Bird has shut down scooter sharing in several cities in the Middle East, an operation that was managed by Circ, the micromobility startup it acquired in January. About 100 Circ employees have been laid off and as many as 10,000 Circ scooters have been sent to a third-party UAE-based company for recycling, according to multiple… Continue reading Bird shuts down Circ operations in Middle East, scraps as many as 10,000 scooters
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Singapore’s micromobility startup Beam raises $26 million
Beam, a Singapore-headquartered micromobility firm that offers shared e-scooters, has raised $26 million in a new financing round as it looks to expand its footprint in Korea, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Taiwan. Sequoia India and Hana Ventures led the two-and-a-half-year-old startup’s Series A financing round, while several more investors from Asia Pacific region including… Continue reading Singapore’s micromobility startup Beam raises $26 million
Uber UK launches Work Hub for drivers to find other gig jobs during COVID-19
Uber U.K. has launched a Work Hub for drivers to view a selection of temporary work opportunities with other companies as a way to supplement pandemic-hit ride-hailing earnings during the coronavirus crisis. The Work Hub sits within the Uber driver app and displays offers of work from third party providers — including jobs that involve… Continue reading Uber UK launches Work Hub for drivers to find other gig jobs during COVID-19
SoftBank led $500M investment in Didi in China’s biggest autonomous driving round
The race to automate vehicles on China’s roads is heating up. Didi, the Uber of China, announced on Friday an outsized investment of over $500 million in its freshly minted autonomous driving subsidiary. Leading the round — the single largest fundraising round in China’s autonomous driving sector — is its existing investor Softbank, the Japanese… Continue reading SoftBank led $500M investment in Didi in China’s biggest autonomous driving round
Rivian’s Amazon electric delivery van still on track as factory reopens
Rivian, the electric vehicle company backed by Amazon, Cox Automotive and Ford, has resumed work at its factory in Normal, Ill. following a temporary shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction on the factory, which will eventually produce its R1T and R1S electric vehicles for consumers as well as 100,000 delivery vans for Amazon, has… Continue reading Rivian’s Amazon electric delivery van still on track as factory reopens
Former Lime exec launches Cabana, a company that merges #vanlife and hotels
Is it glamping on wheels? Hotel #vanlife? It’s Cabana, a new startup from a former Lime executive that’s bringing tricked out vans with all the amenities of a Holiday Inn hotel room to cities on the West Coast starting in Seattle. “Because of Lime I spent 54 consecutive weeks on the road staying at hotels,”… Continue reading Former Lime exec launches Cabana, a company that merges #vanlife and hotels
Nuro’s self-driving vehicles to deliver prescriptions for CVS Pharmacy
Nuro, the autonomous robotics startup that has raised more than $1 billion from Softbank Vision Fund, Greylock and other investors, said Thursday it will test prescription delivery in Houston through a partnership with CVS Pharmacy. The pilot, which will use a fleet of the startup’s autonomous Toyota Prius vehicles and transition to using its custom-built… Continue reading Nuro’s self-driving vehicles to deliver prescriptions for CVS Pharmacy
Vaya Africa launches electric ride-hail taxi network
Vaya Africa, a ride-hail mobility venture founded by Zimbabwean mogul Strive Masiyiwa, has launched an electric taxi service and charging network in Zimbabwe with plans to expand across the continent. The South Africa headquartered company has acquired a fleet of Nissan Leaf EVs and developed its own solar powered charging stations. The program goes live… Continue reading Vaya Africa launches electric ride-hail taxi network
Rivian is building an in-house insurance agency
Rivian is hiring an insurance agency data manager, a job posting that suggests the all-electric automaker is planning to offer its own insurance to customers. The job was first posted by RivianForums, which also reached out to TechCrunch with the tip. Roadshow/CNET also reported about this new position. Rivian wouldn’t provide more details about its… Continue reading Rivian is building an in-house insurance agency
Ola Electric acquires Etergo, to launch own line of electric two wheelers this year
Ola Electric, the EV business that spun out of the ride-hailing giant Ola last year, has acquired an Amsterdam-based electric scooter startup as the Indian firm looks to locally produce and launch its own line of two wheelers as soon as this year. The Indian firm said Wednesday it had acquired Etergo, a Dutch firm… Continue reading Ola Electric acquires Etergo, to launch own line of electric two wheelers this year