Motional, the Aptiv-Hyundai joint venture aiming to commercialize autonomous driving technology, has launched a new robotaxi service in Las Vegas with on-demand and transit tech service Via. The two companies, which first announced a partnership back in October 2020, will provide free rides in autonomous vehicles to members of the public in downtown Las Vegas.… Continue reading Motional and Via launch free autonomous ride-hail service in Las Vegas
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Singapore-based micromobility startup Beam secures $93M Series B, enters new markets
Beam, a Singaporean shared micromobility operator, announced today that it has raised $93 million in a Series B round to accelerate growth into new countries in Asia. The fresh capital, which brings its total funding raised to $135 million, was led by Affirma Capital, with participation from Sequoia Capital India, Hana Ventures, ICT Capital, EDB… Continue reading Singapore-based micromobility startup Beam secures $93M Series B, enters new markets
Carvana acquires Adesa US auction business for $2.2B to jump-start used car sales
Carvana, the online used car marketplace, has agreed to buy Kar Global’s Adesa U.S. auction subsidiary for $2.2 billion in cash, an acquisition aimed at adding another revenue stream as well as a network of physical sites that could help bolster operations. The acquisition announcement, which was made alongside a fourth-quarter earnings report, marks a transition… Continue reading Carvana acquires Adesa US auction business for $2.2B to jump-start used car sales
Nikola reports EV truck progress, stiff losses as it closes out turbulent 2021
Nikola Corp., the electric truck startup that went public via a SPAC, is coming closer to commercial activity after a history of over-promising, missed deadlines and investigations into its founder for lying to investors. In its fourth-quarter earnings report released Thursday, Nikola ticked off a number of recent milestones and, critically, its plans to begin… Continue reading Nikola reports EV truck progress, stiff losses as it closes out turbulent 2021
Waymo to keep robotaxi safety details secret, court rules
Waymo, the autonomous driving arm of Alphabet, was granted a win on Tuesday when a California court ruled it could keep certain details regarding its AV technology secret. The company filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles in late January in order to keep some information about its autonomous vehicle deployment permit,… Continue reading Waymo to keep robotaxi safety details secret, court rules
To combat chip shortage, Bosch to invest $296M to produce semiconductors
Bosch is increasing its previously stated investment in semiconductor production in order to stay on top of the ongoing chip shortage. The company is adding an additional $296 million, on top of the $473 million Bosch already pledged to spend in 2022 last year, to new manufacturing facilities. Most of last year’s capital was earmarked… Continue reading To combat chip shortage, Bosch to invest $296M to produce semiconductors
Last mile delivery e-bike supplier Zoomo tacks on $20M to Series B
Zoomo, an Australian startup that builds utility e-bikes for delivery workers, has raised an additional $20 million in equity to close out its Series B round. In November, the company raised $60 million in equity and debt for its Series B, which it used to fund further software development and more vehicles to expand. The… Continue reading Last mile delivery e-bike supplier Zoomo tacks on $20M to Series B
Volkswagen in talks to buy Huawei’s autonomous driving unit: report
The autonomous driving space might be seeing the marriage of two titans. Volkswagen is in talks with Huawei to acquire the latter’s nascent autonomous driving unit for billions of euros, Germany’s Manager Magazin reported on Thursday. Huawei said it has no immediate comment when contacted by TechCrunch. VW China said it has no comment. The… Continue reading Volkswagen in talks to buy Huawei’s autonomous driving unit: report
Ford, Volvo join Redwood Materials to launch free EV battery recycling program in California
Redwood Materials, the startup founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, is launching an electric vehicle battery recycling program in California with Ford and Volvo as inaugural partners as pressure mounts to source materials for EVs. The basic plan is that Redwood Materials will work with dealers and dismantlers in California to recover end-of-life battery… Continue reading Ford, Volvo join Redwood Materials to launch free EV battery recycling program in California
New Waymo Via partnership gives it access to 200,000 shippers and carriers
Waymo Via, Waymo’s autonomous trucking and cargo unit, has found another long-term strategic partner to see it through to commercialization. The company is gearing up to launch a pilot with C.H. Robinson, a freight logistics technology supplier that connects shippers to carriers, within the coming months that will see Waymo’s test fleet delivering freight in… Continue reading New Waymo Via partnership gives it access to 200,000 shippers and carriers