Autonomous

Toyota Motor Corp.’s software and technology arm plans to embark on an ambitious hiring and acquisition spree as automakers globally jostle for pole position in the race to develop smart cars that will one day drive themselves.

Battery maker SES Holdings Pte has agreed to go public by merging with Ivanhoe Capital Acquisition Corp. in a deal that will value the combined company at about $3.6 billion.

Automated trucking applications, particularly in the longhaul sector, have the potential to help alleviate some of the strains associated with the industrywide driver shortage, a panel of experts told researchers.

A startup called Whisper Aero, which is disclosing its plans for the first time, thinks it may be well on its way to solving a noise problem related to drones.

Argo AI, the self-driving startup backed by Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG, is working with investment bankers as it prepares to go public as soon as this year with a valuation expected to top $7 billion.

The U.S. government’s highway safety agency has ordered automakers to report any crashes involving fully autonomous vehicles or partially automated driver-assist systems.

AutoStore is weighing an initial public offering that could value the Norwegian warehouse robotics company at more than $10 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

Alphabet Inc.’s drone-delivery venture, Wing, is releasing free software for U.S. drone users to get permission to fly near sensitive areas such as airports.

Xos Inc., a Los Angeles-based manufacturer of fully electric Classes 5-8 commercial vehicles, announced it signed an agreement to deliver three Xos electric step vans to UniFirst Corp. in a test program with potential for additional vehicle purchases for use across the United States.

Tesla Inc.’s aspirations in China were dealt a major blow over the weekend after the government ordered that almost all the cars it has sold in the nation — more than 285,000 of them — be fixed to address a safety issue.