The office expansion began in 2021 following the company's announcements of its advanced driver-assistance system lidar series production award with GM.

The automaker is ready for takeoff in the brand-new world of electric air mobility. But for now, it is skipping further investment in a Japanese startup founded partly by its own engineers in favor of an American aerospace company focused on fast, quiet flying machines.

Nissan's move is part of a push to equip nearly every new model with lidar safety technology by the end of the decade. It lets vehicles conduct high-speed emergency maneuvers on the highway without a hand on the wheel or foot on the brake.

Automotive suppliers are deploying with health technology aimed at detecting COVID-19, alerting someone of signs of a heart attack and purifying the air in their vehicle.

Solid-state power packs promise safety, cost, weight and performance improvements over today's lithium ion batteries. They could help bring larger trucks and SUVs into the EV segment.

Andy Kunz, CEO and founder of the US High Speed Rail Association, says Americans are missing out on the benefits of trains that can whisk them along at nearly 200 mph.