Tesla gains approval to test robotaxis in Arizona

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Tesla has secured approval from the Arizona Department of Transportation to begin testing autonomous robotaxi vehicles in the Phoenix metro area, the agency confirmed Friday. The trials will initially involve cars equipped with safety drivers to monitor operations.

Tesla applied for the permit in June as part of CEO Elon Musk’s plan to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service that could reach half of the U.S. population by the end of the year. While no start date or trial duration has been disclosed, Arizona’s approval marks a significant expansion of Tesla’s robotaxi testing beyond its limited pilot in Austin, Texas, launched earlier this year.

In Austin, Tesla trialed about a dozen vehicles under strict conditions, including a safety monitor in the front passenger seat and a select group of passengers. The Arizona expansion puts Tesla into one of the nation’s most competitive self-driving markets, where Waymo and Cruise have already been testing robotaxi services.

The approval reflects growing state-level support for autonomous vehicle experimentation, even as federal regulators continue to scrutinize safety and data transparency. For Tesla, success in Arizona could provide critical validation for its long-promised robotaxi ambitions.

Microsoft raises Xbox prices in U.S. again amid tariff pressures

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Microsoft announced on Friday that it will increase U.S. prices for its Xbox consoles for the second time this year, citing rising costs tied to tariffs and supply chain pressures. The hikes take effect October 3 and will see the Xbox Series S (1TB) priced at about $450, the Series X at $650, and the special edition 2TB Galaxy Black Series X close to $800.

The move follows a May round of price increases across the U.S., Europe, Australia, and the UK. Combined, the Xbox Series X has risen by $150 in six months, straining consumer budgets already squeezed by inflation.

Microsoft said the adjustments reflect “changes in the macroeconomic environment” rather than opportunism. Analysts agreed tariffs are the driving factor. “Hardware is being repriced to absorb new trade pressures,” said Joost van Dreunen, games professor at NYU Stern.

The hikes come as Sony raised U.S. prices on its PlayStation 5 consoles last month, with the PS5 Pro now retailing for $749.99. By contrast, Microsoft said it will not raise prices on controllers, headsets, or hardware in other global markets.

Industry forecasts had expected console sales to drive growth in 2025 alongside major game releases like Grand Theft Auto VI and Nintendo’s anticipated Switch 2. However, repeated price hikes and delayed titles may dampen momentum, clouding the near-term outlook for the video game sector.

EU finance ministers agree on roadmap for digital euro launch

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European Union finance ministers reached a compromise agreement on Friday outlining the roadmap for a digital euro, a central bank–backed electronic currency designed to reduce Europe’s reliance on U.S.-dominated payment systems like Visa and Mastercard.

At a meeting in Copenhagen with ECB President Christine Lagarde and European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, ministers agreed that before the European Central Bank makes a final decision on issuance, the Council of Ministers will have the right to weigh in, including on the crucial issue of holding limits—caps on how many digital euros individuals can store to prevent destabilizing bank deposits.

“The compromise that we reached is that before the ECB makes a final decision in relation to issuance… there would be an opportunity for a discussion in the Council of Ministers,” said Paschal Donohoe, chair of the finance ministers’ group.

The ECB has pitched the digital euro as both a strategic sovereignty project and a response to the rise of U.S. stablecoins promoted under President Trump’s administration. Lagarde framed it as “not just a means of payment, but also a political statement” about Europe’s ability to control its own cross-border financial infrastructure.

Still, the project faces hurdles. Legislation proposed in June 2023 has yet to be approved by the European Parliament or the European Council, with critics warning about costs, privacy concerns, and risks to bank funding. The Council aims to conclude its work by year-end, while the ECB hopes legislation will be finalized by June 2025. If approved, the digital euro could launch within three years.

For now, the compromise marks a step forward for a project that could reshape Europe’s financial system and reduce dependence on non-EU providers.