Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility, your go-to source for all things transportation. This week was filled with exciting developments in the EV startup and automated driving industries. While Cruise made headlines with its return, there were several other noteworthy stories, including Ola’s exit from the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, a New York-based startup’s plan to bring curbside EV charging to lampposts, Uber Eats launching a TikTok-like video feature, and Magna piloting humanoid robots developed by Sanctuary AI. Plus, we have some great deals to cover!
Deal of the Week: Basemark, a Finnish company specializing in AR and computer vision software for automakers, raised €22 million in a Series B round. Bumper, an automotive fintech startup, secured £2 million in a Series B extension round. Carrar, an Israeli startup providing battery modules and thermal management systems for EVs, raised $5.3 million in a Series A round. Exoes, a French-based startup focused on battery cooling technology for EVs, raised €35 million. HysetCo SAS, a Paris-based startup renting hydrogen-powered EVs to taxi drivers, raised nearly €200 million. Lastly, Yoshi Mobility, a Nashville-based startup offering preventative maintenance and virtual vehicle inspections, raised $26 million.
In the world of transportation, there have been some notable reads and other tidbits. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that a fatal crash involving a Ford Mustang Mach-E in Texas was the result of using the hands-free driver-assistance system known as BlueCruise. This incident marks the first known fatality related to BlueCruise. Additionally, GM’s self-driving car subsidiary, Cruise, has made a comeback by redeploying robotaxis in Phoenix. However, instead of operating autonomously, employees will manually drive the vehicles. Cruise has also requested permits to operate in San Francisco again, raising questions about their underlying technology and future plans.
Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car division, launched paid rides in Los Angeles this week. Initially starting small, the service will expand based on demand and performance metrics. In the realm of electric vehicles, Elon Musk’s decision to prioritize a robotaxi over an affordable EV has raised concerns about Tesla’s position in the market. Indian battery-tech company Exponent Energy has partnered with Omega Seiki Mobility to develop a passenger three-wheel EV with rapid-charging capabilities. Faraday Future is facing internal whistleblower lawsuits, accusing the company of lying about sales figures and retaliating against employees who speak out. Lucid Motors set a record by delivering more EVs in the first quarter of 2024 than ever before. Tesla also reduced the monthly subscription price of its “Supervised FSD” to $99, aiming to gather more data and user feedback.
In the ride-hail sector, Lyft and Uber have decided to delay their exit from Minneapolis after the city delayed a driver pay raise. Lastly, check out this deep dive into Neural Concept, a company utilizing AI to optimize vehicle aerodynamics for racing, automotive, and aerospace industries.
On the personal side, I had the opportunity to test drive a 2024 Mercedes EQE 350 4MATIC. This model boasts various improvements from the previous year, including a new braking system, improved driving efficiency in winter conditions, extended battery range, and a better user interface. The highlight was the advanced driver-assistance system’s automatic lane change feature, which worked seamlessly during my test drive. However, the question remains whether drivers are willing to relinquish control to such autonomous features.
In conclusion, this week was filled with exciting developments in the transportation industry. From EV startups securing funding to advancements in autonomous vehicles and electric charging technology, there is much to anticipate in the future of transportation. Stay tuned for more updates from TechCrunch Mobility!