Aurora strikes deal with Toyota, Denso to develop, test self-driving Sienna minivans

Aurora has reached a deal with Toyota and auto-parts supplier Denso to develop and test vehicles equipped with the self-driving startup’s technology, beginning with a fleet of Toyota Sienna minivans. Engineering teams from Aurora and Toyota will work together to design and build the self-driving Sienna minivans with an aim to start testing a fleet… Continue reading Aurora strikes deal with Toyota, Denso to develop, test self-driving Sienna minivans

Tesla summoned by Chinese regulators for quality concerns

Tesla, which is seeing rapid growth in China as it ramps up local manufacturing capacity, has been called upon by the Chinese government for talks over quality issues in its electric cars. A group of Chinese authorities, including the country’s top market regulator, cyberspace watchdog and transportation authority, held talks with Tesla after consumers complained… Continue reading Tesla summoned by Chinese regulators for quality concerns

A former NEA partner and a former Uber exec just closed their $140 million debut VC fund

Dayna Grayson and Rachel Holt seemingly didn’t have the best timing. It was late in 2019 when the two, who met six years ago in Washington through a mutual acquaintance, decided to act on earlier conversations and start a fund together called Construct Capital. At the time, Grayson spied an opportunity to create a new… Continue reading A former NEA partner and a former Uber exec just closed their $140 million debut VC fund

Micromobility startup Helbiz to go public via a SPAC, and will expand into ghost kitchens

Micromobility startup Helbiz, which now operates across Europe and the USA, is merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) to become a publicly listed company, giving it a war chest to potentially roll-up smaller competitors in the space, as well as the resources to expand into “cloud” or “ghost” kitchens as part of a… Continue reading Micromobility startup Helbiz to go public via a SPAC, and will expand into ghost kitchens

Tesla buys $1.5B in bitcoin, may accept the cryptocurrency as payment in the future

Today in an SEC filing, Tesla disclosed that it has acquired $1.5 billion in bitcoin, the popular cryptocurrency. Moreover, the company noted that it may also accept bitcoin in the future as a form of payment for its cars, though it did allow that there is some regulatory uncertainty around that effort. As the news… Continue reading Tesla buys $1.5B in bitcoin, may accept the cryptocurrency as payment in the future

The Station: Uber slurps up Drizly, Ford doubles its EV budget and Rad Power Bikes plots an expansion

The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here — just click The Station — to receive it every weekend in your inbox.  Hi friends and new readers, welcome back to The Station, a newsletter dedicated to all the present and future ways people and packages move from Point A to… Continue reading The Station: Uber slurps up Drizly, Ford doubles its EV budget and Rad Power Bikes plots an expansion

CA Supreme Court denies lawsuit challenging Prop 22’s constitutionality

The California Supreme Court today shot down the lawsuit filed by a group of rideshare drivers in California and the Service Employees International Union that alleged Proposition 22 violates the state’s constitution. “We are disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear our case, but make no mistake: we are not deterred in our… Continue reading CA Supreme Court denies lawsuit challenging Prop 22’s constitutionality

Rad Power Bikes raises $150 million as electric bike sales boom

Electric bike sales boomed in 2020, a phenomenon driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption it delivered consumers’ daily lives. Now, Rad Power Bikes is reaping those rewards and using them to double its workforce and scale globally. The Seattle-based startup said Thursday it has raised $150 million from institutional investors including Morgan Stanley’s… Continue reading Rad Power Bikes raises $150 million as electric bike sales boom

Electric moped startup Revel launches an EV charging business

Revel, the shared electric moped startup, is building a DC fast-charging station for electric vehicles in New York City, the first in a new business venture that will eventually spread to other cities. The company said Wednesday that this new “Superhub,” which is located at the former Pfizer building in Brooklyn, will contain 30 chargers… Continue reading Electric moped startup Revel launches an EV charging business

Amazon begins testing customer deliveries using Rivian electric vans

Amazon has started making deliveries to customers in Los Angeles using electric vans designed and built by Rivian. The electric vans, which are part of Amazon’s 2040 climate pledge, won’t go into series production until the end of the year, according to an update Wednesday by the company. Amazon declined to reveal how many electric… Continue reading Amazon begins testing customer deliveries using Rivian electric vans