Skip to main content

Hyperloop One's co-founder wants to build a rival system before his old partner

There’s another hyperloop team in town, and it’s fair to say it knows a thing or two about the ultrafast transportation technology.

How do we know that? Because it’s headed up by one Brogan BamBrogan, a key figure in the fledgling industry who departed Hyperloop One under a cloud last year.

Recommended Videos

BamBrogan co-founded Hyperloop One – or Hyperloop Technologies as it was called then – in 2014 and worked as its chief technology officer. But last year he sued the company, accusing it of an array of underhand activities. The two sides have since settled the dispute, allowing BamBrogan to focus on more pressing matters, namely developing a super-zippy transportation system just like the one he was working on before.

The new outfit, launched on Thursday, is called Arrivo, and, in the company’s own words, aims to develop “technology based on the hyperloop architecture that will deliver a truly 21st-century seamless experience for passengers and freight.”

That’s right, Arrivo is talking about a new kind of transportation system that could see people seated inside comfy capsules hurtling along vacuum tubes at speeds of up to 760 mph. That means a journey time of just 30 minutes between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Which beats crawling along in a car for six hours.

Speaking of Los Angeles, that’s where Arrivo’s base happens to be, and get this – it’s located less than a mile from Hyperloop One’s own headquarters. That means the two teams could probably give each other a friendly wave if they look out of the window. No, we don’t think that’s going to happen either.

Arrivo’s launch crew, which comprises a mix of engineers and executives, includes three of the guys who walked out of the Hyperloop One door alongside BamBrogan last summer, and three additional members, plus, of course, BamBrogan himself. It’s aiming for a team of 30 by June, expanding to at least 80 by the end of the year, according to a release sent to Digital Trends.

The company is set to unveil details of its hyperloop project in the coming months, a presentation that will be of great interest to not only Hyperloop One, but also Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, which, as its name helpfully suggests, is also working on similar technology. Having a new team on the playing field should certainly push all three to the limit in their respective bids to build the first fully operational hyperloop system.

But the challenges remain huge on a multitude of levels, causing many observers to wonder if the proposed technology will ever fulfill the grand vision of its creators. With Arrivo’s arrival, there’s one more chance that it will.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Cadillac offers first glimpse of upcoming Optiq-V performance EV
cadillac optiq v teaser ev

Cadillac has released the first official teaser images of the 2026 Optiq-V, offering a preview of the brand’s second all-electric model to join the performance-focused V-Series lineup. The images, which highlight subtle styling upgrades, mark the first confirmation of the new variant ahead of its full reveal later this year.
The Optiq-V builds on the foundation of the standard Optiq, Cadillac’s compact electric SUV introduced for the 2025 model year. According to the automaker, this V-Series version will feature a more dynamic driving experience, with enhancements to steering, suspension, and overall agility. While technical details remain limited, Cadillac’s press release emphasizes that the Optiq-V was engineered for “precision” and an “exhilarating” feel behind the wheel.
Reports from CarScoops suggest the Optiq-V could produce up to 515 horsepower through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, significantly surpassing the 300 horsepower of the base model. Teaser images reveal a diamond-pattern mesh grille, V-Series badging, and a rear spoiler — all nods to its performance orientation. Photos also hint at additional visual updates, such as redesigned bumpers, 21-inch wheels, and larger brakes.
The base Optiq, reviewed recently by Digital Trends, is positioned as Cadillac’s entry-level EV and shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Despite that connection, the Optiq features premium materials, a curved 33-inch display, Google built-in tech, and standard dual-motor all-wheel drive. While the review noted some drawbacks in steering feel and performance tuning, it praised the vehicle's cabin quality and overall comfort.
The Optiq-V is expected to retain the standard model’s 85-kWh battery and roughly 300-mile range, though final figures have yet to be announced. Cadillac says more details on specs and pricing will be available closer to the model’s official launch.
With the addition of the Optiq-V, Cadillac continues expanding its electric lineup while reinforcing its V-Series as a key part of its identity — now in the EV era.

Read more
Nissan delays price increases until June amid U.S. tariffs
nissan rogue hybrid 2025 2024

Nissan buyers, take note: if you're eyeing a new ride, you might want to make your move before summer. The automaker has announced it won’t raise prices on imported vehicles until at least June 2, giving car shoppers a brief reprieve from the impact of the new 25% U.S. import tariffs.
According to a memo sent to U.S. dealers and reported by Automotive News, Nissan is able to hold prices steady thanks to a stockpile of tariff-free vehicles—enough to last nearly three months. But once that inventory runs dry? Prices are likely heading north. Nissan’s U.S. sales chief Vinay Shahani assured dealers that the company is working to "minimize the impact" of tariffs on customers, but he was also frank: “There will be an impact.”
To soften the blow, Nissan is ramping up production at its U.S. plants in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton, Mississippi. Those factories were only running at about half capacity last year, so there’s plenty of room to grow. The Rogue—Nissan’s best-seller—will get a second shift on its assembly line, increasing production by about 60,000 vehicles. Other models like the Pathfinder, Frontier, and Murano will also see higher domestic output.
The goal? Build more cars stateside and dodge the tariff altogether.
Nissan’s move puts it in line with other automakers holding the line on prices—at least for now. Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda have made similar pledges, while rivals like Ford and Stellantis are rolling out temporary discounts to ease the pain.
As Digital Trends noted, Nissan’s decision comes as it rethinks its production and pricing strategy in the face of shifting trade policies and a nervous market. With high-volume imports like the Sentra and Ariya still coming from Mexico and Japan, this pricing grace period might not last long.

Read more
Buick, Audi, and Nissan score top marks in latest IIHS safety ratings
2025 Audi Q6 e-tron front quarter view.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has added four more vehicles to its coveted 2025 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ lists. If you appreciate knowing your vehicle is built with safety in mind, this update is worth noting.

Among the standout performers: the Audi Q6 e-tron, Buick Enclave, and Nissan Armada—each earning the institute’s highest honor, the Top Safety Pick+ award. The GMC Acadia also made the grade, picking up a Top Safety Pick award. For Buick and GMC, these honors mark a significant return to form, as neither brand had received IIHS awards in several years. In fact, it’s the first time since 2013 that the Enclave has been recognized.
So, how does IIHS hand out these awards? Picture a battery of tests that simulate real-world crashes—everything from small overlap front impacts to updated side crashes. To make the list, vehicles must ace (i.e., earn a “good” rating in) key crashworthiness tests, show competence in pedestrian crash prevention, and offer headlights that don’t blind oncoming drivers. For the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+, there's an extra hurdle: a “good” rating in the updated moderate front overlap test, which now factors in rear-seat passenger protection.
Improvements to the Enclave and Acadia’s headlights, introduced after January 2025, helped push them over the finish line. Unfortunately, not all models in this testing round were so lucky. The Cadillac Lyriq, Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, Kia K4, and several Nissan models—including the Kicks, Rogue, and Sentra—fell short. Common issues? Poor headlight performance or incomplete testing.
The IIHS notes that these evaluations are ongoing. Not every vehicle released for 2025 has been fully assessed, and late-year updates can still improve a model’s score. For the full list of safety awards, you can check out the IIHS website.

Read more