Technology

ATHENS, Ohio — The U.S. has opened a formal investigation into the potential for Tesla drivers to play video games on a center touch screen while the vehicle is in motion.

Federal programs aimed at improving safety along the country’s highways will receive a boost in funding, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently indicated.

Truck tonnage in November posted the strongest year-over-year gain since spring, American Trucking Associations announced on Dec. 21, as busy consumer spending both in brick-and-mortar stores and online propelled a surge in freight activity.

Nikola Corp. will pay a $125 million penalty to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over allegedly misleading statements its founder and former CEO made to investors about the electric vehicle startup.

Tesla Inc.’s stock went on a tear after an October deal with Hertz Global Holdings Inc. signaled broader mainstream adoption of its electric cars.

BrightDrop, General Motors Co.’s new electric delivery and logistics business, has delivered the first five vans of an order of 500 to FedEx Corp., the company said Dec. 17.

Dan Ammann has abruptly left the CEO role at Cruise, the autonomous driving unit that is majority owned by General Motors.

Traton SE is banking on its Swedish Scania brand, one of the world’s most profitable truck makers, to beat a path to challenging industry leaders Daimler Truck AG and Volvo AB with newcomers like Nikola Corp. also making a push.

ATLANTA — Rivian Automotive was attracted to Georgia’s education system, resources and talent when choosing a site for its $5 billion battery and assembly plant, a company official said Dec. 16 as the project was officially announced.

A coalition of trucking, transportation and manufacturing stakeholders in letters sent to President Joe Biden, members of his Cabinet and congressional leaders expressed concern over how the persistent shortage of semiconductors needed for manufacturing new trucks is affecting the broader economic landscape.