TuSimple, the self-driving truck startup that reached unicorn status earlier this year with a $1 billion valuation, is getting two weeks to prove its tech to the United States Postal Service. The company announced Tuesday that it was awarded a contract to complete five round trips, for a two-week pilot, hauling USPS trailers more than… Continue reading Self-driving truck startup TuSimple will haul mail for USPS in two-week pilot
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Lyft adds more safety features including in-app emergency assistance, reminders to check the plate
Earlier this spring, both Uber and Lyft introduced new safety features and policies following the death of a university student who was kidnapped and murdered after getting into a vehicle she believed to be her Uber ride. Today, Lyft is announcing an expanded set of safety features and programs, including those that help riders find… Continue reading Lyft adds more safety features including in-app emergency assistance, reminders to check the plate
GM’s car-sharing service Maven to exit eight cities
GM is scaling back its Maven car-sharing company and will stop service in nearly half of the 17 North American cities in which it operates. A spokesperson who confirmed Maven was shutting down in some cities, without identifying the locations or number that will remain, said the company plans to focus on markets that have… Continue reading GM’s car-sharing service Maven to exit eight cities
Quadric.io raises $15M to build a plug-and-play supercomputer for autonomous systems
Quadric.io, a startup founded by some of the folks behind the once-secretive bitcoin mining operation “21E6,” has raised $15 million in a Series A round that will fund the development of a supercomputer designed for autonomous systems. The round was led by automotive Tier 1 supplier DENSO and its semiconductor products arm NSITEXE, which will also… Continue reading Quadric.io raises $15M to build a plug-and-play supercomputer for autonomous systems
In-car commerce startup Cargo extends Uber partnership to Brazil
Cargo, the startup that brings the convenience store into ride-hailing vehicles, is making its first international expansion through an exclusive partnership with Uber in Brazil. Uber drivers in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will now be able to sign up for Cargo and potentially earn additional income by selling products to passengers during their… Continue reading In-car commerce startup Cargo extends Uber partnership to Brazil
Ford will slash 7,000 salaried jobs by August
Ford Motor is laying off 7,000 salaried employees as part of CEO Jim Hackett’s restructuring plan to reduce bureaucracy, cut costs and turn the automaker into a more agile company prepared for a future that extends beyond its traditional business of producing and selling cars and trucks. The cuts represent about 10 percent of the… Continue reading Ford will slash 7,000 salaried jobs by August
Spotify is test driving a car hardware thing called ‘Car Thing’
For anyone following Spotify, this no doubt felt like an inevitably. As the streaming service looks to diversify, the company’s already had some loose partnerships with hardware companies like Mighty. Now it’s looking to build its own thing. That thing being “Car Thing.” The piece of automotive hardware isn’t a consumer device exactly. Spotify is… Continue reading Spotify is test driving a car hardware thing called ‘Car Thing’
Amazon leads $575M investment in Deliveroo
Amazon is taking a slice of Europe’s food delivery market after the U.S. e-commerce giant led a $575 million investment in Deliveroo. First reported by Sky yesterday, the Series G round was confirmed in an early UK morning announcement from Deliveroo, which confirmed that existing backers including T. Rowe Price, Fidelity Management and Research Company,… Continue reading Amazon leads $575M investment in Deliveroo
Daimler and BMW-backed Kapten rides into London with anti-Uber ad campaign
Kapten, the French ride-hailing app backed by Daimler and BMW, has today launched in London, coupled with a feisty ad campaign taking a swipe at Uber’s tax arrangements. It follows Kapten (formerly called “Chauffeur Prive”) obtaining a license from TfL, London’s transport regulator, to operate its private-hire vehicle (PHV) service in the U.K. capital city.… Continue reading Daimler and BMW-backed Kapten rides into London with anti-Uber ad campaign
China’s Tesla wannabe Xpeng starts ride-hailing service
There’re a lot of synergies between electric vehicles and ride-hailing. Drivers are able to save more steering an EV compared to a gas vehicle. Environmentally conscious consumers will choose to hire an electric car. And EVs are designed with better compatibility with autonomous driving, which is expected to hit the public road in the coming… Continue reading China’s Tesla wannabe Xpeng starts ride-hailing service