Autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation released its third-quarter earnings report after the bell Wednesday. The company closed out the quarter with about $1.2 billion in cash and short-term investments, which Aurora says will be enough to make it to commercial launch in mid-2024. Those statements were made just days after former competitor Argo AI… Continue reading Aurora says it has enough cash to commercialize autonomous trucks by 2024
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Fisker bumps up production for all-electric Ocean SUV
Fisker is raising its manufacturing forecast two weeks before its first electric vehicle, the Ocean SUV, enters production. The automaker plans to produce 42,400 Ocean SUVs by the end of 2023, up from an initial forecast of 40,000, due to strong demand in the U.S. and Europe. The company said it has received 62,000 reservations… Continue reading Fisker bumps up production for all-electric Ocean SUV
George Hotz, aka ‘geohot,’ is leaving Comma.ai for a lofty AI project
Four years ago, Comma.ai founder George Hotz turned to his board — of which he is the only member — and fired himself as CEO. At the time, the goal for the famed iPhone and PlayStation 3 hacker, known as geohot, was to build out a new research division to focus on behavioral models that… Continue reading George Hotz, aka ‘geohot,’ is leaving Comma.ai for a lofty AI project
Ford, VW seeking buyer for Argo AI’s lidar unit
Ford and Volkswagen are trying to squeeze any remaining value out of Argo AI, the autonomous vehicle startup the two automakers invested billons in before abruptly shutting it down last week. One of the primary items on the block: Argo Lidar, an 80-person team and the lidar tech they developed, according to sources familiar with… Continue reading Ford, VW seeking buyer for Argo AI’s lidar unit
Ford, VW seeking buyer for Argo AI’s lidar unit
Ford and Volkswagen are trying to squeeze any remaining value out of Argo AI, the autonomous vehicle startup the two automakers invested billons in before abruptly shutting it down last week. One of the primary items on the block: Argo Lidar, an 80-person team and the lidar tech they developed, according to sources familiar with… Continue reading Ford, VW seeking buyer for Argo AI’s lidar unit
Waymo launches autonomous rides to Phoenix airport
Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service in downtown Phoenix to include pickups and drop-offs at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. This is the first time a U.S. robotaxi operator has launched paid trips to and from an airport, which will be an essential use case for autonomous vehicle companies looking to scale. Airport rides make up… Continue reading Waymo launches autonomous rides to Phoenix airport
Evolito, with an axial-flux motor lighter than Tesla’s, starts ramping up its team
Last year YASA, a British electric motor startup with a revolutionary “axial-flux” motor, was acquired by Mercedes-Benz to develop ultra-high-performance electric motors for Mercedes’s AMG.EA electric-only platform. YASA’s axial-flux electric motors had previously garnered a reputation for efficiency, high power density, small size, and low weight. However, the team behind YASA did something quite clever.… Continue reading Evolito, with an axial-flux motor lighter than Tesla’s, starts ramping up its team
XPeng to begin autonomous driving public road tests in Guangzhou
XPeng received a permit Monday to begin testing its G9 electric SUV as an autonomous vehicle on public roads in Guangzhou. The company will begin testing a small fleet as soon as possible with a human safety operator in the driver’s seat. This is a milestone for XPeng as it aims to use its vehicles… Continue reading XPeng to begin autonomous driving public road tests in Guangzhou
Uber tests push notifications, a feature literally no one wants
Uber recently launched its new advertising division and in-app ads. Apparently, those ads aren’t staying within the app. Instead, ads from other companies are being sent out as push notifications, much to the chagrin of some Uber users. Over the weekend, people turned to Twitter to complain about the notifications, sharing screenshots of ads, including… Continue reading Uber tests push notifications, a feature literally no one wants
TuSimple CEO and co-founder fired by board over ties to Chinese startup Hydron
TuSimple co-founder Xiaodi Hou was fired from his CEO, president and CTO posts by the autonomous trucking company’s board, according to a securities filing Monday. Hou, who co-founded TuSimple in 2015 with Mo Chen, was also removed from his position as chairman of the board and member of the board’s government security committee. The firing came… Continue reading TuSimple CEO and co-founder fired by board over ties to Chinese startup Hydron