Tesla Robotaxi Rollout, 5 Min EV Charging, Record-Breaking Hackathon

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Today in our little walk around the automotive landscape, Tesla takes a big step toward launching its robotaxi service in California, while BYD shakes up the EV world with game-changing 5-minute charging tech. Plus, a viral tweet sparks a $1M hackathon overnight—because the internet moves fast.

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Show Notes with links:

• Tesla has taken a significant step toward launching its long-promised robotaxi service after receiving initial approval from California regulators, but there's still a long road ahead.
  • The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) granted Tesla a transportation charter-party carrier permit (TCP), allowing it to operate a fleet of vehicles for pre-arranged trips.
  • The permit does not yet authorize Tesla to provide autonomous ride-hailing services to the public.
  • The company has a permit to test autonomous vehicles with a safety driver but has not yet applied for the necessary driverless permits.
  • Elon Musk has been shifting Tesla’s focus toward robotaxis amid slowing vehicle sales, revealing the Cybercab concept last October.

• Chinese EV giant BYD just raised the bar in charging technology, announcing a groundbreaking system that can add 249 miles of range in just five minutes.
  • BYD’s Super e-Platform can charge at 1,000kW, doubling Tesla’s upcoming 500kW V4 Superchargers.
  • The new tech debuts in the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, starting at around $37,330.
  • BYD is investing in 4,000 ultra-fast chargers across China, addressing charging infrastructure gaps.
  • Founder Wang Chuanfu says the goal is to make EV charging as fast as refueling a gas car.
  • BYD is catching up to Tesla, selling 1.76M cars in 2024, just behind Tesla’s 1.79M, with 90% of sales in China.

• What started as an ambitious tweet turned into a reality in just a few hours. X user KP casually suggested a record-breaking, live hackathon with top sponsors—and Bolt made it happen.
  • KP’s tweet proposed a Guinness World Record-level hackathon, envisioning 100,000 builders shipping new web apps in a single day.
  • Bolt immediately responded, announcing $1M+ in funding for what could be the biggest hackathon ever, hosted by Greg Isenberg.
  • The first challenge? Build a killer website for the event—with Bolt offering $3,000 to the best design.
  • Submissions require a quote tweet with a Bolt URL and a demo video.

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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