Weekend Edition: Tesla Makes Changes, Rivian Expands, and Semiconductors Evolve

ICYMI: Toyota Tacoma Brings i-FORCE MAX Hybrid Power; Electric Tugboat to Launch in the U.S.; and NASA Tests CADRE Moon-Exploring Rovers May 18, 2024 [View this email in a browser]( [Subscribe]( Changes are afoot in the automotive world. Tesla may be backing away from its pioneering [gigacasting technique](. Competitor Rivian is expanding access to its [EV charging network]( as well as expanding its [Illinois plant](. Meanwhile, Ford has found a way to put AI to practical use: [training its dealership employees](. In Canada, Honda is investing $11 billion in an [EV value chain](. The EV battle between [U.S.]( and [Chinese]( electric vehicles continues to heat up, and this week the Biden Administration [increased tarriffs on many Chinese imports](. In semiconductor news, Intel is researching scalable [silicon-based quantum processors]( new [microcapacitors]( could affect the future of chips, and the Commerce Department will invest in an institute to support [digital twins in the semiconductor industry](. Are you hitting the road for Memorial Day weekend? Here's some food for thought while you're stuck in traffic on the way to the beach: [how are businesses chosen to be featured on highway signs]( Megan Conniff Director of Content Thomas Insights Most-Read Articles This Week - [Toyota Tacoma Brings i-FORCE MAX Hybrid Power]( - [First-of-its-Kind Electric Tugboat to Launch in the U.S.]( - [Why Tesla Is Ditching Gigacasting]( - [Thomas Top Five: Volkswagen Employees Join the UAW | Permanently Floating Balloons for Transportation]( - [3D Printer Makes Realistic Eye Prosthetics in Record Time]( - [NASA Tests CADRE Moon-Exploring Rovers]( Welcome New Suppliers [Find New Suppliers on Thomasnet]( Editor's Picks - [The 100-Year Quest to Make a Paper Bottle]( (The Wall Street Journal) - [Mattel to Shutter Supplier Plant in China This Year]( (Supply Chain Dive) - [Platinum Market Headed for "Substantial" Supply Shortfall, Says Industry Body]( (The Financial Times) - [OpenAI Releases GPT-4o, a Faster Model That’s Free For All ChatGPT Users]( (The Verge) - [Why Florida and Alabama Banned a Kind of Meat That Doesn’t Really Exist]( (Vox) - [India Has Quietly Transformed Its Ports]( (The Economist) - [With Flyers More Distracted Than Ever, United Rolls Out a Rebooted Safety Video]( (National Public Radio) [Thomas(TM), A Xometry Company]( [Advertise in the Newsletter]( | [List Your Business on Thomasnet.com]( | [Get Instant Quotes]( [Privacy Policy]( | [Contribute to Thomas Insights]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. You received this email because of your recent interaction with Thomas. [Modify Your Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( © May 18, 2024 Thomas 6116 Executive Blvd, Ste. 800, North Bethesda, MD 20852, USA, 240-252-1138