A planned merger in South Korea’s shared electric bicycle market has collapsed, scrapping a deal that could have produced a dominant operator. Socar’s sale of its Elecle e-bike unit to Kakao Mobility, operator of T Bike, was recently called off after final talks. Mobility platforms are also pushing into lifestyle services such as tire discounts and insurance. The article also highlights developments in Tesla, China’s autonomous driving market, Rivian, robotaxis and EV motorsports.

BYD has said it will take responsibility for accidents that occur while its driver-assistance system “God’s Eye” is in use, and commentators cited China’s predictable compensation formulas and relatively controlled medical costs as key factors. An EV outlet presented readers’ views that similar acceptance of liability is difficult in the United States because jury verdicts can vary widely and medical bills can be far higher. Differences in litigation structure and each company’s position in China were also cited.