Elon Musk lays out ambitious plan for Tesla Supercharger network in Europe

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is making some audacious promises again for the company’s network of electric fast chargers, known as Superchargers. This time, he’s aiming for 100% Tesla Supercharger coverage in Europe by next year. In response to a question on Twitter, Musk said Tesla’s Supercharger coverage will extend to 100% of Europe in 2019.… Continue reading Elon Musk lays out ambitious plan for Tesla Supercharger network in Europe

Tesla shares fall 7.6% following price cuts in China and Elon Musk’s promise to reimburse missed tax credits

Monday was a tough day for the U.S. stock market, but Tesla shares were hit especially hard. The stock fell by 7.6 percent after Tesla cut the Model 3’s price in China and CEO Elon Musk promised to reimburse U.S. customers if they miss a tax credit deadline due to Model 3 shipment delays. Reuters… Continue reading Tesla shares fall 7.6% following price cuts in China and Elon Musk’s promise to reimburse missed tax credits

The electric scooter wars of 2018

This was was undoubtedly the year of the electric scooter. Between massive fundraising rounds, lofty valuations and both Uber and Lyft’s entrance into the space, it’s clear these scooters are here for the long haul. But just because investors have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into these companies in the past year, the electric scooter… Continue reading The electric scooter wars of 2018

Uber reaches tentative settlement with drivers arbitrating over employment status and expense reimbursement

Uber is reportedly on track to go public in the first quarter next year, and in the lead up to that, it’s sewing up some loose ends. TechCrunch has learned that Uber has offered a tentative settlement to pay out 11 cents for every mile driven for Uber (including adjacent services like Uber Eats) to… Continue reading Uber reaches tentative settlement with drivers arbitrating over employment status and expense reimbursement

SoftBank’s Vision Fund is preparing to invest $1 billion in Grab

SoftBank’s Vision Fund is set to continue its recent spree of investments in Asian tech unicorns. The mega fund — which is targeted at $100 billion — is planning to invest upwards of $1 billion into Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing leader Grab, two sources with knowledge of the plan told TechCrunch. The investment could reach as much… Continue reading SoftBank’s Vision Fund is preparing to invest $1 billion in Grab

An inside look at Rivian’s EV ambitions from AI batteries to electric jet skis

For a CEO who insists his electric vehicle startup doesn’t want to be Tesla, Rivian founder RJ Scaringe can sound a lot like Elon Musk. Just weeks before unveiling Rivian’s first vehicles — an all-electric pickup and a seven-seater SUV — at the LA Auto Show last month, Scaringe promised an impressive new battery technology… Continue reading An inside look at Rivian’s EV ambitions from AI batteries to electric jet skis

Lyft is getting more serious about autonomous vehicle safety with new hire

Lyft today announced the hiring of John Maddox, founder of the American Center for Mobility and previous associate administrator of vehicle safety research at the US Department of Transportation, to lead its autonomous vehicle safety and compliance efforts. At Lyft, Maddox will be the company’s first senior director of autonomous safety and compliance. “I’ve dedicated… Continue reading Lyft is getting more serious about autonomous vehicle safety with new hire

Boosted nabs $60M as the electric skateboard maker looks to build something new

Boosted has scored some serious cash as it looks to move beyond the world of electric skateboards to conquer new forms of personal transportation. The startup announced today that it has closed a $60 million round of Series B funding co-led by Khosla Ventures and iNovia Capital. Stanford’s StartX and Bay Meadows also participated in the round.… Continue reading Boosted nabs $60M as the electric skateboard maker looks to build something new

Uber reboots its self-driving car program

Uber Advanced Technologies Group has officially resumed on-road testing of its self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh, nine months after the company halted its entire autonomous vehicle operation after one of its vehicles struck and killed pedestrian Elaine Herzberg in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe. The relaunch follows the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation decision to authorize Uber ATG… Continue reading Uber reboots its self-driving car program

Grab is messing up the world’s largest mapping community’s data in Southeast Asia

Grab, Southeast Asia’s top ride-hailing company, has hit a roadblock in its efforts to improve its mapping and routing service after running into trouble with OpenStreetMap, the world’s largest collaborative mapping community, through a series of blundering edits in Thailand. Grab, which gobbled up Uber’s local business in exchange for an equity swap earlier this… Continue reading Grab is messing up the world’s largest mapping community’s data in Southeast Asia