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Bolt CEO urges EU to prioritize self-driving tech to compete with U.S. and China

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Europe must invest far more aggressively in autonomous vehicle technology if it wants to remain competitive against the United States and China, according to Markus Villig, CEO of Estonian ride-hailing and food delivery company Bolt.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Villig said the European Union’s heavy focus on electric vehicles (EVs) risks sidelining what he called the “core technology of the next decade” — self-driving systems.

“There’s so much attention on EVs, but we’ve lost the plot on autonomous driving,” Villig said, warning that the technology gap between Europe and its global rivals is widening fast.

U.S. firms like Alphabet’s Waymo and Tesla, as well as Chinese players such as Baidu, WeRide, and Pony.ai, are leading the autonomous driving race. Waymo is preparing to launch autonomous ride-hailing services in London next year, highlighting Europe’s reliance on foreign technologies.

Villig said that the EU should treat autonomous mobility as a strategic technology, not just an industrial one, with implications for security and digital sovereignty. While the bloc is spending tens of billions of euros on EV subsidies and supply chains, he argued that comparable funding for self-driving development is virtually absent.

He proposed that the EU support domestic startups through subsidies and exclusive operating licences for robotaxis in certain cities, to help local firms gain scale before foreign competitors dominate the market.

Villig was scheduled to meet EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen later on Friday to discuss Europe’s role in the next generation of transport innovation.

Musk’s new Tesla pay deal could earn billions even without “Mars-shot” breakthroughs

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Elon Musk’s record-breaking $878 billion Tesla pay package, pitched as contingent on “Mars-shot” achievements, could still grant him tens of billions of dollars even if he misses the most ambitious goals, according to a Reuters analysis of the deal’s structure and expert evaluations.

When Tesla’s board approved the 10-year compensation plan in September, it told investors Musk would only earn shares by transforming Tesla and society through advances in AI, robotics, and autonomy. Yet performance experts say the plan’s vague definitions and lenient milestones could see Musk earning massive payouts without revolutionizing the company.

By achieving only a handful of easier targets—such as modest vehicle sales and incremental growth in Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions—Musk could collect more than $50 billion in Tesla stock. Even two minor achievements, paired with a $2.5 trillion valuation, would grant him $26 billion, more than the lifetime pay of several top U.S. CEOs combined.

Critics argue that goals like selling 1.2 million cars annually or reaching 10 million FSD subscriptions are achievable without breakthroughs in autonomy or robotics. Experts also noted that definitions of “advanced driving system” and “robot” are so broad that Musk could qualify for payouts without delivering true self-driving or humanoid robots.

Tesla’s board insists the package is “worth zero unless value doubles,” yet corporate governance analysts warn that the structure grants Musk huge rewards with minimal accountability. The hardest targets—profit milestones up to $400 billion—may be out of reach, but Tesla’s market value could still reach $2–3 trillion over a decade with average stock growth.

Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said the company’s valuation already hinges on “future products that don’t exist today.” Whether Musk delivers them—or merely the promise—will decide if shareholders’ faith pays off.

U.S. investigates 2.9 million Teslas over Full Self-Driving traffic violations

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The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after receiving more than 50 reports of traffic violations and crashes linked to the system.

The agency said the FSD feature — which requires driver attention and intervention — has in some cases “induced vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws,” including driving through red lights and making illegal lane changes. So far, 58 incidents have been reported, 14 resulting in crashes and 23 injuries, according to NHTSA.

In at least six cases, Teslas running FSD reportedly entered intersections against red signals, leading to collisions, four of which caused injuries. The regulator said it is also examining FSD’s behavior at railroad crossings following concerns raised by U.S. lawmakers over near-miss incidents.

The probe marks a preliminary evaluation, the first stage before a potential vehicle recall if safety risks are confirmed. Tesla shares slipped 2.1% following news of the investigation, first reported by Reuters.

Tesla recently issued a software update for FSD, though the company has not publicly commented on the probe. The system has been under continuous federal scrutiny amid concerns that its branding and performance blur the line between driver assistance and full automation.

Experts say the U.S. action may pressure other regulators to examine the growing use of semi-autonomous technologies in vehicles worldwide.