Automotive Technology
Introduction
Automotive technology is reshaping what a car is, from over-the-air software updates and driver-assistance systems to connectivity, electrification, and the data your vehicle collects. This hub is your evergreen guide to the tech under the hood and behind the dashboard, and to the debates over repairability, ownership, and privacy that come with it. The Auto Wire covers ADAS, infotainment, telematics, and the friction between automakers and the people who buy their cars. Use this page to understand how the technology works, where it is heading, and how it connects to safety, reliability, and the electric future.
Table of Contents
- The Modern Connected Car
- Driver-Assistance and Autonomy
- Infotainment and Connectivity
- Over-the-Air Updates and Software
- Data, Privacy, and Telematics
- Right to Repair
- The Future of Car Tech
- Latest News
- Related Guides
- Expert Resources
- Recommended Reading
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Modern Connected Car
Driver-Assistance and Autonomy
Levels of Automation
Limits of Self-Driving
Infotainment and Connectivity
Over-the-Air Updates and Software
Feature Subscriptions
Software-Locked Hardware
Data, Privacy, and Telematics
Right to Repair
The Future of Car Tech
Latest News
[DYNAMIC BLOCK PLACEHOLDER — auto-populate with latest posts tagged Technology / industry / Government Regulation.]
Related Guides
[INTERNAL LINK PLACEHOLDER — link to sibling hubs: Electric Vehicles, Car Safety, Vehicle Reliability, Traffic Incidents, Car Recalls.]
Expert Resources
[EXTERNAL AUTHORITY PLACEHOLDER — SAE International, NHTSA ADAS resources, manufacturer tech pages, Repair.org.]
Recommended Reading
- [Article placeholder] Jim Farley Thinks Your Car Is Too Dumb — /2026/06/22/jim-farley-thinks-your-car-is-too-dumb/
- [Article placeholder] Cops Are Using License Plate Readers — /2026/06/22/cops-are-using-license-plate-readers-to-stalk-their/
- [Article placeholder] Automotive Physics Lab — page ID 30736
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a connected car?
What are the levels of driving automation?
Is full self-driving available today?
What data does my car collect about me?
What are over-the-air updates?
Why are automakers charging subscriptions for features?
What is right to repair and why does it matter?
Can car software be hacked?
Are ADAS features standard on new cars?
Will my car become outdated as software changes?
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Latest News (Auto-Updating)
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Car Theft Is Surging, EV Production Timelines Are Slipping, and the New Car Market Is Finally Easing Up
Here are the news stories you might have missed this week.
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BMW Is Putting Alexa in Its Cars — Here’s What You’re Actually Signing Up For
You’ll never escape the clutches of Alexa now!
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Tesla Is Being Sued Over ‘Full Self-Driving’ — and the Core Question Is One the Industry Needs to Answer
Another legal battle looms for the electric automaker.
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A New 911 Worth Getting Excited About, Post-Election Auto Policy, and EV Startup Reality Checks
Here are the car news stories you might have missed this week.
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Most EVs Are Being Sold at a Loss Right Now — Here’s Why That’s a Bigger Problem Than It Sounds
Is this the beginning of the EV automaker culling?
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Federal Regulators Are Investigating Whether Cruise Robotaxis Are Blocking Traffic in San Francisco
Maybe robots aren’t such good drivers after all?
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JLR Recruits Laid-Off Twitter Engineers, Tesla Misses Delivery Targets, and CES 2023 Auto Previews
Here are some recent automotive news stories you might have missed.
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Corvette E-Ray Campers, Nissan Wins Its Alliance Battle, and San Francisco Sues the Robotaxis
Check out the car news stories you might have missed this week.
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AirPods Exposed the Truth: Tow Truck Driver Charged After Stolen Car Was Crushed for Cash Within Hours
A Milwaukee man says a forgotten pair of AirPods accomplished what might otherwise have been impossible: helping police track down his stolen car before the trail went completely cold. The problem was that by the time the signal led investigators to the vehicle, it had already been crushed into a pile of scrap metal. You…
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Congress Moves to Kill Police License Plate Tracking Nationwide as Bipartisan Revolt Targets Flock Cameras
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is preparing to launch one of the biggest attacks yet on police surveillance technology in America, and it could shut down automated license plate reader systems nationwide almost overnight. More Stories Like This The amendment, expected to be introduced during a House committee markup hearing Thursday, would ban recipients of…
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DOJ Wants 100,000 Drivers Identified Over Emissions App Crackdown. Here’s Why Car Owners Are Nervous
The federal government’s crackdown on emissions tuning just took a major turn, and this time it’s not aimed only at companies selling hardware. The Department of Justice now wants information on the people who actually used it. More Stories Like This According to reports, the DOJ issued subpoenas to Apple, Google, Amazon, and Walmart seeking…
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YouTubers Drive a Hyundai IONIQ 5 Cross-Country and Find the Charging Reality Doesn’t Match the Marketing
This is becoming predictable.
