Escalating geopolitical tensions and a new administration with a hawkish defense agenda has led many startups to embrace dual-use strategies to secure revenue through military applications. It’s a trend that is already heating up in aerospace. Take Archer Aviation, a California-based startup building eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles). Until very recently, Archer’s go-to-market… Continue reading Archer Aviation doubles down on defense aircraft with $300M raise
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Rivian opens commercial van sales to all businesses
Rivian will sell its commercial electric vans to any U.S. business that wants one — more than a year since ending an exclusivity deal with backer Amazon. The company will sell two vans — the smaller 500 and the larger 700 — but buyers will have to be registered businesses, according to the company. That… Continue reading Rivian opens commercial van sales to all businesses
Revel nabs $60M in New York state funding to build more EV chargers
As President Donald Trump attempts to freeze funding for a $5 billion federal EV charging infrastructure program, some states are stepping up. EV charging infrastructure startup Revel secured on Monday a $60 million loan from New York’s clean energy investment fund NY Green Bank to more than triple its current public fast-charging network in New… Continue reading Revel nabs $60M in New York state funding to build more EV chargers
Lyft to launch Mobileye-powered robotaxis ‘as soon as 2026,’ starting with Dallas
Ride-hail giant Lyft plans to bring fully autonomous robotaxis, powered by Mobileye, to its app “as soon as 2026” in Dallas, with more markets to follow, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. The news comes a day before Lyft reports its fourth-quarter financial results, coinciding with Waymo’s preparations to launch a commercial robotaxi service with Uber in… Continue reading Lyft to launch Mobileye-powered robotaxis ‘as soon as 2026,’ starting with Dallas
Trump admin freezes EV charging program that gave Tesla millions
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has paused funding for a $5 billion EV charging infrastructure program that Tesla has received at least $31 million from. The move is widely viewed to be illegal. It’s the latest attempt from the Trump administration to hack away at federally funded renewable energy projects around the country, a clear… Continue reading Trump admin freezes EV charging program that gave Tesla millions
Tesla’s Dojo, a timeline
Elon Musk doesn’t want Tesla to be just an automaker. He wants Tesla to be an AI company, one that’s figured out how to make cars drive themselves. Crucial to that mission is Dojo, Tesla’s custom-built supercomputer designed to train its Full Self-Driving (FSD) neural networks. FSD isn’t actually fully self-driving; it can perform some… Continue reading Tesla’s Dojo, a timeline
Self Inspection raises $3M for its AI-powered vehicle inspections
A number of startups are racing to make vehicle inspections faster, easier, and cheaper. Self Inspection, a startup based in San Diego, thinks it has them all beat with its AI-powered service — and now it has convinced outside investors. Self Inspection, founded in 2021, is set to announce Thursday it’s raised $3 million in… Continue reading Self Inspection raises $3M for its AI-powered vehicle inspections
Pour one out for Cruise and why autonomous vehicle test miles dropped 50%
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! We knew this day was coming: Cruise is dead — at least as a robotaxi company. General Motors completed its acquisition of GM Cruise Holdings LLC; Cruise is… Continue reading Pour one out for Cruise and why autonomous vehicle test miles dropped 50%
Tracking the EV battery factory construction boom across North America
The onshoring of battery manufacturing for EVs started as a trickle during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then it turned into a tsunami. In 2019, just two battery factories were operating in the United States with another two under construction. Today there are about 34 battery factories either planned, under construction, or operational in the country. Former… Continue reading Tracking the EV battery factory construction boom across North America
Tesla Dojo: Elon Musk’s big plan to build an AI supercomputer, explained
For years, Elon Musk has talked about Dojo — the AI supercomputer that will be the cornerstone of Tesla’s AI ambitions. It’s important enough to Musk that in July 2024, he said the company’s AI team would “double down” on Dojo in the lead up to Tesla’s robotaxi reveal, which happened in October. But what… Continue reading Tesla Dojo: Elon Musk’s big plan to build an AI supercomputer, explained