Rivian’s Future Plans, Real-Deal Honda SUV, John Deere Blues, EPA Nixes Human Factor

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A lot changes when technology grows faster than the rules. We kick off with Rivian’s survival playbook—why the R2’s push for affordability, a delayed Georgia plant, and an in-house autonomy stack paired with subscriptions might keep the lights on if pure EV sales stumble. We weigh what “hands-free” really means when drivers still bear legal liability, and where a custom processor and point-to-point features promise value but raise hard questions about responsibility and price.

From there, we get tactile with a full review of the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport. Bold on the outside, calm on the inside, it pairs a 3.5L V6 and a 10-speed with drive modes that match real conditions, not marketing. The tire choice matters: General Grabber ATs on 18-inch wheels show this SUV is built for real trails and budgets, not just show. With 5,000 pounds of towing and a cavernous cargo hold, it delivers confidence and utility—though we call out fuel economy that should be better. It’s a case study in where rugged meets reasonable.

Then we head to the field, where a $900,000 combine goes silent due to a software lockout as a storm rolls in. John Deere’s precision agriculture tools can slash input costs with plant-by-plant accuracy, yet centralized control can trap farmers at a critical moment. That tension feeds the broader right-to-repair fight across industries, from tractors to EVs. Ownership should include access to fix urgent failures, transparent diagnostics, and timely remote resets when minutes matter.

We close by examining a proposed EPA shift that would stop counting key health benefits—such as avoided asthma attacks and premature deaths—when regulating fine particulate matter and ozone. Change the math and you change the outcome: weaker protections, dirtier air, and heavier burdens on communities near industrial sites. Methodologies can evolve, but zeroing out human life is not progress. Technology should reduce harm; policy should measure it honestly.

If you value straight talk on where mobility, machinery, and policy collide, hit follow, share this episode with a friend who loves cars or cares about clean air, and leave us a review with your take on right to repair and driver-assist liability. Your feedback shapes what we explore next on The TechMobility Show.

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