Fisker, the EV startup currently going through bankruptcy proceedings, has received approval to sell over 3,000 Fisker Ocean SUVs to a vehicle leasing company. The deal is expected to net the company a maximum of $46.25 million. However, there are still a few remaining hurdles to overcome in the bankruptcy proceedings. In other news, Yandex NV, the Netherlands-based company that recently sold off its Russian business and has been renamed Nebius Group, is using the proceeds from the sale to develop four projects, including Avride, an autonomous vehicle technology company. Avride has chosen Austin, Texas as its headquarters and is currently testing its technology in Austin and Seoul.
There were also several notable deals that occurred this week. Hayden AI Technologies, a startup that uses AI-powered camera systems to help cities detect and enforce parking and moving violations, raised $90 million in a Series C round. Huture, a Chinese hydrogen energy company, will go public in the US via a merger with blank-check firm Aquaron Acquisition Corp. The combined company would be valued at $1 billion. Moving Tech, the parent firm of Indian open-source ride-sharing app Namma Yatri, raised $11 million in a pre-Series A funding round. Northbound, a German startup that has developed software for global shipping logistics, raised €1.3 million ($1.42 million) in a pre-seed round. Tekion Corp., a California-based startup that developed software for automotive retailers and manufacturers, raised $200 million from Dragoneer Investment Group. UP.Partners, a Santa Monica-based VC firm that focuses on mobility startups, is aiming to raise $230 million for its second fund.
In autonomous vehicle news, Aurora co-founder Sterling Anderson discussed different approaches to driverless vehicles in a recent interview. He explored the concept of end-to-end AI and whether it can safely be applied to autonomous vehicles. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the company is delaying its robotaxi reveal due to an important design change. Waymo also made headlines as a Castro Valley resident was charged with slashing the tires of 17 Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco. The suspect was identified thanks to the exterior cameras on the vehicles. Automotive News delved into how Waymo uses AI to enhance self-driving vehicle skills.
In the electric vehicle space, TechCrunch contributor Tim Stevens discovered an interesting EV startup called Helixx at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Helixx aims to reboot everything we know about building cars with its “factory-in-a-box” strategy and 3D-printed prototype delivery van. VanMoof, the e-bike startup that declared bankruptcy last year, is back with new owners and plans to woo back the 5,000 customers who had pre-ordered e-bikes. Archer Aviation and Southwest Airlines announced a partnership to build a network of electric air taxis at California airports, leveraging Southwest’s customer data.
Lastly, the 2024 Nissan Ariya Empower+ was reviewed and found to have a modern and clean interior design, improved pricing, and a comfortable and balanced ride. However, there were some minor complaints about the haptic feedback controls and gear selector. The top trim of the Ariya Empower+ comes with an 87 kWh battery and a single motor, delivering 238 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The software in the 2024 Ariya remains largely unchanged from previous models, although there were hopes for improvements in future updates.
