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

Tesla’s communications chief is leaving the automaker

Dave Arnold, Tesla’s senior director of communications, is leaving the company after two-and-half years, according to sources familiar with the move. Tesla confirmed to TechCrunch that Arnold was leaving in June. “We’d like to thank Dave for his work in support of Tesla’s mission, and we wish him well,” a Tesla spokesperson said in a… Continue reading Tesla’s communications chief is leaving the automaker

Tesla issues battery software update after Hong Kong vehicle fire

Tesla has started pushing out a software update that will change battery charge and thermal management settings in Model S sedans and Model X SUVs following a fire in a parked vehicle in Hong Kong earlier this week. The software update, which Tesla says is being done out of “an abundance of caution,” is supposed… Continue reading Tesla issues battery software update after Hong Kong vehicle fire

Volvo inks multi-billion-dollar battery deals with LG Chem and CATL for EVs

Volvo Car Group has inked a massive multi-billion-dollar supply deal with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and Korea’s LG Chem to supply its planned fleet of electric vehicles. The lithium-ion batteries from both suppliers will power the development of Volvo Cars’ electrification strategy for its own brand and the company’s Polestar joint venture with Chinese auto manufacturer… Continue reading Volvo inks multi-billion-dollar battery deals with LG Chem and CATL for EVs

What Uber and Lyft’s investment bankers got right

Startup CEOs heading to the public markets have a love/hate relationship with their investment bankers. On one hand, they are helpful in introducing a company to a wide range of asset managers who will hopefully hold their company’s stock for the long term, reducing price volatility and by extension, employee churn. On the other hand,… Continue reading What Uber and Lyft’s investment bankers got right

India’s ride-hailing firm Ola is now in the credit card business, too

A day after India’s largest wallet app Paytm entered the credit cards business, local ride-hailing giant is following suit. Ola has inked a deal with state-run SBI bank and Visa to issue as many as 10 million credit cards in next three and a half years, it said today. The move will help Visa and… Continue reading India’s ride-hailing firm Ola is now in the credit card business, too

EV startup Rimac scores $90M investment from Hyundai and Kia

Rimac Automobili, the European EV startup that landed an investment from Porsche last year, has again gained the backing of traditional automakers after Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors jointly invested €80 million, or around $90 million. Beyond the significant cash infusion, the three parties said the deal includes “a strategic partnership to collaborate on… Continue reading EV startup Rimac scores $90M investment from Hyundai and Kia

India’s largest mobile wallet company Paytm now offers a credit card

Paytm, India’s largest mobile wallet app, has branched out to several businesses in recent years as threat from Google and Facebook grows. On Tuesday, it added another category to the list: credit cards. The firm, operated by One97 Communications, today unveiled Paytm First Credit Card with lofty benefits as it races to bulk up its… Continue reading India’s largest mobile wallet company Paytm now offers a credit card

Equity Shot: Judging Uber’s less-than-grand opening day

Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. We are back, as promised. Kate Clark and Alex Wilhelm re-convened today to discuss the latest from the Uber IPO. Namely that it opened down, and then kept falling. A few questions spring to mind. Why did Uber… Continue reading Equity Shot: Judging Uber’s less-than-grand opening day

Uber’s trading debut: who was (and wasn’t) at the opening bell

Uber finally made its debut Friday on the New York Stock Exchange, ending its decade-long journey from startup to publicly traded company. So far, it’s been a ho-hum beginning, with shares opening at $42, down from the IPO price. The share price is hovering just under $44. Thirteen people, including executives, early employees, drivers and… Continue reading Uber’s trading debut: who was (and wasn’t) at the opening bell