Motional, the $4 billion joint venture between Aptiv and Hyundai, is exploring the company’s potential involvement in autonomous trucking or logistics, its CEO said today during a live session at TechCrunch’s 2021 Mobility Event. “The beauty of what’s on the other side of the coin is that the same core technology can of course apply… Continue reading Motional CEO hints at an autonomous future in logistics
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Joby Aviation eyes Asia and Europe as early markets alongside North America
While electric vertical take-off and landing passenger aircraft startup Joby Aviation is targeting North America for its initial commercial launch, founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt expects the company to have an early presence in Asia and Europe as well. Bevirt, who joined the TC Sessions: Mobility 2021 on June 9, didn’t give away the first… Continue reading Joby Aviation eyes Asia and Europe as early markets alongside North America
German eVTOL maker Lilium partners with Honeywell for flight control and avionics systems
German electric air mobility company Lilium has partnered with aerospace manufacturer Honeywell to develop the electronics and mechanical systems for the 7-seater Lilium Jet, the company’s debut eVTOL. Honeywell will supply its compact fly-by-wire system, a flight control component that will be responsible for controlling all of the Jet’s moving parts, and the aircraft’s avionics… Continue reading German eVTOL maker Lilium partners with Honeywell for flight control and avionics systems
Swedish company Northvolt raises $2.75B to accelerate European battery production
Swedish battery developer and manufacturer Northvolt AB has raised $2.75 billion in capital as it prepares to ramp up to an annual production capacity of 150 GWh in Europe by 2030. The funding round — Northvolt’s largest thus far — was co-led by existing investors Goldman Sachs and Volkswagen, and new investors including the Swedish… Continue reading Swedish company Northvolt raises $2.75B to accelerate European battery production
Don’t trust that SPAC deck
The continuing saga of Lordstown Motor’s struggles as a public company took a new turn today as the electric truck manufacturer made yet more news. Bad news. Shares of Lordstown are down sharply today after the company reported in an SEC filing that it does not have enough capital to build and launch its electric… Continue reading Don’t trust that SPAC deck
Trucks VC launches two new funds for early and late-stage transportation startups
Trucks Venture Capital, a fund that focuses on early-stage entrepreneurs in transportation, is launching two new funds that it says will help build the future of transportation. Its new core fund, Trucks Venture Fund 2 (TVF2), was raised over the last year and recently closed on $52,525,252. The fund is backed by three auto OEMs… Continue reading Trucks VC launches two new funds for early and late-stage transportation startups
EV startup Fisker sets moonshot goal of making a climate neutral EV by 2027
Electric vehicle startup Fisker Inc. has set a moonshot goal of creating its first climate neutral car by 2027. Fisker has yet to bring a vehicle to market — climate neutral or not — making this an ambitious target. The all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV, which is still on track to go into production in November… Continue reading EV startup Fisker sets moonshot goal of making a climate neutral EV by 2027
ISEE brings autonomy to shipping yards with self-driving container trucks
Robotaxis may still be a few years out, but there are other industries that can be transformed by autonomous vehicles as they are today. MIT spin-off ISEE has identified one in the common shipping yard, where containers are sorted and stored — today by a dwindling supply of human drivers, but tomorrow perhaps by the… Continue reading ISEE brings autonomy to shipping yards with self-driving container trucks
AI pioneer Raquel Urtasun launches self-driving technology startup with backing from Khosla, Uber and Aurora
One of the lingering mysteries from Uber’s sale of its Uber ATG self-driving unit to Aurora has been solved. Raquel Urtasun, the AI pioneer who was the chief scientist at Uber ATG, has launched a new startup called Waabi that is taking what she describes as an “AI-first approach” to speed up the commercial deployment… Continue reading AI pioneer Raquel Urtasun launches self-driving technology startup with backing from Khosla, Uber and Aurora
Cabify launches ‘Cabify Go!’, a multi-modal subscription service
Cabify wants to own the way people in cities move. The Spanish-born ride-hailing company is rolling out a pilot multi-modal subscription model to 40,000 users in Madrid this week, with plans to expand to its other markets throughout Spain and Latin America. The “Cabify Go!” subscription service appears to have something for everyone. All of… Continue reading Cabify launches ‘Cabify Go!’, a multi-modal subscription service