Ride-hail startup Alto thinks the current gig worker-based market is inherently broken. Drivers’ salaries are squeezed by the costs of owning and maintaining a vehicle; riders aren’t guaranteed a high-quality service; cities have had to deal with angry taxi drivers; and the app-based companies themselves that have undercharged users to expand into new markets are… Continue reading Can Alto succeed at employee-driven ride-hail?
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Mexican region gives Tesla and its suppliers a dedicated border crossing lane
Tesla suppliers traveling from Nuevo León, Mexico, to Texas now have their very own dedicated border patrol lane. Elon Musk’s electric car company, which recently relocated its headquarters from Fremont, California, to Austin, has struck a deal with the “pro-business” Mexican state to allow express access for Tesla and its suppliers at the Colombia Solidarity… Continue reading Mexican region gives Tesla and its suppliers a dedicated border crossing lane
AeroVanti Air Club wants to disrupt private aviation with its sleek turboprops
Chartering a private plane is never going to be cheap, no matter how many startups have promised to make it more affordable over the years. But that doesn’t mean it can’t become cheaper. AeroVanti Air Club, which is announcing a $9.75 million Series A fundraising round led by Network1 Financial Securities, is betting on the… Continue reading AeroVanti Air Club wants to disrupt private aviation with its sleek turboprops
Amazon starts delivering packages with Rivian-built EVs
Amazon started Thursday delivering packages in more than a dozen cities using the custom electric van built by Rivian. The initial rollout, which kicks off in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, and St. Louis, will eventually spread to more than 100 cities by the end of the year, Amazon said.… Continue reading Amazon starts delivering packages with Rivian-built EVs
Luminar to invest in Geely-affiliated Ecarx, eyes China market
Luminar, the Florida-based lidar company that went public via SPAC in 2020, has formed a close alliance with an auto behemoth in China. It’s making a strategic investment of an undisclosed amount in Ecarx, an auto tech startup co-founded by Eric Li, founder of China’s largest private automaker Geely, Ecarx said on Thursday. The funding… Continue reading Luminar to invest in Geely-affiliated Ecarx, eyes China market
Ford adds battery capacity, LFP chemistry to scale global EV business
Ford said Thursday it has shored up its battery supply chain as part of its global strategy to sell more than 2 million EVs annually by 2026. The automaker, which is investing $50 billion to scale its battery-electric portfolio through 2026, said it plans to boost battery capacity, shorten its supply chain and use lithium iron… Continue reading Ford adds battery capacity, LFP chemistry to scale global EV business
Massage-booking platform Urban responds to reports of alleged sexual assaults by some therapists
Urban, a popular UK-based startup that allows customers to find self-employed massage therapists who can be booked to attend customers’ homes, has been named in an investigation into alleged abuse by unlicensed freelance therapists. The startup has raised $35.7M from investors that include the likes of Felix Capital, Passion Capital, the London Co-Investment Fund, angels from… Continue reading Massage-booking platform Urban responds to reports of alleged sexual assaults by some therapists
Fonoa raises $60M to automate tax compliance for global companies like Uber and Zoom
Fonoa, a tax automation platform used by companies such as Uber and Zoom, has raised $60 million in a series B round of funding. Founded out of Dublin, Ireland, in 2019, Fonoa targets digital services companies that operate globally, automating many of the processes involved in managing sales tax, VAT, and goods and service tax… Continue reading Fonoa raises $60M to automate tax compliance for global companies like Uber and Zoom
Baidu reveals the next-gen robotaxi that will be deployed throughout China
Baidu, the Chinese search engine giant that has plowed money into AI and autonomous vehicle technology, unveiled Wednesday a new all-electric robotaxi that it plans to deploy at scale across China. Baidu will add the Apollo RT6 EV – a cross between an SUV and a minivan that comes with a detachable steering wheel –… Continue reading Baidu reveals the next-gen robotaxi that will be deployed throughout China
UK union staged 24-hour strike in response to Uber files leak
The UK’s App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) staged a 24-hour strike Wednesday to demand Uber be held accountable for the findings of the Uber files, a trove of thousands of leaked confidential documents that show how the ride-hail company broke laws, secretly lobbied governments and exploited driver safety to expand aggressively from 2013 to… Continue reading UK union staged 24-hour strike in response to Uber files leak