Most Read: Flying Taxi Company Partners to Develop Advanced Motor Systems; Tesla Scrutinized for Misleading Robotaxi, Full Self-Driving Claims

Here are the most-read stories on IoT World Today this week.

Flying Taxi Company Partners to Develop Advanced Motor Systems

Chinese flying taxi company EHang Holdings has signed a long-term strategic partnership with Zhuhai Enpower Electric to co-develop high-performance electric motors for the EHang eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicles.

The two companies plan to create customized electric motor drive systems for the EHang electric aerial vehicles (EAV).

The partnership aims to improve the performance of the EHang fleet of EAVs, using the Enpower technology to refine the design of electric motors and motor controllers “with lighter weight, higher power density, superior cooling performance and broader compatibility across EHang’s eVTOL models,” according to the company.

Find out more

Tesla Scrutinized for Misleading Robotaxi, Full Self-Driving Claims

Tesla is under scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration again.

This time the NHTSA has expressed its dissatisfaction with social media posts from the company, citing concerns that they gave the impression that its Full Self Driving (FSD) tech allows cars to operate fully autonomously.

In an email that was sent in May but has just been made public, Gregory E Magno of the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation department wrote: “Tesla’s X (Twitter) account has re-posted or endorsed postings that exhibit disengaged driver behavior,” adding that the postings “conflict with its stated messaging that the driver is to maintain continued control over the dynamic driving task..

Related:Flying Taxi Company Partners to Develop Advanced Motor Systems

The NHTSA specified a number of posts that it was unhappy about.

Read about the NHTSA's concerns

Air Taxi Company Starts Phase 2 of Piloted Flight Tests

Vertical Aerospace, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle maker, has conducted piloted take-off and landing for the first time as Phase 2 of its flight test program has started.

The full-scale VX4 prototype flight tests were conducted at the company’s flight test center at Cotswolds Airport in the U.K.

Tests now move on to low-speed maneuvers with lift generated by the propellers.

All the other air taxi services in development are working through similar regulatory approval processes.

Watch the VX4 eVOTOL test flight

Elon Musk Picked by Trump to Lead Government Efficiency Dept.

President-Elect Donald Trump announced on X that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will head a newly formed department, the Department of Government Efficiency.

Saying the decision is essential to the Save America movement, Trump said it will essentially be the “Manhattan Project of our time.”

Related:Tesla Scrutinized for Misleading Robotaxi, Full Self-Driving Claims

“Together these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies – essential to the Save America movement,” Trump said in a statement.

Trump said the Department of Government Efficiency will offer advice and guidance from external sources and collaborate with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to implement major structural reforms and introduce a new, entrepreneurial approach to government.

Find out more about the appointment

Air Taxi Vertiport Company Teams With Saudi Arabia Airport Operator

Vertiport operator UrbanV and airport operator Cluster2 have signed a partnership agreement to develop advanced air mobility (AAM) and urban air mobility (UAM) systems in Saudi Arabia.

The companies plan to build the AAM ecosystem within the Cluster2 network of 22 airports in Saudi Arabia.

UrbanV and Cluster2 also plan to launch pilot programs for the introduction of eVTOL  (electric vertical takeoff and landing) services for applications such as medical emergencies, cargo logistics and VIP transportation.

“At UrbanV, we aim to improve people’s lives by enabling a fast, efficient, safe and clean alternative to existing transport solutions for people and goods over short distances, by air,” said Carlo Tursi, CEO at UrbanV.

See the vertiport design