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Takata to blame for yet another airbag fatality, bringing total death toll to 8

A rental vehicle outfitted with a malfunctioning Takata airbag has officially been ruled responsible for the death of Jewel Brangman, the eighth confirmed victim of the ongoing Takata disaster. Brangman was involved in a crash in the Los Angeles area last September, whereupon her airbag exploded, sending metal shrapnel flying and causing multiple injuries, including the severe brain trauma that was ultimately determined to be her cause of death. Seven victims of Takata airbags have been identified thus far in the United States, and one in Malaysia.

The particular 2001 Honda Civic Brangman was driving had been recalled in 2009, but never repaired. In addressing this enormous oversight, Mark Rosekind, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said on Friday, “The fact that this was a rental vehicle that had not been remedied is more evidence for why we are seeking authority to prohibit sale or rental of any vehicle with an open safety recall.”

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Given Takata’s enormous presence in the automotive industry, providing 20 percent of all airbags in service, it is no wonder that the historic recall is making waves among drivers everywhere. The decade-long problem (which is only now being fully addressed), is caused by an unstable ammonium nitrate compound, which when exposed to more humid environments, can inflate the airbags too quickly, exploding a metal canister that is meant to keep the blast in check. It is the metal from this canister that has been faulted for Brangman and seven others’ deaths.

In April, Alexander Brangman, Jewel’s father, sued Honda, Takata, and the Sunset Car Rental service that loaned out the recalled vehicle for wrongful death in a case that is still ongoing. Both Honda and Takata have apologized to the Brangman family, and with nearly 34 million recalls now underway, are finally taking responsibility for their defective devices.

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This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

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Take a peek inside the factory making tomorrow’s ride
A Zoox robotaxi.

Amazon-owned Zoox has opened its first facility producing fully autonomous robotaxis. 

A video (above) released by the California-based company offers a peek inside the factory, which, when it reaches full capacity, could roll out as many as 10,000 autonomous vehicles per year.

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byd 900 miles 12 minutes seal

Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles. 
If you’re hesitant about electric vehicles (EV), it’s likely that your top concerns include how far you can drive in a single charge, how long it takes to charge the battery, and how much this advanced tech will cost you. And you're not alone.
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study, nearly half of U.S. consumers (49%) still say that available battery driving range is their biggest worry about EVs. That’s followed closely by the time required to charge (46%) and the lingering cost premium (44%) associated with battery electric vehicles.
But that narrative may finally be flipping. Just this past week, two developments showcase how much EV technology has evolved over the past decade: China’s BYD is breaking new grounds on just how far you can drive an EV on a single 12-minute charge. Meanwhile, the Nissan Leaf, seen as the first mass-market EV in 2010, is getting an impressive upgrade even as it remains one of the most affordable options on the market.

BYD’s bold battery bet
Chinese auto giant BYD, already the world’s top-selling EV manufacturer, may have just redrawn the limits of battery performance. According to Chinese media, and other reports, the company is testing a new solid-state battery that can add 900 miles of range in just 12 minutes of charging.
Let that sink in. That’s nearly four times the range of many current EVs—enough to drive from New York to Chicago —and charging that’s as fast as a coffee stop.

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