Russ Mitchell covers the rapidly changing global auto industry, with special emphasis on California, including electric vehicles, driverless cars and vehicle safety. The Los Angeles Times’ former technology editor, he’s worked on staff at publications ranging from Business Week to Wired. A graduate of the University of Illinois, he also studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Vannevar Bush fellow.
Latest From This Author
Clashing with the state Legislature and California’s biggest cities over safety, the Newsom administration races ahead with driverless vehicle deployment.
Sept. 23, 2023
Ford CEO Jim Farley says the Ford F-150 Lightning, the world’s first all-electric mass-market pickup truck, represents ‘the tip of the spear’ in Ford’s EV strategy.
Sept. 14, 2023
California Senate passed a bill Monday requiring humans behind the wheel of autonomous trucks for at least five years while safety data are collected. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to veto the measure.
Sept. 11, 2023
The Times publishes a series of articles detailing the ways we can all help address the climate change challenge.
Aug. 29, 2023
After disturbing week for Cruise robotaxis, California applies the brakes on company’s ambitious expansion plans.
Aug. 19, 2023
As autos writer for the L.A. Times, Russ Mitchell gets a lot of questions about electric car buying. Here’s his guide to choosing the right EV for you.
Aug. 16, 2023
Just one day after state officials approved massive robotaxi expansion in San Francisco, a long line of the driverless cars come to a standstill and clog traffic in North Beach neighborhood.
Aug. 12, 2023
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved a measure to let robotaxi companies Cruise and Waymo massively expand deployment of their driverless vehicles on San Francisco streets.
Aug. 10, 2023
Dan O’Dowd, the wealthy tech activist behind the Dawn Project, is on a one-man mission to prove Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode isn’t ready to be on the road.
Aug. 3, 2023
In response to a rash of complaints from customers saying their Teslas can’t drive as far on a single charge as advertised, the company created a team to suppress the issue, according to a new report.
July 27, 2023