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BERLIN — German automaker Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz Cars unit says it is developing plans to open an assembly plant in Egypt.

If the outlooks from the two auto companies are anything to go by, GM looks set to be winning the race for the year.

Some of the world’s most conservative companies are starting to experiment with cleaner fuels and cutting-edge technologies to meet new standards starting next year that mandate steep cuts of sulfur emissions from oceangoing ships.

Tesla, recognizing as imperative its ability to produce a cheaper electric car, told employees Jan. 18 that it must cut 7% of its workforce.

Volvo Group Venture Capital AB, a subsidiary of Volvo Group, announced it has invested an undisclosed amount in Momentum Dynamics Inc., which provides high-power wireless charging systems for the automotive and transportation industries.

U.S. Class 8 retail sales rose 16.7% to 26,083 in December to cap the fourth-highest sales year ever as fleets replaced older trucks and expanded amid tight capacity, strong freight demand and high rates.

WASHINGTON — Technology is changing the transportation landscape as freight carriers move toward self-driving vehicles and public officials look for new ways to develop infrastructure and prepare for what could be a major shift in traffic patterns and driving behavior.

The Nasdaq-listed company, Kandi Technologies Group Inc., which started making electric cars in 2013, plans to ship two of its models to the United States this year, Chairman and CEO Hu Xiaoming said Jan. 16. Sales will start after the company clears regulatory procedures, which have been held up by the federal government shutdown, Hu said.

WASHINGTON — Analyzing and visualizing data can help state departments of transportation and planning organizations better understand traffic flow, safety concerns and capacity needs, according to a group of panelists assembled at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting Jan. 16.