If you blinked this week, you missed about five major developments in the automotive and mobility world. Between executive musical chairs at General Motors (GM), self-driving tech getting international love, and the federal government's sudden enthusiasm for flying cars, it was the kind of week that reminds you the future of transportation is messy, exciting, and arriving faster than anyone expected.

General Motors Looks to a Tesla Veteran

First up: GM is apparently eyeing Sterling Anderson, its current Chief Product Officer and a former Tesla Autopilot executive, as the next CEO. Anderson also co-founded Aurora Innovation (AUR), so his autonomous vehicle credentials are solid. The idea here is that if Anderson can crack the code on hardware and software integration for GM's vehicles, he might be the right person to succeed Mary Barra when the time comes. It's the kind of hire that signals GM is serious about competing in a world where cars are increasingly defined by their software, not just their engines.

South Korea Loves Tesla's Self-Driving Tech

Meanwhile, Tesla Inc. (TSLA) got a nice endorsement from across the Pacific. South Korean lawmaker Lee So-young tried out Tesla's Full Self-Driving system, which recently launched in Korea, and came away impressed enough to call it a game-changer. She's now on a mission to get other leaders behind the wheel to experience self-driving technology themselves. This comes as Tesla prepares for a European rollout of FSD, so positive reviews from government officials probably don't hurt.

The Trump Administration Wants Air Taxis

In news that sounds like science fiction but is apparently happening, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled the Trump administration's strategy to get air taxi operations off the ground in the U.S. Duffy pointed to the rapidly evolving aviation industry, including eVTOL aircraft and drones, and positioned the initiative as a way for America to "beat China and lead the way in aviation!" Whether air taxis become the Uber of the skies or just another overhyped tech dream remains to be seen, but the government is clearly interested.

Waymo Eyes Massive Funding Round

Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOGL) autonomous driving unit, Waymo, is in talks for a funding round that could top $10 billion and value the company at $100 billion or more. The financing is expected to come together early next year. That's a staggering valuation for a company that's still figuring out how to turn robotaxis into a real business, but it shows how seriously investors are taking the autonomous vehicle race.

Ford Backs Away from EVs

Finally, Ford Motor Company (F) is reportedly dialing back its electric vehicle ambitions as demand hasn't lived up to expectations. RBC Capital Markets analyst Tom Narayan maintained a Sector Perform rating on Ford, calling the strategic restructuring a rational response to market realities. It's a reminder that even as the industry moves toward electrification, the path isn't straight, and companies need to adjust when consumers aren't buying what they're selling.

So that's your week in automotive chaos. CEO succession plans, flying taxis, multibillion-dollar funding rounds, and reality checks on EV demand. Just another week in an industry that's reinventing itself in real time.