Good morning and welcome to our daily digest of automotive news from around the globe, starting with…

Autopilot Tesla Driver Charged With Manslaughter Over Deaths

California prosecutors have charged a Tesla driver with manslaughter for running a red light while Autopilot was engaged. The resultant accident led to the tragic deaths of two passengers in the car with which the Tesla collided. The driver, Kevin George Aziz Riad, denies the charges, while the families of the two occupants have sued both Riad and Tesla.

Porsche Details New Taycan Sport Turismo’s European Range, Including Flagship Turbo S

Porsche has detailed the entire Taycan Sport Turismo range in Europe, which will include the same powertrain options as the Taycan. That means that both rear- and all-wheel-drive variants will be on offer, with the flagship being the Turbo S. Unfortunately for US customers, Porsche won’t be expanding the Taycan Sport Turismo beyond the GTS model.

GM Envisions Using Fuel Cells To Recharge EVs Without Having To Connect To The Grid

General Motors thinks there’s a future for hydrogen in the automotive industry. But it’s proposed using large hydrogen fuel cells as off-grid rechargers that can provide fast-charging capabilities for electric vehicles temporarily. Besides mobile charging, GM and Renewable Innovations have collaborated on an EMPOWER rapid charger. It’s designed to enable gas stations to quickly and affordably offer a DC fast-charging capability as they won’t have to make a “significant investment in nonrecoverable electrical infrastructure upgrades, like larger feed wires, transformers and potentially new substations.”

McLaren Boss Admits Talking With VW Group About Formula 1

Zac Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, has admitted that the company has been in talks with the Volkswagen Group. More specifically, Zak Brown told Reuters: “I think they have spoken with a handful of people on the grid and as you would imagine, we have had conversations but in the short term and medium term we are very happy where we are.”

New 911 Targa Limited Edition Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Porsche Design

In celebration of 50 years of Porsche Design, the brand, co-founded by F.A. Porsche and his brother, Hand-Peter, is releasing a chronograph watch, a restored classic car, and a special-edition 911. The new 911 will be limited to 750 examples and is based on the 911 Targa 4 GTS. It features an all-black exterior and classic Sport-Tex seat center panels. The second hand on the Porsche Design Subsecond clock, offered as part of the Sport Chrono Package, is painted red as a nod to the past.

Ora’s “Mini Panamera” Lightning Cat EV Will Reportedly Be Based On And Built Alongside BMW’s MINI In China

The ORA Lightning Cat could be based on the new EV MINI built in China. The news comes from Germany-based journalist Greg Kable, who says that the new car, codenamed EC24, will share its platform and be produced on the same line as two MINI models at the Spotlight Automotive factory run by Great Wall Motor.

My Scion tC Is Sinking Into A Frozen River, But First Let Me Take A Selfie

Maybe we’re traditionalists, but if we ever ended up on a sinking car in the middle of a frozen lake, the last thing we’d want to do is take a selfie. And yet that’s exactly what one driver did in Canada before being rescued by neighbors in a kayak.

What Else Is Making The News

CEO Who Fired 900 Workers Over Zoom Returns To Work

Vishal Garg, the CEO, and founder of fintech company Better.com, has returned to work after being placed on leave. As a refresher, Garg fired 900 employees on a three-minute zoom call, while deriding the employees as “Lazy.” However, Forbes reports that the company’s board feels confident that Garg could continue to lead the workforce, as he resumes his full-time duties as CEO.

US Networks Agree To Postpone 5G Rollout At Some Towers

US Networks AT&T and Verizon have agreed to further postpone the rollout of the 5G services at a limited number of towers. Airlines in the US have continually pushed to delay the introduction of the C-band service, which they claim could interfere with airplane navigation systems. U.S President Joe Biden thanked the two networks, saying it would only affect 10 percent of wireless tower locations, reports the BBC.