The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working to create a federal framework for autonomous vehicles (AVs) that ensures safety while encouraging innovation. In partnership with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the agency has launched a program called ASCEND, which aims to develop data-based performance standards for self-driving cars. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison has highlighted the need for standardized testing for AV technology, which currently lacks consistency and complicates efforts by developers, regulators, and the public. The initiative seeks to streamline federal safety standards and reduce the confusion caused by varying requirements at the state and local levels. However, there is no set timeline for when these standards will be finalized. In another development, May Mobility, an autonomous vehicle company, is preparing to go public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) called ACP Holdings Acquisition Corp. This deal could raise over $300 million and value the company at $1.4 billion, making it the first U.S. company focused solely on autonomous ride-hailing. Other companies involved in AV development include Aurora and Kodiak, which specialize in self-driving trucks, Rivian, and Tesla. While Waymo is not a publicly traded company, its parent, Alphabet, is. Amazon-owned Zoox is also advancing its autonomous vehicle technology. Autonomous vehicle company Beep has merged with Freebee, a public transportation company in Miami, forming a new entity also called Beep. The new company will be led by Beep co-founder Kevin Reid as chair and CEO, with Freebee co-founders joining in key leadership roles. Meanwhile, Lucid Motors has partnered with Bolt, a European mobility platform, to deploy at least 25,000 autonomous vehicles based on Lucid’s upcoming electric vehicle (EV) design. R3 Lithium, a startup focused on recycling lithium batteries, recently raised $15 million in its Series A funding round, which includes contributions from several venture capital firms. In unrelated news, cybersecurity teams from the U.S. Coast Guard and FBI boarded two oil tankers heading to the U.S. after reports that hackers had accessed at least one ship’s network, taking control of its navigation, propulsion, and cargo systems. Meanwhile, GM introduced a new user interface for its full-size pickups, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, featuring picture-in-picture displays for Apple CarPlay and Android Automotive. In a significant demonstration of autonomy, an aircraft equipped with technology from Joby Aviation flew over 3,100 miles across the U.S. without any human intervention. A hacking group called ShinyHunters also released hundreds of thousands of files from a Florida state database containing vehicle and driver information. U.S. automakers may soon be required to include AM radio in new vehicles after the House of Representatives passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers have largely avoided AM radio due to interference issues caused by their electric motors. Volkswagen recently unveiled a new electric vehicle prototype that sets a new efficiency record. Waymo has restarted its robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, five months after a vehicle was damaged in a flash flood. The company has also launched new robotaxi services in Las Vegas and plans to expand to Singapore. Wayve, another AV company, hired Elisa de Martel as its new chief financial officer (CFO), bringing experience from top tech companies like Waymo. Zoox, owned by Amazon, is preparing to expand its robotaxi fleet in Las Vegas after its current 100-vehicle cap expires on September 25.