TechMobility Topics

The 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring aims to redefine the luxury electric SUV, but does it deliver where it matters most? During this episode of TechMobility Topics, I review Lucid's three-row flagship, exploring its spacious interior, versatile cargo area, innovative frunk, impressive performance, and overall driving experience. I also examine where Lucid still has room to improve, including fit-and-finish, everyday usability, pricing, and trim levels, to help determine whether the Gravity lives up to its premium ambitions. 

 Ram is bringing the ProMaster City back as automakers rediscover the business case for small commercial vans. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine the details that matter to contractors and fleet operators, including cargo capacity, plywood fit, pallet loading, and everyday job-site practicality. I also address two potential deal-breakers: unibody construction for demanding commercial use and the absence of all-wheel drive. The result is a practical look at whether Ram’s revived work van is truly built for the businesses it hopes to serve. 

 Calls to bring manufacturing back to the United States often evoke images of the postwar factory boom, but today's industrial landscape is fundamentally different. In Part II of this limited TechMobility Topics series, I examine the realities of modern reshoring, from automation and workforce challenges to supply chains, infrastructure, and global competitiveness. We explore what rebuilding American manufacturing will actually require—and why success will depend on far more than simply opening new factories. 

 New research suggests ADHD may consist of three distinct brain-based subtypes, including a severe combined presentation associated with emotional dysregulation. For this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine what these findings could mean for parents, educators, clinicians, and future approaches to diagnosis and treatment. I also explain why researchers caution that brain imaging is not yet ready to diagnose ADHD in individual patients, despite the promise these discoveries hold for more personalized care. 

 For years, automakers chased the "China price." Today, the real challenge is China Speed. During this episode of TechMobility Topics, I explain how Chinese automakers have dramatically shortened product development cycles by rethinking supplier relationships, simplifying engineering specifications, and standardizing common components across vehicle platforms. We examine why faster iteration—not just lower manufacturing costs—is becoming the defining competitive advantage in the global automotive industry, and what legacy automakers must do to keep pace. 

 Hyundai isn't experimenting with humanoid robots—it plans to deploy them at scale. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, I examine how Hyundai's relationship with Boston Dynamics could transform automotive manufacturing through automation, in-house actuator production, and factories that operate closer to a 24-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week schedule. We also explore the larger competitive question: whether U.S. automakers can match a future where production speed, quality, and cost are increasingly determined by robotics rather than traditional labor. 

 Rivian's future hinges on far more than a single new vehicle. For this episode of TechMobility Topics, we examine the company's strategy behind the upcoming R2, including the production volumes, pricing, and range targets needed to compete in the next phase of the EV market. We also explore why Rivian's expanded Georgia manufacturing plans should be viewed as a sign of confidence rather than a retreat, highlighting how increased production capacity fits into the company's long-term growth strategy. The discussion goes beyond headlines to explain the manufacturing and business math that will determine whether Rivian can successfully transition from an innovative startup to a high-volume automaker. 

 School bus stop-arm cameras have proven to be an effective tool for protecting children by identifying drivers who illegally pass stopped buses. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, we examine how BusPatrol's technology improves roadway safety while exploring a broader question: where should the line be drawn between public safety and mass surveillance? We discuss the growing use of automatic license plate recognition, concerns over data collection, retention, and access, and why stronger guardrails may be needed as connected transportation technologies become increasingly common. 

 The 2026 Lexus TX 350 was designed specifically for North American families, but does it deliver enough to justify its luxury badge? During this episode of TechMobility Topics, we take a practical look at Lexus' three-row SUV, examining the specifications that matter most in everyday driving, from ride quality and cabin refinement to cargo capacity, technology, and long-distance comfort. We also discuss where the TX falls short, including third-row accommodations and the elusive "wow factor" many luxury buyers expect. Finally, we explore the value equation, asking whether shoppers might be better served by closely related alternatives like the Toyota Grand Highlander or the hybrid Toyota Sienna, depending on their priorities. 

 Ford is trying to make the idea of a $30,000 American-built electric pickup feel less like fantasy and more like a manufacturing target. In this episode of TechMobility Topics, we examine Ford’s skunkworks approach to affordable EVs, including simplified vehicle design, fewer parts, large cast structures, faster development cycles, and a shift toward 48-volt electrical systems that could reduce wiring, complexity, weight, and cost. If electric vehicle prices have felt out of reach, this conversation explains how changing the way EVs are built may be the key to making them affordable.