began offering advanced booking in 2016, it's now going to start guaranteeing your pickup time. If your driver doesn't arrive within the time period you selected for the ride, Uber will give you credit towards your next ride.
Target expands curbside pickup and same-day delivery services
Target is determined to win over shoppers in a hurry -- the retail giant is expanding its Drive Up curbside pickup and Shipt same-day delivery services across the US Midwest and Southeast. As of this week, you can use Shipt to receive groceries, electronics and other items in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin. Drive Up, meanwhile, is coming to Des Monies, Kansas City, Madison, Omaha, Raleigh, Nashville and Columbia.
