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Elon Musk’s flamethrower incenses New York lawmakers. State Senate passes bill banning the weapon

Key Points

Musk’s Boring company sold all 20,000 flamethrowers it made in less than a week early last year.

A memo accompanying the bill specifically cites the Boring Company flamethrower in justifying the legislation.

The state Assembly version of the bill has not yet come up for a floor vote.

The New York State Senate passed a bill earlier this month that would make the possession of a flamethrower for recreational activities a felony, with an eye toward outlawing the one made by Elon Musk’s Boring Co.

Musk’s company sold all 20,000 units of its $500 flamethrowers in less than a week last year, drawing the ire of lawmakers in New York and elsewhere.

“Elon Musk’s Boring Company released a new flamethrower which sold out of all 20,000 within days, without any concern to the training of the purchasers or their reasons for buying. Allowing the general public to access this type of machine is extremely problematic,” New York lawmakers said in justifying the legislation. “These dangerous devices should not be sold to civilians, and use needs to be restricted to trained professionals.”

CEO Musk, who also runs electric car company Tesla, said the Boring Company renamed it “not-a-flamethrower” to avoid regulatory rules that prohibit the transport of anything called a flamethrower.

Musk Tweet

The Boring Company did not respond to requests for comment. The bill would make possessing a flamethrower a Class E felony, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

Sponsored by Democratic state Sens. John Brooks and David Carlucci, the bill passed the Senate 48-13 on June 11. It defines a flamethrower as “a device capable of projecting burning fuel a distance of at least three feet.” The bill hasn’t come up for a vote in the Assembly yet.

It was first introduced last year after the Nassau County Fire Commission reached out to Brooks, said Michael Reid, Brooks’ chief of staff. Reid said the “not a flamethrower” was also concerning to emergency medical personnel.

“They were concerned that people were essentially having something that looks like a toy, is being billed as something fun to use, and there was all different stuff coming up on social media showing people really using the device as intended, which is to have fun,” Reid said. “Unfortunately, firing out a burst of flame for a number of feet can have some really horrific, unintended consequences.”

In the terms and conditions customers had to agree to before purchasing, Boring included a poem that read: “I will not use this in an unsafe way The best use is creme brulee.”

Quinn Whitehead, owner of Throwflame in Cleveland, Ohio, said his company has seen sales to New York “basically quadruple” since people started hearing about the bill. He also said he doesn’t think the bill, as written, would actually apply to the Boring flamethrower.

“It’s just funny to me that the justification of this bill has revolved around Elon Musk’s flamethrower, which isn’t actually a real flamethrower,” Whitehead said. “It’s just a roofing torch in an airsoft gun shell.”

Reid, however, said the bill was specifically designed to include the Boring flamethrower.

Whitehead said roughly 40% of the flamethrowers his company sells are purely for entertainment use, while others are bought by people using them as a tool, such as for agriculture. Throwflame advertises products that can shoot burning fuel over 100 feet.

Brooks said, “Considering flamethrowers to be toys for recreational use is a bit of a head-scratcher. This bill will protect kids, families, and neighbors from irresponsible and dangerous ‘play.’ Weapons of war do not belong in our backyards.”

The bill would not apply to flamethrowers with at least five major components built before 1966, flamethrowers used for agriculture or construction, or those purchased and possessed before the bill would take effect. Reid said the historical carve-out was for people who wanted to display or use flamethrowers in war reenactments.

The Boring Company’s main focus is building new underground transportation systems in cities. In addition to flamethrowers and fire extinguishers, the company’s website says Boring sold 50,000 hats featuring the corporate logo.
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HIEE300888R0002 | control unit | ABB | HIEE300888R0002

The ABB HIEE300888R0002 control unit is the core component of the ABB 800xA automation system (general control unit, GCU), designed for industrial process control. Its core functions include:

Multi-scenario industrial control: integrated logic control, excitation regulation and data interaction functions, supporting complex applications such as industrial automation and power management.GE VMIC VMIVME-7452 VME Bus Interface Module

Real-time data processing: receiving signals from field equipment, executing complex control algorithms, and issuing instructions to actuators to achieve precise control.

System integration capabilities: supporting real-time data exchange between PLC and I/O modules, adapting to ABB’s full range of control systems, and seamlessly integrating with third-party devices.

Application areas and typical scenarios

Industrial automation

Production line control: processing sensor data (such as temperature and pressure), controlling the coordinated operation of robotic arms, and optimizing processes such as painting and welding.

Motor speed regulation: achieving high-precision motor speed regulation and dynamic load management through constant current/constant voltage control mode.

Power system control

Generator excitation system: adjusting voltage stability and power factor to ensure safe operation of the power grid.

Distributed power management: integrated into the DCS system to complete power distribution and fault diagnosis.GE VMIC VMIVME-7452 VME Bus Interface Module

Process control industry

Petrochemical/metallurgy: control reactor temperature and pressure, optimize oil refining/steelmaking process.

Papermaking/food and beverage: adjust production line speed to ensure product quality consistency.

Water treatment: monitor water quality parameters to achieve automated dosing and filtration control.

Summary: ABB HIEE300888R0002 control unit has become a core component in the field of industrial automation with its high performance, high reliability and wide applicability. Users can make rational decisions based on specific needs, combined with price, service and supplier reputation to improve system performance and stability.

Electrical connections

The following connection details apply to the power supply:

The AC input uses a IEC60320 C20 inlet socket type with a retaining clip to hold the IEC60320 C19

power connector.

A cable is included to connect the PSU to the mains.

The DC output uses an internally mounted male output connector, type Phoenix PCV4/3 with locking nuts.

The external alarm wires are mounted to a 3 pole female screw socket, make Phoenix, type MC

5/3-G-3,81. This connector is plugged into a male connector next to the power connectors.

60 V DC Power supply (1200 W) – UL508 approved

The PSU-UNI6020U power supply is a UL approved switched-mode DC power supply with a high efficiency (>85% at 187 V AC and >80% at 93, 5 V AC). It accepts a wide range of input voltages to provide 60 V DC and 20 A outputEMERSON A6500-CC 9199-00120 Industrial Control Module

Main features

The units main features include:

Dual built-in over-voltage protection, to comply with the functional safety requirements of the DIN V

19250 and VDE V 0801 standards.

ON/OFF switch on the power supply combined with isolated AC and DC power connectors enable on-line replacement of the unit in a live system.

A current limit feature, used to limit the maximum output power to 1200 W.

Under-voltage alarm (<54 V).

An output diode for parallel operation.

Optimum protection against continuous overload and short-circuiting.

100ms holdup time.

Hardware control features

The PSU-UNI6020U power supply has the following hardware control features:

Power switch

An alarm contact.

Each of these features is discussed in more detail below.

Power switch

The power switch is sunk into the frame to prevent accidental operation. It allows you to switch off the PSU-UNI6020U before you disconnect it.

With the power switched off you can safely remove the AC and DC power cables without risk of sparks or spikes on the grid.

Alarm contact

The PSU-UNI6020U has an alarm contact used for voltage monitoring.

The below figure shows the alarm contact with the relay energized, which means that the PSU is powered and the output voltage is above 54Vdc.

Installation

The unit can be mounted both vertically or horizontally.

Convection cooling works best when the unit is mounted vertically, with the power and fan input facing downwards (see the below figure).

The maximum PSU ambient temperature may not exceed 50°C (122°F) when operating at full load.

When mounting vertically the maximum PSU ambient temperature may go up to 70°C (158°F) when operating at half load or less.

Electrical connections

The following connection details apply to the power supply:

The AC input uses a IEC60320 C20 inlet socket type with a retaining clip to hold the IEC60320 C19 power connector.

A cable is included to connect the PSU to the mains.

The DC output uses an internally mounted male output connector, type Phoenix PCV4/3 with locking nuts.

The external alarm wires are mounted to a 3 pole female screw socket, make Phoenix, type MC 1,5/3-G-3,81. This connector is plugged into a male connector next to the power connectors.
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PDB-0824-Power Distribution Board (24Vdc, 2 Amp, 8 channel)

The PDB-0824 power distribution board enables easy distribution of 24Vdc from the main power rail to individual 24Vdc devices inside the cabinet enclosure, such as fan units and FTAs.

Figure 496 on page 792 shows the PDB-0824 board with one 24Vdc entry connector (In) for connection to the main bus bar and eight (2 Amp fused) 24Vdc field connectors (Out1 thru Out8) for connection to eight 24Vdc devices.A 24 Vdc power distribution cable (see data sheet “PDC-MB24-x” on page 812 for details) can be used to connect the main power bar to In.

• When using other connection cables make sure the wire size is adequate and a Weidmuller BVZ 7.62/02F SW connector with two keying pins is used to connect to In of the PDB-0824 (see “Pin allocation” on page 793).

24V distribution cables (see “PDC-FTA24” on page 816) connect the PDB-0824 with up to eight 24Vdc devices.

• When using other connection cables make sure the wire size is adequate and a Weidmuller BL 5.08/2 SN OR or equivalent connector is used to connect to one of the Outx connectors of the PDB-0824 (see “Pin allocation” on page 793).

Pin allocation

Figure 497 on page 793 shows the top, side & bottom view and the pin assignment of the Weidmuller BVZ 7.62/02F SW cable-connector on In.

1. The pin marked “+” is pin 1; connect to +24Vdc wire to the main bus bar

2. The pin marked “-” is pin 2; connect to 0Vdc wire to the main bus bar

The two (orange) locking slides of the cable-connector in Figure 497 on page 793 keep the cable-connector locked when inserted into In.

Figure 498 on page 793 shows the top, side & bottom view and the pin assignment of the Weidmuller BL 5.08/2 SN OR or equivalent connector to an Outx field connector on the PDB-0824.

Connections

Power Distribution Board (24Vdc, 2 Amp, 8 channel)

Description

The PDB-0824P power distribution board enables easy distribution of 24Vdc from the main power rail to individual 24Vdc devices inside the cabinet enclosure, such as fan units and FTAs.

Figure 500 on page 796 shows the PDB-0824P board with one 24Vdc entry connector (In) for connection to the main bus bar and eight (2 Amp fused) 24Vdc field connectors (Out1 thru Out8) for connection to eight 24Vdc devices.

• When using other connection cables make sure the wire size is adequate and a Weidmuller BVZ 7.62HP/02F SN connector with two keying pins is used to connect to In of the PDB-0824P (see “Pin allocation” on page 797).

24V distribution cables (see “PDC-FTA24” on page 816) connect the PDB-0824P with up to eight 24Vdc devices.

• When using other connection cables make sure the wire size is adequate and a Weidmuller BLZ 5.08/2F SN SW or equivalent connector (e.g. BL 5.08/2 SN OR) is used to connect to one of the Outx connectors of the PDB-0824P (see “Pin allocation” on page 797).

Pin allocation

Figure 501 on page 797 shows the top, side & bottom view and the pin assignment of the Weidmuller BVZ 7.62HP/02F SN cable-connector on In.

1. The pin marked “+” is pin 1; connect to +24Vdc wire to the main bus bar

2. The pin marked “-” is pin 2; connect to 0Vdc wire to the main bus bar

Figure 501 Power connector on In (Weidmuller BVZ 7.62HP/02F SN) top, side and bottom view

The two (red) locking slides of the cable-connector in Figure 501 on page 797 keep the cable-connector locked when inserted into In.

Figure 502 on page 797 shows the top, side & bottom view and the pin assignment of the Weidmuller BLZ 5.08/2F SN SW.

1. The pin marked “+” is pin 1; connect to +24Vdc wire to the consumer

2. The pin marked “-” is pin 2; connect to 0Vdc wire to the consumer

PDC-MBMB-1 Mains power distribution cable (24Vdc, 48Vdc)

Description

The PDC-MBMB-1 power distribution cable transfers the 24Vdc or 48Vdc from one mains power rail of type FS-MB-0001 to another mains power rail of that type.

Figure 504 on page 800 shows the layout of the PDC-MBMB-1 power distribution cable.

The cable plugs in the mains power rail with a polarized connector that must be locked on the rail using its two screws. To enable this, the plug must be placed on one of the rail positions that has nuts in the rail housing (see Figure 505 on page 801).

High loads

With second rail loads exceeding 30 Amp (up to 100 Amp) it is recommended to use two PDC-MBMB-1 cables to connect the two power rails

• Connect the first cable close to the top of each power rail.

• Connect the second cable close to the bottom of each power rail.
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Computer Requirements

Bently Nevada Monitor Configuration software will run on most Windows desktop or notebook computer systems. Bently Nevada Monitor Configuration software is designed to run and fully tested on Microsoft Windows 7. Software operation is also verified for operation in 32-bit or 64-bit environments.

Networking Requirements

Bently Nevada Monitor Configuration software requires Ethernet ports with TCP/IP protocol support to communicate with the 3701/55 ADAPT ESD. The dual ports on each CPU module should be configured for separate subnets to successfully implement redundant data pathways when this feature is available. Bandwidth sharing on any network, depending on traffic, is always a consideration and will affect network performance. Ensure that you have installed all networking hardware and configured the hardware according to your network administrator’s specifications.Bently Nevada 84661-34 Industrial Control Module

Specifications

Typical specifications are provided for a temperature of +25 °C ± 3°C (+77°F ± 5.4°F). All other specifications are over the operating temperature range of -30°C to +65°C (-22°F to +149°F).

For Hazardous Area installations, the supply must be appropriately certified to the local national standards. Refer to Hazardous Area Directives section for power supply requirements in hazardous area applications.

Refer to Bently Nevada Application Note 013 for instruction about connecting the system and power supply to earth ground.

The 3701/55 Overspeed Protection Module will support from 1 to 999 events per revolution with a maximum full-scale range of 1,20,000 rpm and a maximum input frequency of 20 kHz (1EPR).

Minimum input frequency for proximity transducers is 3Hz (180 rpm for 1 event/revolution & 0.18 rpm for 999 event/revolution). The minimum peak to peak signal amplitude for proximitor speed input of the 3701/55 is 1V. Refer to the table in Appendix on speed signal requirements for minimum (pk to pk) amplitude of signal for different speeds and duty cycles.

Refer to Bently Nevada Application Note 085 for instruction on proximity probe installation.

Minimum input frequency for magnetic is 3Hz (180 rpm for 1 event/revolution & 0.18 rpm for 999 event/revolution). The minimum peak to peak signal amplitude for magnetic speed input of the 3701/55 is 1.5V

Environmental Considerations

The ADAPT ESD is designed to meet a broad range of use cases and environments. The design incorporates significant measures to provide a robust electrical and mechanical package with careful attention to system reliability, including extensive shock, vibration, and temperature exposure.

That being said, the ADAPT ESD system should be treated with the appropriate care, as exposure to extreme environments will shorten the life expectancy of the system. Exposing the ADAPT ESD to condensing liquids, rain, sand, or situations that impair ventilation can cause excessive internal heating and performance loss. For installations that may exceed environmental specifications we can create custom solutions to meet specific needs. For example, although the ADAPT ESD has hazardous area approvals, it must be in a NEMA grade enclosure. If you have any questions regarding an application, please contact your local sales and service representative.

Compliance and Certifications FCC

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful interference.

This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
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Delta CEO says Trump tariffs are hurting bookings as airline pulls 2025 forecast

Key Points

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian called President Donald Trump’s tariffs “the wrong approach.”

The airline cut its growth plans and said it can’t reaffirm its 2025 financial guidance.

Delta last month lowered its first-quarter forecast due to disappointing bookings.

Delta Air Lines won’t expand flying in the second half of the year because of disappointing bookings amid President Donald Trump’s shifting trade policies, which CEO Ed Bastian called “the wrong approach.”

The carrier said it is too early to update its 2025 financial guidance, a month after it confirmed the targets at an investor conference, though Delta said Wednesday it still expects to be profitable this year. Last month, Delta cut its first-quarter earnings outlook, citing weaker-than-expected corporate and leisure travel demand.

It is a shift for Delta, the most profitable U.S. airline, which started 2025 upbeat about another year of strong travel demand, with Bastian predicting it would be the “best financial year in our history.”

Bastian’s new comments show growing concern among CEOs about consumers’ souring appetites for spending and the impact of some of Trump’s policies. In November, Bastian said the Trump administration’s approach to industry regulation would likely be a “breath of fresh air.”

Wall Street analysts have slashed their earnings estimates and price targets for airlines in recent weeks on fears of slowing demand.

“In the last six weeks, we’ve seen a corresponding reduction in broad consumer confidence and corporate confidence,” Bastian told CNBC. He said that demand, overall, was “quite good” in January and that things “really started to slow” in mid-February.

Bastian said main cabin bookings are weaker than previously expected. He said that travel demand that was growing about 10% at the start of the year has since slowed because some companies are rethinking business trips, the Trump administration has cut the government workforce and markets are reeling. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bastian said international and premium travel, which has been growing faster than sales from the coach cabin, have been relatively resilient.

Delta planned to expand flying capacity by about 3% to 4% in the second half of 2025, Bastian said in an interview. Now the carrier’s capacity will be flat year over year.

 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 19: Delta Air Lines planes are seen parked at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on June 19, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The airport covers 2,500 acres and has three parallel runways. It is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its metropolitan area in Washington state. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
 

Delta Air Lines planes are seen parked at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on June 19, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Kent Nishimura | Getty Images

“We expect this to be the first of many 2H25 capacity reduction announcements from the airlines this quarter,” TD Cowen airline analysts Tom Fitzgerald and Helane Becker wrote after Delta released its outlook.

Some of the future capacity cuts could include Canada, where U.S.-bound travel has declined, and Mexico, Delta President Glen Hauenstein said. For Mexico, he said there is less demand for travelers visiting friends and family rather than a drop in business travel.

“With broad economic uncertainty around global trade, growth has largely stalled,” Bastian said in Wednesday’s earnings release. “In this slower-growth environment, we are protecting margins and cash flow by focusing on what we can control.”

Delta is the first of the major U.S. carriers to report earnings. United, American, Southwest and others are scheduled to report later this month.

Tariffs and potential retaliatory duties could drive up the costs of imported components for the U.S. aerospace industry.

Delta’s Bastian, however, said the company will defer any Airbus aircraft that is affected by tariffs. Airbus produces airplanes in Europe but also uses imported components in its Mobile, Alabama, factory.

Delta’s stock, along with other airlines, rallied after Trump’s surprise announcement that he would lower some tariff rates for 90 days. Its shares rose more than 23% though they’re still down almost 27% this year.

Here’s how the company performed in the three months ended March 31, compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on consensus estimates from LSEG:

Earnings per share: 46 cents adjusted vs. 38 cents expected

Revenue: $12.98 billion adjusted vs. $12.98 billion expected

In the first quarter, Delta’s net income rose to $240 million, up from $37 million last year, with revenue up 2% year over year to $14.04 billion.

Stripping out Delta’s refinery sales, Delta posted adjusted earnings per share of 46 cents, up 2% from last year and above analysts’ expectations, and adjusted revenue of $12.98 billion, up 3% from last year and in line with Wall Street expectations.
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United Airlines adds Thailand, Vietnam and Australia flights in latest expansion

Key Points

United Airlines is adding service to Vietnam and Thailand in October.

The carrier is also beginning nonstop service from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, in December.

It’s part of the airline’s ongoing effort to add far-flung destinations not served by its rivals.

 

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by United Airlines takes off at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
 

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by United Airlines takes off at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

David McNew | Getty Images

United Airlines plans to add daily flights to Vietnam and Thailand in October, further expanding the network for the U.S. carrier that already has the most Asia service.

In the expansion, United is using a tactic that’s unusual in its network: Its airplanes from Los Angeles and San Francisco that are headed for Hong Kong will then go on to the two new destinations. The Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, service is set to begin on Oct. 26.

On Oct. 25, United plans to add a second daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines, and on Dec. 11, it will launch nonstops from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, which will operate three days a week.

Read more CNBC airline news

United Airlines adds Thailand, Vietnam and Australia flights in latest expansion

Goodbye to ‘bags fly free’ on Southwest, the last free perk in America

First-class seats are getting so fancy they’re holding up new airplanes

U.S. consumers are starting to crack as tariffs add to inflation, recession concerns

The carrier has aggressively been adding far-flung destinations not served by rivals to its routes, like Nuuk, Greenland, and Bilbao, Spain, which start later this year. Getting the mix right is especially important as carriers seek to grow their lucrative loyalty programs and need attractive destinations to keep customers spending.

Bangkok, in particular, “is in even more demand now given the popularity of ‘White Lotus,’” Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of network and global alliances, said of the HBO show.

He said the carrier isn’t planning on cutting any international routes for its upcoming winter schedule.
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Delta CEO says Trump tariffs are hurting bookings as airline pulls 2025 forecast

Key Points

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian called President Donald Trump’s tariffs “the wrong approach.”

The airline cut its growth plans and said it can’t reaffirm its 2025 financial guidance.

Delta last month lowered its first-quarter forecast due to disappointing bookings.

Delta Air Lines won’t expand flying in the second half of the year because of disappointing bookings amid President Donald Trump’s shifting trade policies, which CEO Ed Bastian called “the wrong approach.”

The carrier said it is too early to update its 2025 financial guidance, a month after it confirmed the targets at an investor conference, though Delta said Wednesday it still expects to be profitable this year. Last month, Delta cut its first-quarter earnings outlook, citing weaker-than-expected corporate and leisure travel demand.

It is a shift for Delta, the most profitable U.S. airline, which started 2025 upbeat about another year of strong travel demand, with Bastian predicting it would be the “best financial year in our history.”

Bastian’s new comments show growing concern among CEOs about consumers’ souring appetites for spending and the impact of some of Trump’s policies. In November, Bastian said the Trump administration’s approach to industry regulation would likely be a “breath of fresh air.”

Wall Street analysts have slashed their earnings estimates and price targets for airlines in recent weeks on fears of slowing demand.

“In the last six weeks, we’ve seen a corresponding reduction in broad consumer confidence and corporate confidence,” Bastian told CNBC. He said that demand, overall, was “quite good” in January and that things “really started to slow” in mid-February.

Bastian said main cabin bookings are weaker than previously expected. He said that travel demand that was growing about 10% at the start of the year has since slowed because some companies are rethinking business trips, the Trump administration has cut the government workforce and markets are reeling. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bastian said international and premium travel, which has been growing faster than sales from the coach cabin, have been relatively resilient.

Delta planned to expand flying capacity by about 3% to 4% in the second half of 2025, Bastian said in an interview. Now the carrier’s capacity will be flat year over year.

 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 19: Delta Air Lines planes are seen parked at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on June 19, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The airport covers 2,500 acres and has three parallel runways. It is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its metropolitan area in Washington state. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
 

Delta Air Lines planes are seen parked at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on June 19, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Kent Nishimura | Getty Images

“We expect this to be the first of many 2H25 capacity reduction announcements from the airlines this quarter,” TD Cowen airline analysts Tom Fitzgerald and Helane Becker wrote after Delta released its outlook.

Some of the future capacity cuts could include Canada, where U.S.-bound travel has declined, and Mexico, Delta President Glen Hauenstein said. For Mexico, he said there is less demand for travelers visiting friends and family rather than a drop in business travel.

“With broad economic uncertainty around global trade, growth has largely stalled,” Bastian said in Wednesday’s earnings release. “In this slower-growth environment, we are protecting margins and cash flow by focusing on what we can control.”

Delta is the first of the major U.S. carriers to report earnings. United, American, Southwest and others are scheduled to report later this month.

Tariffs and potential retaliatory duties could drive up the costs of imported components for the U.S. aerospace industry.

Delta’s Bastian, however, said the company will defer any Airbus aircraft that is affected by tariffs. Airbus produces airplanes in Europe but also uses imported components in its Mobile, Alabama, factory.

Delta’s stock, along with other airlines, rallied after Trump’s surprise announcement that he would lower some tariff rates for 90 days. Its shares rose more than 23% though they’re still down almost 27% this year.

Here’s how the company performed in the three months ended March 31, compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on consensus estimates from LSEG:

Earnings per share: 46 cents adjusted vs. 38 cents expected

Revenue: $12.98 billion adjusted vs. $12.98 billion expected

In the first quarter, Delta’s net income rose to $240 million, up from $37 million last year, with revenue up 2% year over year to $14.04 billion.

Stripping out Delta’s refinery sales, Delta posted adjusted earnings per share of 46 cents, up 2% from last year and above analysts’ expectations, and adjusted revenue of $12.98 billion, up 3% from last year and in line with Wall Street expectations.
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Why 2025 will be a pivotal year for Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi division

LAS VEGAS — This year is expected to be a pivotal one for Amazon’s self-driving car unit, Zoox, as the company plans to expand operations and commercialize its robotaxi business.

Zoox plans to start offering rides to the public “very soon,” expand its operating area and “substantially” increase its fleet of self-driving cars by 2025 from the current few dozen, according to co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jesse Levinson.

“It’s a lot of work, but we’re excited about it,” Levinson said during a 40-minute tour of Las Vegas in one of the company’s self-driving taxis. “We’re very happy with the progress we’re making.”

While some investors have lost enthusiasm for self-driving cars, Zoox’s plans are still on track, and they’re not alone, with traditional automakers such as General Motors, Ford Motor and Volkswagen having disbanded some of their self-driving divisions in recent years.

Founded a decade ago and acquired by Amazon in 2020 for $1.3 billion, Zoox has been testing its purpose-built self-driving taxis on public roads since early 2023. The company is currently testing the vehicles, which don’t include manual controls like steering wheels or pedals, in three cities: Las Vegas, San Francisco and Foster City, California, where it’s headquartered.

Las Vegas is expected to be Zoox’s first commercial market. The company hopes to launch an “early rider program” in the coming months before opening it to the public later this year. Zoox began testing in San Francisco in November 2024, and will later launch the program there, the company said.

Levinson said Zoox also plans to expand to Miami, Austin, Texas and other cities, but the company has not announced a specific timeline for operating in those cities.

“Hopefully by the end of the decade, if you’re in most major cities in the United States, this will be your favorite way to get around,” Levinson said.

Amazon does not publicly disclose its investment in Zoox or other early-stage businesses, but says such investments are seen as emerging long-term initiatives to assist the company and its customers.

Take a Self-Driving Taxi

Zoox’s self-driving taxis are different from other taxis because they don’t have human drivers from the start. This is a departure from the route taken by Alphabet-backed Waymo, the U.S. leader in robotaxis, which has retrofitted conventional vehicles with self-driving car capabilities.

Some have described vehicles like Zoox’s self-driving taxis as “boxes” or “toasters.” The doors open in the middle, and seats are arranged in two rows, with no room for a driver. GM’s Cruise had also planned to launch such a car, the Origin, but canceled production after facing problems following an accident involving a pedestrian in October 2023.

“I think the vehicle itself is interesting,” Sam Abuelsamid, an autonomous driving expert and vice president of market research at Telemetry Insights, said of Zoox. “The size and shape of the vehicle are right.”

Driving on the outskirts of the Las Vegas Strip on a sunny morning, the Zoox self-driving car performed well. It turned well and drove confidently but not aggressively. There were some questionable choices along the way, such as choosing to stay in a long line instead of going around a large trailer, but overall the vehicle performed well.

Levinson said the Amazon-backed company has been working toward autonomous driving over the years of testing. Self-driving cars can’t break the law like many human drivers do, but they can’t be too cautious or aggressive, either, because that could lead to accidents or conflicts with other human drivers.

The future of the business

If Zoox can develop and begin commercial operations as planned this year, it will arguably be far behind Waymo in the field of self-driving taxis.

“I don’t want to suggest that this business will be commercially meaningful this year…but it will be very useful because customers will be able to get value from it and really use it to go anywhere. We’re excited about it,” said Zoox’s Levinson. “Because safety is paramount, we’ve taken a fairly conservative and robust approach to expansion and promotion.”

GM’s Cruise self-driving car unit was once an industry leader alongside Waymo until the company grounded its self-driving taxi fleet and announced the end of commercial operations late last year. This followed an accident in October 2023 in which an external investigation found that the company misled or deceived regulators.

Providing public ride-hailing services is just another step in the challenge of commercializing self-driving cars. Waymo began offering supervised rides to the public in Arizona in 2017, followed by unsupervised, driverless rides in 2019. The company has slowly expanded to hundreds of self-driving cars in four markets and currently provides more than 150,000 paid rides per week.

“From a technology perspective, I think Zoox is going in the right direction. I’m a little unsure about the business model,” Abuelsamid said. “The technology is maturing. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting better.

“But everyone is trying to figure out what the operating model is that will actually recoup costs and make money,” he continued.

The self-driving taxi industry has proven to be far more challenging than many imagined in the late 2010s, when GM, Waymo, Lyft, Uber and many others entered the market with grand ambitions to commercialize the technology and replace human drivers.

Companies have proven that self-driving cars are viable, but the costs have been far higher than initially expected, and the payback has taken longer than expected. Not to mention, some reports of problems on the road, and it faces uncertainty around regulations and liability.

Other companies, most notably Tesla, have announced ambitions for a self-driving taxi business, but have failed to develop driverless cars or a commercial self-driving ride-hailing business.

Meanwhile, Waymo continues to expand. Last year, the company announced an expansion of its partnership with Uber to offer its self-driving taxi service exclusively on the Uber app starting in early 2025, bringing the service to Austin and Atlanta. Waymo also expects to expand in the next few years. Expanding to Miami in early 2026.

“They are absolutely the leader,” Abuelsamid said. “They are the only company currently operating a true self-driving taxi service at any scale; they are the largest company.”
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Troubled electric car maker Nikola files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

DETROIT — Nikola Corp., the auto startup once a favorite of Wall Street analysts and retail investors, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after failing to find a buyer or raise additional funds to stay afloat.

Nikola said Wednesday it plans to initiate an asset auction and sale process, pending court approval. The company said it has about $47 million in cash to fund bankruptcy activities, conduct the sale process and exit Chapter 11.

“Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we are facing a variety of market and macroeconomic factors that have impacted our ability to operate,” Nikola CEO Steve Girsky said in a press release. “Unfortunately, our best efforts have not been sufficient to overcome these significant challenges, and the board has determined that Chapter 11 represents the best path forward for the company and its stakeholders under these circumstances.”

If approved by the court, the proposed bidding process would allow interested parties to submit binding offers to acquire Nikola’s assets free of its debts and certain liabilities.

The bankruptcy filing marks the end of a years-long decline for the Phoenix-based company. At its peak in 2020, Nikola’s valuation surpassed Ford’s $30 billion deal with General Motors, which was considered the pinnacle of auto startups going public through reverse mergers and special purpose acquisition companies.

The company’s decline has been years in the making, sparked by scandals and lies by its founder and former chairman and CEO Trevor Milton. The fluent, energetic and disgraced executive was convicted of wire fraud and securities fraud in 2022 for misleading investors about Nikola’s operations and zero-emission technology.

The controversies were first publicly disclosed by short-seller Hindenburg Research after GM struck a deal with the Detroit automaker that included a $2 billion stake in the startup.

Nikola’s core products are all-electric and fuel cell electric semi-trailer trucks, which the company began producing in 2022. As of the third quarter of last year, the company had produced only 600 of these vehicles since then. Many of those vehicles have been recalled for defects, costing the automaker tens of millions of dollars.

Since transitioning from chairman to CEO in 2023, Girsky has pushed Nikola forward, including producing zero-emission trucks, but the company has been running on less capital.

Nikola warned investors on its third-quarter conference call that it has enough cash to sustain its business through the first quarter of 2025, but not much longer. Nikola reported a cash balance of $198 million at the end of the third quarter.
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