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Uber to start using BYD cars in Europe, Latin America and develop ‘autonomous-capable vehicles’

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Uber to start using BYD cars in Europe, Latin America and develop ‘autonomous-capable vehicles’

Uber and Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD announced a strategic partnership on Wednesday, aiming to bring more electric and autonomous-capable vehicles to the ride-hailing platform across Europe and Latin America. This collaboration marks a significant step toward electrifying urban mobility and developing future-ready transportation solutions.

Under the multi-year agreement, Uber drivers in Europe and Latin America will have access to special pricing and financing deals for BYD’s electric vehicles. The partnership has the potential to bring 100,000 BYD cars to Uber’s platform, furthering both companies’ commitment to creating a cleaner, greener world.

This initiative comes despite recent trade challenges, with the European Union increasing tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars. Nonetheless, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed enthusiasm, stating, “As the largest global agreement of its kind, we’re thrilled about the benefits this partnership will deliver for drivers, riders, and cities.”

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BYD, headquartered in Shenzhen, has emerged as a dominant force in China’s electric car market, surpassing Tesla in total vehicle production for two consecutive years. The company is actively expanding its global presence, including investments in overseas factories. “Uber and BYD share a commitment to innovate towards a cleaner, greener world, and I am excited to work together towards that future,” said BYD Chairman and President Chuanfu Wang.

The partnership also involves the development of “autonomous-capable vehicles” for Uber’s platform, positioning both companies at the forefront of technological advancements in the transportation sector.

The agreement is set to expand beyond Europe and Latin America, with plans to cover the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. BYD exported over 240,000 cars across 70 countries last year and aims to more than double its vehicle exports this year.

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Stella Li, Executive Vice President at BYD and CEO of BYD Americas, emphasized the collaboration’s significance: “This collaboration marks a new era in the electrification of urban mobility, and we look forward to seeing our cutting-edge EVs become a common sight on the streets of cities worldwide.”

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Elon Musk Becomes World’s First Trillionaire as SpaceX Market Debut Lifts Fortune

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Elon Musk Becomes World’s First Trillionaire as SpaceX Market Debut Lifts Fortune

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has become the first person in history to achieve a net worth of more than $1 trillion following the public market debut of SpaceX.

The milestone was reached after SpaceX shares began trading on the stock market in New York at approximately $150 per share. Investor demand quickly pushed the stock higher, with shares climbing to as much as $176 within the first two hours of trading.

Although the stock later retreated from its intraday high, it still finished the session strongly at $160.95 per share. The closing price represented an increase of about 19% above SpaceX’s own estimated debut valuation of $135 per share.

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The surge in SpaceX’s market value significantly boosted Musk’s personal fortune, allowing him to cross the trillion-dollar threshold and secure his place as the world’s first trillionaire.

Musk is already one of the most recognizable figures in global business, known for leading SpaceX and electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla. Beyond his business ventures, he has attracted both admiration and criticism for his outspoken presence on social media and his comments on political issues in the United States and abroad.

The billionaire’s influence expanded further following his acquisition of the social media platform X, where he frequently shares views on politics, technology and current affairs.

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Despite the strong opening performance, some analysts noted that the stock closed below the most optimistic forecasts. Several early estimates had suggested SpaceX shares could reach as high as $190 on their first day of trading.

According to Samuel Kerr, an analyst at Mergermarket, the initial trading performance was solid but not extraordinary. He said the more important measure of success will be how the stock performs over the coming weeks and months.

Kerr noted that while investors often focus on a company’s first day of trading, the longer-term stability of the share price will provide a clearer indication of market confidence in SpaceX’s future growth prospects.

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Ferrari Unveils First Fully Electric Car

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Ferrari has revealed its first fully electric vehicle, the Luce, marking a major shift for the iconic sports car brand.

The new EV, priced at about $640,000 (£474,320), was unveiled in Rome by Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna, who said the project had taken five years to develop.

Named “Luce” — the Italian word for “light” — the model breaks with traditional Ferrari styling as the company’s first-ever five-seater vehicle.

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The car was developed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the creative agency founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive.

Reaction online has been sharply divided, with some social media users criticising the design while others praised it as a bold and innovative direction for the famous Italian manufacturer.

Ferrari said the Luce uses a Ferrari-built electric motor on each wheel, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in around 2.5 seconds.

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The company also stressed that all major components are produced in-house, which it says will allow Ferrari to maintain and repair the vehicle long into the future while helping preserve resale values.

The launch comes as several luxury carmakers reconsider their electric vehicle strategies because of weaker-than-expected demand and rising competition from Chinese manufacturers.

Brands including Lamborghini and Porsche have recently scaled back parts of their EV ambitions.

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At the same time, automakers such as Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen have increased focus on petrol-powered vehicles, particularly in the United States, following slower EV demand and regulatory changes introduced under Donald Trump.

Ferrari chief design officer Flavio Manzoni acknowledged that the concept of an electric Ferrari with a radically different appearance would be “polarising”.

Speaking in an interview with YouTuber Cleo Abram, Manzoni said criticism was part of innovation and predicted public opinion would shift over time.

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Ferrari has also confirmed it will continue producing petrol and hybrid models alongside its new all-electric vehicle lineup.

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OpenAI Revises Pentagon AI Deal After Backlash Over Military Use

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OpenAI Revises Pentagon AI Deal After Backlash Over Military Use

OpenAI says it is amending its recent agreement with the United States Department of Defense following criticism over the potential use of its technology in classified military operations.

Chief executive Sam Altman announced that the company will insert clearer restrictions into the contract, explicitly prohibiting the intentional use of its systems for domestic surveillance of US citizens and nationals.

The controversy emerged after tensions between OpenAI’s rival Anthropic and the Pentagon, related to concerns that Anthropic’s AI model, Claude, could be used for mass surveillance or in fully autonomous weapons systems.

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In a statement over the weekend, OpenAI said its Pentagon agreement contained “more guardrails than any previous agreement for classified AI deployments”. However, Altman later acknowledged that the rollout of the deal had been rushed.

“The issues are super complex, and demand clear communication,” he wrote on social media, adding that the company had sought to de-escalate tensions but recognised that the announcement appeared “opportunistic and sloppy”.

Under the revised terms, intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency would require additional contractual modifications before being permitted to use OpenAI systems.

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The backlash has had measurable effects. Reports indicate that day-over-day uninstalls of the ChatGPT mobile app surged sharply following the announcement, while Anthropic’s Claude climbed to the top of Apple’s App Store rankings.

Anthropic’s model had previously been blacklisted by the administration of Donald Trump after the company refused to abandon a corporate principle barring the use of its technology in fully autonomous weapons. Despite that position, reports have since indicated that Claude was used in the US-Israel conflict with Iran shortly after the ban.

The Pentagon has declined to comment on its arrangements with Anthropic.

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