Meal-kit company HelloFresh has added 70 all-electric Rivian vans to its fleet, the first major customer to buy the commercial EVs since the automaker ended its exclusive deal with Amazon. The 70 all-electric commercial vans represent nearly one quarter of HelloFresh’s fleet, which has already helped the company save an estimated 20,000 gallons of gasoline,…
Category: Transportation
Emerging Tech, Gensol, Global Security News, India, Transportation, Uber
India’s Uber-rival BluSmart appears to suspend service in wake of EV loan probe
BluSmart, India’s all-electric cab-hailing startup that was once seen as an emerging rival to Uber, appears to have suspended service in some cities just as the country’s market regulator launched a probe into Gensol Engineering, the publicly listed company that shares two of its co-founders. The cab service, which had been operating in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru,…
Global Security News, Kia, New York Auto Show, Transportation
Kia is pitching Americans an affordable EV sedan with EV4 debut
Kia debuted its 2026 EV4 sedan at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, its first global electric sedan and one designed for customers looking for an affordable EV. Whether U.S. customers will gravitate towards a sedan is an open question — and one Kia isn’t necessarily betting on. The company launched sales of…
EVs, Global Security News, New York Auto Show, NYIAS, subaru, Transportation
Subaru debuts Trailseeker, an all-electric SUV coming for Rivian’s outdoorsy EV customer base
Subaru is back with a new EV, and like its predecessor the Solterra, the all-electric Trailseeker SUV includes a bit of Toyota handiwork. Subaru of America revealed the 2026 Trailseeker SUV on Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show. The EV, the second in the Japanese automaker’s portfolio, looks familiar in a hey-that-looks-like-a-Subaru sort…
Europe, freenow, Global Security News, Mergers and Acquisitions, ridehail, Transportation
Lyft to buy taxi app FREENOW for $197M to enter Europe
Ride-hailing giant Lyft said it has agreed to acquire FREENOW, a German multi-mobility app with ride-hail at its core, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility for about $197 million in cash. The acquisition opens up the European market to Lyft for the first time. The company has only operated in the U.S. and Canada since it…
Emerging Tech, EV, Gensol Engineering, Global Security News, India, Startups, Transportation
India’s BluSmart swept up in Gensol investigation alleging misuse of EV loans
India’s market regulator launched a probe Tuesday into Gensol Engineering after finding alleged misuse of electric vehicle loans. BluSmart, a ride-hailing startup connected to Gensol that was once seen as an emerging Uber rival in the South Asian market, has also been swept up into the investigation. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)…
EVs, Global Security News, Lucid Motors, Transportation
Lucid Gravity First Drive: An electric SUV that doesn’t make compromises
Lucid has spent years working on its second EV — a plush van-like SUV designed to be the category killer that could take market share from the likes of other luxury EV and internal combustion people haulers like the Rivian R1S, Cadillac Escalade IQ, BMW X7, and Audi Q8. The Saudi-backed company’s aim was to…
Global Security News, robotaxis, Transportation, Uber, Waymo
Waymo and Uber prepare to launch robotaxi service in Atlanta this summer
Uber is inviting customers in Atlanta to join a list if they’re interested in hailing a Waymo robotaxi as the companies prepare to launch a commercial service in the city. Uber and Waymo last September announced plans to offer a robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025 as part of an expanded partnership.…
Global Security News, lime, Redwood Materials, Scooters, Transportation
Lime’s scooter and ebike batteries will be recycled by Redwood Materials
Shared micromobility company Lime has reached an agreement to send batteries used in its scooters and e-bikes to Redwood Materials, which will extract and recycle critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. The agreement announced Monday makes Redwood Materials the exclusive battery recycling partner for Lime’s shared scooters and e-bikes located in cities…
Cybersecurity, data breach, Global Security News, hertz, Security, Transportation
Hertz says customers’ personal data and driver’s licenses stolen in data breach
The car rental giant attributed the breach to Cleo, whose customers had data stolen by a ransomware gang in 2024.
Global Security News, Kodiak Robotics, SPAC, Transportation
Autonomous trucking startup Kodiak Robotics to go public via SPAC
Self-driving truck startup Kodiak Robotics plans to go public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company Ares Acquisition Corporation II. The transaction values Kodiak, which has raised around $243 million to date, at about $2.5 billion pre-money. New and existing Kodiak institutional investors, like Soros Fund Management, ARK Investments, and Ares, have funded or…
electric vehicles, Exclusive, Funding, Global Security News, Startups, Transportation, Venture
Conifer locks down $20M seed round for its ‘drop-in’ electric hub motor
A handful of engineers who worked at Lucid Motors and on Apple’s electric car project have launched a new startup that puts a fresh spin on electric hub motors. The new startup, called Conifer, has developed its motor to be free of rare earth elements by using more abundant ferrite magnets, which the company says…
Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, jeff bezos, techcrunch mobility, Transportation, Waymo
TechCrunch Mobility: Jeff Bezos backs a secretive EV startup and Lucid snaps up Nikola’s assets
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs. If there is one certainty in this uncertain moment, it’s this: U.S. tariff policy is likely to change again. As of Friday morning, there…
EVs, Global Security News, Nikola, Transportation, Trevor Milton
Nikola founder Trevor Milton accused of trying to derail bankruptcy case
A court hearing on the sale of bankrupt electric truck startup Nikola’s assets to Lucid Motors was going smoothly on Friday. No objections had been filed to the transaction, and Delaware bankruptcy Judge Thomas Horan verbally approved it without hesitation. Until, that is, a lawyer piped up on the Zoom call towards the end of…
Global Security News, TC, Transportation, Venture
Blue Water Autonomy comes out of stealth promising autonomous naval ships
A new ship-building startup called Blue Water Autonomy has emerged from stealth with the promise of developing captain-less naval ships. The Boston, Massachusetts-based company has raised a $14 million seed round from Eclipse VC, Riot, and Impatient Ventures. The startup was founded in 2024 by former members of the U.S. Navy, leaders of Amazon Robotics,…
electric vehicles, EVs, General Motors, Global Security News, Transportation
GM cuts 500 jobs because of weak demand for BrightDrop electric vans
General Motors is laying off 500 workers at a factory in Canada because of weak demand for its all-electric BrightDrop vans, according to CNBC. GM told CNBC that the cuts were not related to the ongoing trade war being waged by President Donald Trump. The company is cutting one of the two shifts at the…
Fundraising, Global Security News, Hardware, North America, SpaceX, Startups, supply chain, Transportation
Parallel Systems is building autonomous electric rail for short-distance freight
The business of moving goods in the United States is dominated by trucks, which handles about two-thirds of the 20.2 billion tons of freight that’s transported annually. Parallel Systems founder and CEO Matt Soule wants to change that by putting a modern autonomous and electric twist on the centuries-old railroad system. The Los Angeles-based company…
Elon Musk, Global Security News, netjets, Transportation
Hacked documents reveal guide to serving Elon Musk on private jets
A recent breach of Berkshire Hathaway-owned private jet company NetJets has revealed a guide for flight attendants serving Elon Musk, per a Bloomberg report. The memo offers an interesting glimpse into the personal preferences of the world’s richest man. Some of the preferences are surprising for the CEO of Tesla, a company dedicated to sustainability.…
electric vehicles, EVs, Global Security News, Lucid Motors, Nikola, Transportation
Lucid Motors wins bankruptcy auction for Nikola’s Arizona factory and other assets
EV startup Lucid Motors has emerged as a surprise winner in the bankruptcy auction for electric trucking company Nikola’s Arizona factory and other assets, according a late Thursday court filing. Lucid committed around $30 million in cash and non-cash considerations in exchange for the factory, Nikola’s lease on its Phoenix headquarters, and “certain machinery, equipment…
Elon Musk, EVs, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla used car listings skyrocketed in March
A growing number of Tesla owners are putting their used vehicles up for sale, as consumers react to Elon Musk’s political activities and the global protests they have fueled. In March, the number of used Tesla vehicles listed for sale on Autotrader.com skyrocketed, Sherwood News reported, citing data from Autotrader parent company Cox Automotive. The…
electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, slate auto, Transportation
Bezos-backed EV startup Slate Auto’s pickup truck spotted in the wild
Just one day after TechCrunch revealed that Jeff Bezos is backing a secretive EV startup called Slate Auto, an early version of the company’s low-cost electric pickup truck was spotted in the wild. Reddit user u/discostranger09 posted a photo to the r/whatisthiscar subreddit on Wednesday of a small, dark gray, two-seater pickup truck on a…
electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, slate auto, Transportation
Bezos-backed EV startup Slate Auto’s pickup truck spotted in the wild
Just one day after TechCrunch revealed that Jeff Bezos is backing a secretive EV startup called Slate Auto, an early version of the company’s low-cost electric pickup truck was spotted in the wild. Reddit user u/discostranger09 posted a photo to the r/whatisthiscar subreddit on Wednesday of a small, dark gray, two-seater pickup truck on a…
electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, slate auto, Transportation
Bezos-backed EV startup Slate Auto’s pickup truck spotted in the wild
Just one day after TechCrunch revealed that Jeff Bezos is backing a secretive EV startup called Slate Auto, an early version of the company’s low-cost electric pickup truck was spotted in the wild. Reddit user u/discostranger09 posted a photo to the r/whatisthiscar subreddit on Wednesday of a small, dark gray, two-seater pickup truck on a…
Department of Government Efficiency, doge, Elon Musk, Global Security News, nhtsa, Tesla, Transportation
NHTSA’s self-driving safety staff reportedly ‘disproportionally affected’ by DOGE cuts
The cuts that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency made at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in February “disproportionately affected” employees working on vehicle automation safety, according to The Financial Times. That division was formed in 2023 and therefore included a number of staffers who were still in their initial probationary hiring period, which…
EVs, Global Security News, Polestar, Transportation
Polestar EV sales jump in Q1 on discounts like ‘Tesla conquest’ bonus
Swedish electric vehicle maker Polestar saw its first-quarter sales jump 76% compared to the same period in 2024 after it began offering discounts and other promotions, including ones geared towards locking in Tesla owners. Polestar sold 12,304 cars in the first three months of the year compared to 6,975 in Q1 2024. Sales were relatively…
Canoo, electric vehicles, Global Security News, Harbinger, Transportation
Canoo CEO can buy bankrupt EV startup’s assets, judge rules
The sale of bankrupt EV startup Canoo’s assets to its CEO has been approved by the judge overseeing the case. After evaluating a number of limited objections to the sale, Judge Brendan Shannon said in a hearing Wednesday he believes the process was fair and that no one else but Canoo CEO Anthony Aquila made…
AI, autonomous vehicles, Global Security News, Nissan, Transportation, wayve
Wayve’s self-driving tech is headed to Nissan vehicles
Nissan said it will use self-driving software developed by Wayve to beef up its advanced driver assistance system starting in 2027, a landmark deal for the buzzy UK startup that has raised more than $1.3 billion from Nvidia, Microsoft, SoftBank Group, and Uber. Nissan will integrate Wayve’s software as well as sensors, including lidar from an undisclosed…
autonomous vehicles, Global IT News, Global Security News, robotaxis, Transportation, Waymo
A Waymo robotaxi got trapped in Chick-fil-A drive-through
A Waymo robotaxi caused a traffic jam at a Chick-fil-A in Santa Monica, California, this week after getting stuck in the fast food restaurant’s drive-through lane. Waymo confirmed the incident, which was first reported by local broadcast station KTLA 5, to TechCrunch via email. Waymo told TechCrunch that there weren’t any passengers in the robotaxi.…
autonomous vehicles, Fundraising, Global Security News, nuro, Startups, Transportation
Nuro’s $106M raise backs its shift from delivery robots to licensing autonomy tech
After months of hearty marketing efforts and large-scale technology demos across the U.S., Nuro has secured $106 million in fresh funding to help scale its autonomous driving technology and advance commercial partnerships. The Series E round brings Nuro’s total funding raised to $2.2 billion and its valuation to $6 billion. That’s a drop from the…
AI, Biotech & Health, Enterprise, Fundraising, Global Security News, Startups, TC, TC Sessions: AI, TechCrunch Sessions: AI, Transportation, Venture
The complete agenda for TechCrunch Sessions: AI unveiled
It’s been a couple of years since our last topic-focused, one-day event — but with AI transforming the tech landscape, we couldn’t miss the chance to gather 1,200 founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone shaping the future of AI for a deep dive into what’s next. On June 5 in Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley,…
electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global Security News, jeff bezos, Transportation
Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos is funding a secretive EV startup based in Michigan called Slate Auto that could start production as soon as next year, according to multiple sources and documents that link the billionaire’s family office to the startup. Slate, which took root in another Bezos-connected company called Re:Build Manufacturing, has been operating quietly since its…
autonomous vehicles, Global Security News, robotaxis, Startups, Transportation, zoox
Amazon’s Zoox begins robotaxi testing in Los Angeles
Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle unit, is deploying a small fleet of retrofitted test vehicles on the streets of Los Angeles starting Tuesday – a modest, yet meaningful step as the company inches toward offering public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year. The data-collection effort marks Zoox’s entrance into its sixth city…
AI, Alphabet, autonomous vehicles, generative ai, Global Security News, privacy, robotaxis, Transportation, Waymo
Waymo may use interior camera data to train generative AI models, but riders will be able to opt out
Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong, raising fresh questions about how much of a rider’s behavior inside autonomous vehicles could be repurposed for…
electric vehicles, EVs, Exclusive, Global Security News, Nikola, Transportation, Trevor Milton
Nikola founder Trevor Milton wants to buy the bankrupt startup’s assets
Nikola founder Trevor Milton, who was recently pardoned after being convicted of securities fraud, is trying to buy the assets of his former company out of bankruptcy, according to new court filings and a person familiar with the matter. Nikola filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February and has said it hopes to sell…
Apple, Asia Pacific, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Hardware, Tariffs, Tesla, Transportation
Analyst says Apple, Tesla have biggest exposure to Trump’s tariffs
Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives slashed his price targets for Apple and Tesla over the weekend as President Trump’s tariffs threaten to disrupt both businesses. “The tariff economic Armageddon unleashed by Trump is a complete disaster for Apple given its massive China production exposure,” Ives said in a warning note over the weekend. “In our…
AI, Alphabet, autonomous vehicles, generative ai, Global Security News, privacy, robotaxis, Transportation, Waymo
Waymo may use interior camera data to train generative AI models, sell ads
Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong. The draft language reveals Waymo may also share this data to personalize ads, raising fresh questions about…
Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, techcrunch mobility, Tesla, Transportation
TechCrunch Mobility: Tesla takes a hit, tariff chaos begins, and one EV startup hits a milestone
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Over the 13 years reporting on Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, I have watched the rise, fall, near misses, and rise again of the company and…
Elon Musk, EV, Global Security News, Polestar, Tesla, Transportation, volvo
Automakers jump on Tesla’s brand woes with discount EV offers
Tesla trade-ins in the U.S. are at an all time high as some owners become disillusioned with Elon Musk’s politics, and some just want to avoid their car getting keyed by Musk haters. Automakers are pouncing on the opportunity. Polestar, Lucid Motors, Volvo, and Ford — which have long trailed Tesla in EV sales —…
doge, Elon Musk, evergreens, EVs, Global Security News, Tesla, tesla takedown, Transportation
Elon Musk took a chainsaw to the US government. Tesla is taking the hit.
Elon Musk has long been credited with turning Tesla into a beacon of innovation, the visionary who pushed the world into an era of electrification. But his slide into politics – specifically his alignment with President Trump and activities within the federal government – has dragged Tesla into uncertainty. For many would-be Tesla buyers, the…
Europe, Exclusive, Global Security News, JB Straubel, Redwood Materials, Transportation
Redwood Materials preps for expansion spree with new R&D center in San Francisco
Redwood Materials has been on an expansion tear in recent years — growth that has extended the lithium-ion battery recycling and materials startup’s footprint well beyond its Carson City, Nevada headquarters as it locked up deals with Toyota, Panasonic, and, GM, started construction on a South Carolina factory, and made an acquisition in Europe. And…
Elon Musk, EVs, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla records worst deliveries in two years amid Elon Musk backlash
Tesla recorded 336,681 deliveries, its worst quarterly performance in more than two years as the brand suffers a backlash to CEO Elon Musk’s political maneuverings. The dip in sales comes as Musk continues leading DOGE, the “advisory body” that has laid off thousands of federal employees and attempted to eliminate entire agencies and programs. His…
electric vehicles, EVs, Global Security News, Rivian, Transportation
Rivian starts a challenging year with a big slip in deliveries
Rivian delivered just 8,640 vehicles in the first three months of 2024, the company’s worst quarterly mark since the end of 2022. But the company says the slow start won’t impact its overall guidance for the year — it still expects to deliver between 46,000 and 51,000 EVs by the end of 2025. The company…
Climate, data centers, electrolyzers, Exclusive, Fourier, Fundraising, Global Security News, Hydrogen, manufacturing, Transportation
Fourier is making hydrogen electrolyzers inspired by data centers
Most recent hydrogen startups have been focused on making modular electrolyzers, but Fourier has taken that trend to the extreme.
Canoo, Global Security News, Harbinger, Transportation
EV truck maker Harbinger accuses Canoo of hiding assets in bankruptcy sale
Electric trucking company Harbinger has filed an objection to the sale of Canoo’s assets to its CEO, potentially throwing a wrench into the two-month-old bankruptcy case. Harbinger’s objection, filed late Friday, accuses Canoo of hiding certain assets from the sale process, including what the startup purchased from another bankrupt EV company, Arrival. It also accuses…
doge, Elon Musk, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Tesla, tesla takedown, Transportation
‘Tesla Takedown’ protesters are planning a global day of action on March 29, and things might get ugly
“Tesla Takedown” organizers have promised their biggest day of global action today, encouraging thousands to protest outside Tesla showrooms, dealerships, and even charging stations to peacefully object to Elon Musk’s role in slashing government spending. As Tesla protests have spread, so has the backlash. Activists holding up signs are being conflated with masked vandals throwing…
doge, Elon Musk, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Tesla, tesla takedown, Transportation
‘Tesla Takedown’ protesters are planning a global day of action on March 29, and things might get ugly
‘Tesla Takedown’ organizers have promised their biggest day of global action this weekend, encouraging thousands to protest outside Tesla showrooms, dealerships, and even charging stations to peacefully object to Elon Musk’s role in slashing government spending. As Tesla protests have spread, so has the backlash. Activists holding up signs are being conflated with masked vandals…
Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Rivian, techcrunch mobility, Transportation, Trump
TechCrunch Mobility: Inside the Rivian skunkworks program, and Trump’s gift to Tesla
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Before we jump into the transportation news of the week, it’s worth pointing you to a couple of articles that are focused on Elon Musk, the CEO…
Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Rivian, techcrunch mobility, Transportation, Trump
Inside the Rivian skunkworks program, and Trump’s gift to Tesla
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Before we jump into the transportation news of the week, it’s worth pointing you to a couple of articles that are focused on Elon Musk, the CEO…
electric vehicles, EV, Global Security News, lucid gravity suv, Startups, Transportation
Lucid to ramp customer deliveries for Gravity SUV by end of April
Lucid Motors plans to resume customer deliveries for its new all-electric Gravity SUV at the end of April. Getting the Gravity into customer hands is a big milestone for Lucid, whose success will hinge on being able to offer vehicle types popular with American drivers. The Gravity is Lucid’s second vehicle and its first SUV…
Donald Trump, electric vehicles, EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, Nikola, Transportation, Trevor Milton
Nikola founder Trevor Milton pardoned by Trump
Trevor Milton, the founder of bankrupt hydrogen trucking startup Nikola who was convicted of fraud, has been pardoned by President Trump, the White House confirmed to TechCrunch. Milton was convicted in October 2022 of one count of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud related to claims he made about Nikola’s progress to investors. He was…
electric vehicles, Elon Musk, EVs, Global Security News, North America, Tesla, Transportation
Trump’s auto tariffs are a gift to Tesla
President Trump is slapping 25% tariffs on all cars imported to the United States, including from our immediate North American neighbors. He’s also placed a 25% tariff on certain parts used to build cars. It’s a decision that will likely supercharge the cost of new and used cars, but it’s also a gift to Tesla,…
EVs, Global Security News, micromobility, Rivian, Transportation
Rivian spins out a new micromobility startup called Also with $105M from Eclipse
Before RJ Scaringe founded Rivian in 2009, he had micromobility on his mind. More than a decade later, his musings took root in a small skunkworks program inside Rivian that set out to answer one question: Could the company’s technology be condensed down into something smaller and more affordable than its electric vans, trucks, and SUVs?…
electric vehicles, evergreens, EVs, Ford, Global Security News, GM, North American Charging Standard, Supercharger, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla Superchargers: GM, Ford, Rivian, and other EV brands with access
EV owners of GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Lyriq will now officially have access to Tesla’s Superchargers.
autonomous vehicles, Global Security News, robotaxis, Transportation, Waymo
Waymo to launch robotaxi service in Washington D.C. in 2026
Waymo said Tuesday it will begin offering robotaxi rides via the Waymo One app in Washington D.C. in 2026. Before it can launch commercially, the company will have to up its lobbying game in the capitol, where autonomous vehicle permits still require a human behind the wheel. The news from Waymo comes as the Alphabet-owned…
Climate, EV charging, EVs, Global Security News, revel, Startups, Transportation
Revel opens first EV fast-charging hub in San Francisco
Brooklyn-based electric vehicle charging infrastructure startup Revel on Monday launched its first fast-charging station in San Francisco, kicking off its plans to expand across the Bay Area over the next year. “For years, Revel has operated the largest, fastest, and most reliable fast-charging network in New York City,” Frank Reig, co-founder and CEO of Revel,…
EVs, General Motors, Global Security News, Optiq, Transportation
The Cadillac Optiq EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ go big on tech, luxury, and price
Cadillac’s new IQ portfolio of all-electric vehicles — notably the compact Optiq SUV and grandaddy full-size Escalade IQ — has put the company on a techier, more advanced, and luxurious plane. And the shift couldn’t have come soon enough. The slate of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles that have come out of Cadillac in recent…
Climate, electric vehicles, fast charging, Global Security News, lfp, lithium ion batteries, Transportation
How BYD plans to make EV charging as fast as filling a gas tank
What we found mostly supports the auto makers claims, with a few caveats.
Global IT News, Global Security News, techcrunch mobility, Transportation
TechCrunch Mobility: Inside Waymo’s deal with SFO, Elon’s moment of truth, and BYD’s breakthrough
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Before we jump into the news, just a quick bit of housekeeping. I’m putting “This week’s wheels” on hiatus for a few weeks as I get into…
AI, avs, Global Security News, nvidia gtc, Startups, Transportation, wayve
Wayve CEO shares his key ingredients for scaling autonomous driving tech
Wayve co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall sees promise in bringing his autonomous vehicle startup’s tech to market. That is, if Wayve sticks to its strategy of ensuring its automated driving software is cheap to run, hardware agnostic, and can be applied to advanced driver assistance systems, robotaxis, and even robotics. The strategy, which Kendall laid…
electric vehicles, evergreens, EVs, Ford, Global IT News, Global Security News, GM, North American Charging Standard, Supercharger, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla Superchargers: GM, Ford, Rivian, and other EV brands with access
EV owners of GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Lyriq will now officially have access to Tesla’s Superchargers. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global Security News, honda, honda prologue ev, North America, Tesla Supercharger, Transportation
Honda and Acura EV owners to gain access to Tesla Superchargers this June
Honda and its luxury brand, Acura, are set to join the growing list of automakers providing EV owners access to Tesla’s Supercharger network in North America. Starting in June, owners of the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX electric vehicles will be able to charge at Tesla’s stations. Those EVs are built with CCS charging ports…
Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
One of Tesla’s top Wall Street supporters says Elon Musk faces a ‘moment of truth’
An analyst who is one of the biggest boosters of Tesla on Wall Street says Elon Musk is facing a “moment of truth” at his EV company because of a “crisis” he’s created by spending so much in the Trump administration. The analyst, Wedbush’s Dan Ives, pleaded with Musk in a note published Thursday to…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla recalls Cybertrucks for exterior panels that fall off
Tesla is issuing a recall for around 46,000 Cybertrucks sold to date because of an exterior steel trim panel on the side of the windshield that can peel off. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a filing that the piece can come off while in motion, which can create a hazard for…
AI, Gatik AI, General Motors, Global IT News, Global Security News, nvidia, nvidia gtc, torc, Transportation
GM, Gatik, Torc team up with Nvidia to accelerate self-driving
NVIDIA’s GTC conference kicked off with a series of announcements highlighting its role in advancing autonomous driving technology. The chipmaker provides automakers and autonomous vehicle companies with a handful of Nvidia-branded tools to help power self-driving cars and create digital twins of factories. On Tuesday, companies including Torc, Gatik, and even General Motors announced plans…
avs, Global IT News, Global Security News, robotaxis, Transportation, zoox
Zoox recalls 258 self-driving cars over unexpected braking
Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous driving unit, has issued a voluntary recall for 258 vehicles due to issues with its autonomous driving system that could cause unexpected hard breaking. The recall follows a preliminary investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last May after the agency received two reports of incidents in which motorcyclists collided…
AI, autonomous vehicles, california, Global IT News, Global Security News, robotaxi, TC, Tesla, Transportation
What Tesla can and can’t do in California with its new passenger transportation permit
Tesla received a permit Tuesday from the California Public Utilities Commission to operate a transportation service in the state, the beginning of a long regulatory road that could eventually lead to the company getting the OK to operate a robotaxi service there. The permit, which Tesla applied for in November 2024, doesn’t cover autonomous vehicle…
AI, autonomous vehicles, Global IT News, Global Security News, gtc 2025, nvidia, robotics, Transportation
An AI model from over a decade ago sparked Nvidia’s investment in autonomous vehicles
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote Tuesday at the company’s GTC 2025 conference stuck with tradition and was chock full of announcements. But the company also snuck in a little history lesson. During the automotive portion of his speech, Huang referred to AlexNet, a neural network architecture that gained widespread attention in 2012 when it won…
AI, autonomous vehicles, General Motors, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, nvidia gtc, robotics, Transportation
GM teams up with Nvidia to bring AI to robots, factories, and self-driving cars
General Motors is turning to Nvidia to help bring AI to the physical world in an expanded collaboration designed to touch every aspect of the automaker’s business, including factories, robots, and self-driving cars. Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang, who announced the partnership Tuesday during his keynote at the company’s GTC conference in San Jose,…
electric vehicles, EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, Rivian, Tesla, Transportation
Tesla and Rivian charging networks have fewest problems by far, according to Consumer Reports
The most problem-free EV charging networks in the U.S. right now are the ones built by Tesla and Rivian, according to a new survey from Consumer Reports. The publication surveyed 1,230 owners on their EV charging experiences between March 2024 and February 2024, and just 4% of the respondents said they experienced problems at Tesla’s…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, Transportation
How to watch Nvidia GTC 2025, including CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote
GTC, Nvidia’s biggest conference of the year, returns this week, with the biggest announcements probably coming Tuesday. If you can’t make it in person, don’t sweat it. TechCrunch will be on the ground covering the major developments, and we’ve made it easy for you to follow along. Many of the biggest presentations, talks, and panels…
Climate, electric vehicles, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, lithium ion batteries, silicon, Transportation
Coreshell has a plan to slash the price of American made batteries
Rather than trying to beat Chinese companies, Coreshell attempting an end run, swapping graphite for its specially coated silicon. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Africa, Commerce, Global Security News, Google, Leta, logistics, speedinvest, Transportation
Google, Speedinvest back Kenya’s Leta, which uses AI to make logistics cheaper
African businesses pay up to four times the global average to transport goods. Nairobi-based logistics SaaS provider Leta wants to change that. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News, San Francisco, Transportation, Waymo
Waymo’s milestone SFO mapping permit comes with strings attached
Waymo has been given permission to map roadways at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) via a temporary permit — the first step in the Alphabet company’s bid to unlock a potentially lucrative use case for its robotaxis. The temporary permit, which was announced Monday evening by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, kicked off March…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, Transportation
Nvidia GTC 2025: What to expect from this year’s show
GTC, Nvidia’s biggest conference of the year, begins Monday and runs till Friday in San Jose, with the biggest announcements probably coming Tuesday. TechCrunch will be on the ground covering the news as it happens — and we’re expecting a healthy dose of announcements. And we’re making it easy for you to follow along. CEO…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, Transportation
How to watch Nvidia GTC 2025, including CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote
GTC, Nvidia’s biggest conference of the year, will return this week, with the biggest announcements probably coming Tuesday. If you can’t make it in person, don’t sweat it. TechCrunch will be on the ground covering the major developments, and we’ve made it easy for you to follow along. Many of the biggest presentations, talks, and…
eVTOLS, Global IT News, Global Security News, Joby Aviation, Transportation, Virgin Atlantic
Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic partner to launch electric air taxis in the UK
Joby Aviation is partnering with Virgin Atlantic to launch electric air taxis in the U.K., marking the seventh country in which the startup hopes to one day commercialize. Joby, which went public in 2021 via special purpose acquisition merger, did not provide a timeline for when it plans to launch its partnership with Virgin in…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, Transportation
How to watch Nvidia GTC 2025, including CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote
GTC, Nvidia’s biggest conference of the year, will return this week, with the biggest announcements probably coming Tuesday. If you can’t make it in person, don’t sweat it. TechCrunch will be on the ground covering the major developments. Many of the biggest presentations, talks, and panels will be livestreamed as well. The conference starts Monday,…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, Transportation
Nvidia GTC 2025: What to expect from this year’s show
GTC, Nvidia’s biggest conference of the year, begins Monday and runs till Friday in San Jose. TechCrunch will be on the ground covering the news as it happens — and we’re expecting a healthy dose of announcements. CEO Jensen Huang will give a keynote address at the SAP Center on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Pacific,…
Global IT News, Global Security News, SXSW, techcrunch mobility, Transportation, Uber, Waymo
TechCrunch Mobility: Testing the Uber-Waymo robotaxi, Rivian goes hands-free, and Travis Kalanick has AV FOMO
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! For regular readers of TechCrunch Mobility, you may be wondering, “Why did this newsletter land in my inbox on Friday?” Folks, we’re moving days in an effort…
Global IT News, Global Security News, SXSW, techcrunch mobility, Transportation, Uber, Waymo
Testing the Uber-Waymo robotaxi, Rivian goes hands-free, and Travis Kalanick has AV FOMO
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! For regular readers of TechCrunch Mobility, you may be wondering, “Why did this newsletter land in my inbox on Friday?” Folks, we’re moving days in an effort…
Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, gps, SXSW, TC, tern ai, Transportation
Tern AI’s low-cost GPS alternative actually works
We’ve all experienced that moment of frustration when the GPS glitches and you miss an exit on the highway. The team at Tern AI, which is building a low-cost GPS alternative, says that’s because the current technology is limited by its reliance on satellite positioning. Tern AI says it has figured out how to locate…
Global IT News, Global Security News, robotics, Transportation
Waymo was slapped with nearly 600 parking tickets last year in SF alone
Waymo now has more than 300 driverless vehicles zipping passengers around San Francisco, but while they follow traffic laws, parking is another matter entirely. According to city records cited by the Washington Post, these rolling robots racked up 589 citations totaling $65,065 in fines last year for parking violations that ranged from blocking traffic to…
electric bicycles, Global IT News, Global Security News, Rad Power Bikes, Transportation
Rad Power Bikes already has a new CEO
Rad Power Bikes has named a new CEO, just a few days after its previous leader stepped down. The e-bike company has tapped Kathi Lentzsch, who has spent the last few decades helping turn around underperforming companies in both the consumer and B2B spaces. The change comes as Rad Power continues to shift away from…
Global IT News, Global Security News, robotics, Transportation, Travis Kalanick, Uber, Waymo
Travis Kalanick thinks Uber screwed up: “Wish we had an autonomous ride-sharing product”
Travis Kalanick, the former CEO of Uber, made it clear on Wednesday: he believes the company’s decision to abandon its autonomous driving program was a mistake. Said Kalanick at the Abundance Summit in L.A., “Look, [new management] killed the autonomous car project we had going on. At the time, we were really only behind Waymo…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, Transportation
How to watch Nvidia GTC 2025, including CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote
GTC, Nvidia’s biggest conference of the year, will return starting Monday in San Jose. If you can’t make it in person, don’t sweat it. TechCrunch will be on the ground covering the major developments. Many of the biggest presentations, talks, and panels will be livestreamed, as well. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver…
AI, Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, GTC, nvidia, Transportation
Nvidia GTC 2025: What to expect from this year’s show
GTC, Nvidia’s biggest conference of the year, begins Monday and runs till Friday in San Jose. TechCrunch will be on the ground covering the news as it happens — and we’re expecting a healthy dose of announcements. CEO Jensen Huang will give a keynote address at the SAP Center on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Pacific,…
Climate, Global IT News, Global Security News, lithium ion batteries, Northvolt, Startups, Transportation
Battery manufacturer Northvolt nears the end as it files for bankruptcy in Sweden
Though the Swedish startup has raised over $14 billion, it has been running short on cash recently. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
doge, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Global IT News, Global Security News, Government & Policy, Tesla, Transportation
Trump says he will label violence against Tesla as domestic terrorism
President Donald Trump said he will label violence against Tesla dealerships as domestic terrorism, per a transcript shared by the White House pool reporters, a sign of deepening ties with Elon Musk. “Tesla Takeovers” have been breaking out across the globe at Tesla dealerships as people protest what they see as a hostile takeover of…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Hugging Face, learning to drive, self-driving, Transportation
Hugging Face expands its LeRobot platform with training data for self-driving machines
Last year, Hugging Face, the AI dev platform, launched LeRobot, a collection of open AI models, data sets, and tools to help build real-world robotics systems. On Tuesday, Hugging Face teamed up with AI startup Yaak to expand LeRobot with a training set for robots and cars that can navigate environments, like city streets, autonomously.…
autonomous vehicles, Global IT News, Global Security News, robotaxis, Transportation, Waymo
Waymo expands its robotaxi service across Silicon Valley
Waymo will start offering robotaxi rides to people in its “Waymo One” early rider program in Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and “parts of Sunnyvale” starting Wednesday, an expansion that will bring its footprint in Silicon Valley to 27 square miles. The Waymo vehicles will be available around-the-clock, and the new territories add to…
Europe, Exclusive, Global Security News, Leitmotif, Startups, Transportation, Venture, venture capital
Meet the new VC firm secretly backed by Volkswagen
A new venture firm called Leitmotif has been on a quiet blitz for the last 16 months, funding around 20 startups broadly focused on decarbonization. Its portfolio includes EV companies, space and battery plays, and four nuclear fusion startups. But the firm has only said its funding is from “European industrial interests.” Now, Leitmotif has…
Europe, Exclusive, Global Security News, Leitmotif, Startups, Transportation, Venture, venture capital
Meet the new VC firm secretly backed by Volkswagen
A new venture firm called Leitmotif has been on a quiet blitz for the last 16 months, funding around 20 startups broadly focused on decarbonization. Its portfolio includes EV companies, space and battery plays, and four nuclear fusion startups. But the firm has only said its funding is from “European industrial interests.” Now, Leitmotif has…
electric bikes, Global IT News, Global Security News, Rad Power Bikes, Transportation
Rad Power Bikes CEO steps down
Rad Power Bikes CEO Phil Molyneux has stepped down as part of a wider strategic reshuffling at the acclaimed electric bicycle company. The company told TechCrunch that Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Roberts will serve as interim CEO while the company searches for a replacement, and that Molyneux will serve as an adviser. The news, first…
Climate, electric vehicles, Exclusive, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, lithium ion batteries, scoop, Transportation
Daqus Energy has a plan to make EV sports cars fast, light, and cheap
Cheaper, lighter, and denser: the trifecta defines an ideal battery. No one has devised a perfect cell quite yet, but one stealthy startup thinks it has found a new material that solves at least two of those challenges. Daqus Energy has been quietly operating for the past four months, refining a compound known as TAQ…
EVs, Global IT News, Global Security News, GM, mint 400, Rivian, Transportation
Chevy Silverado EV vs Rivian R1T: How two EVs handled the iconic Mint 400 off-road race
Something special went down in the desert outside of Las Vegas this weekend: two EVs took on the Mint 400 for the first time. Since the Mint 400 launched back in 1969, vehicles in this iconic desert endurance race have been powered by dead dinosaurs. Spectators and race participants alike are used to the smell…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, quantum computing, Startups, SXSW, Transportation, Venture
SXSW 2025: What we’re paying attention to
TechCrunch will be on the ground at SXSW 2025 — the annual tech, music, comedy, and film conference that kicked off Friday in Austin — in search of the zeitgeist of this AI-centric era. Yup, we’re one sentence in and AI has already made its entrance. And why not? A quick scan of the massive…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Intuitive Machines, Space, Transportation
Intuitive Machines’ second moon lander is dead
Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander is dead, just one day after it touched down at the moon’s south pole and tipped over. Luckily, the company says it was able to “accelerate several program and payload milestones” and deploy a few of the experiments that were riding shotgun before Athena’s lander ran out of juice. The…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Space, SpaceX, Starship, Transportation
SpaceX Starship spirals out of control in second straight test flight failure
SpaceX’s Starship spiraled out of control while in space during a test flight on Thursday, marking the second launch in a row that the vehicle has run into a fatal problem on its way to orbit. The company launched Starship using its Super Heavy booster and things looked normal for the first eight minutes of the…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Intuitive Machines, NASA, Space, Transportation
A second Intuitive Machines spacecraft just landed on the moon — and probably tipped over
Intuitive Machines has landed a second spacecraft on the moon, just one year after accomplishing the feat for the first time ever. Unfortunately, much like that first attempt, it seems the company’s spacecraft may have tipped on its side. The lunar lander, called Athena, touched down on the moon’s surface at around 12:30 p.m. ET…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Transportation
VW’s cheapest EV will have Rivian DNA and who is bidding for Canoo’s assets
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! TechCrunch’s transportation team — well at least myself and senior reporter Rebecca Bellan — are hittin’ the road. Destination: SXSW, the annual tech, music, film, and culture…