San Francisco-based Ample has raised a $160 million Series C to scale its battery swapping service, the largest round yet for the 8-year-old startup that wants to completely rethink how we use electric vehicles. Ample’s approach is relatively straightforward: Cars equipped with the company’s modular battery pack can drive into one of Ample’s automated charging… Continue reading Ample raises $160M to scale its battery swapping service
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
General Motors and AT&T will offer 5G connectivity in certain vehicles from model year 2024
General Motors and AT&T will be rolling out 5G connectivity in select Chevy, Cadillac and GMC vehicles from model year 2024, in a boost that the two companies say will bring more reliable software updates, faster navigation and downloads, and better coverage on roadways. Executives said in a media briefing that the rollout of the… Continue reading General Motors and AT&T will offer 5G connectivity in certain vehicles from model year 2024
RepairSmith raises $42M Series B to bring auto repair to customers’ doorsteps
Needing to get your car fixed is like having a toothache: It’s painful, hard to ignore and likely means someone messing around under the hood. RepairSmith, launched in 2019, wants to make that process a little smoother through its mobile auto repair service that sends a mechanic right to the driver’s home. The startup is… Continue reading RepairSmith raises $42M Series B to bring auto repair to customers’ doorsteps
Two senators urge the FTC to investigate Tesla over ‘Full Self-Driving’ statements
Two Democratic senators have asked the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Tesla’s statements about the autonomous capabilities of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. The senators, Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), expressed particular concern over Tesla misleading customers into thinking their vehicles are capable of fully autonomous driving. “Tesla’s… Continue reading Two senators urge the FTC to investigate Tesla over ‘Full Self-Driving’ statements
Waymo Via is scaling up autonomous trucking operations in Texas, Arizona, California
Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving arm, is building a dedicated trucking hub in Dallas and partnering with Ryder for fleet management services in a two-pronged move to seriously scale up its autonomous trucking operations across Texas, Arizona and California. This news comes just a couple of months after Waymo announced a $2.5 billion raise that it would… Continue reading Waymo Via is scaling up autonomous trucking operations in Texas, Arizona, California
Canada Drives raises $79.4 million to expand online car purchasing and delivery platform
Canada Drives, an online car shopping and delivery platform, announced $79.4 million ($100 million CAD) in Series B funding that it will use to expand its service across Canada. It was founded in 2010 as a car financing company but launched an e-commerce platform for new and used vehicles last year. Canada Drives currently operates… Continue reading Canada Drives raises $79.4 million to expand online car purchasing and delivery platform
Brazil’s Kovi closes $104M Series B to make car ownership ‘more inclusive’ in LatAm
We sometimes take for granted that most anyone who wishes to become say, an Uber driver, can do so. But that assumption is a narrow view considering there are many people who would love to earn income in that way but can’t because of lack of car ownership (and all that goes with it) —… Continue reading Brazil’s Kovi closes $104M Series B to make car ownership ‘more inclusive’ in LatAm
RaRa Delivery gets $3.25M for its ambitious on-demand delivery plans in Indonesia
RaRa Delivery’s ambitious goal is to offer same-day deliveries in Indonesia without burning cash like many on-demand logistics providers. The company announced today it has raised $3.25 million in seed funding led by Sequoia Capital India’s Surge program and East Ventures. Other participants included 500 Startups, Angel Central, GK Plug and Play and angel investors… Continue reading RaRa Delivery gets $3.25M for its ambitious on-demand delivery plans in Indonesia
Extra Crunch roundup: The Nuro EC-1, early-stage growth tactics, understanding Salesforce+
In 2010, Google’s autonomous vehicle project placed self-driving cars on Bay Area streets and freeways, but practical applications were thought to be at least a decade away. The futurists were right on schedule: In 2020, Mountain View-based Nuro was testing its second-generation R2 robotic vehicle, the first to earn a federal exemption to operate an… Continue reading Extra Crunch roundup: The Nuro EC-1, early-stage growth tactics, understanding Salesforce+
Car-sharing startup Turo has filed confidentially for an IPO
Turo, the peer-to-peer car-sharing startup, has initiated the confidential process of filing for an initial public offering with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission. The number of shares to be offered in the IPO and the price range have not yet been determined, the company said in a statement. Turo declined to provide additional information to… Continue reading Car-sharing startup Turo has filed confidentially for an IPO