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! Is it me, or is the Tesla board being a bit extra these days as it tries to convince shareholders to vote in favor of relocating the… Continue reading Tesla lobbies for Elon and Kia taps into the GenAI hype
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Paris transit passes now available in iPhone’s Wallet app
After multiple delays, Apple and the Paris area transportation authority rolled out support for Paris transit passes in Apple Wallet. It means that people can now use their iPhone or Apple Watch as a Navigo pass to ride the metro, train, tram or bus. This is important news for Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) — the transportation… Continue reading Paris transit passes now available in iPhone’s Wallet app
Redwood Materials is partnering with Ultium Cells to recycle GM’s EV battery scrap
Redwood Materials, the battery recycling startup founded by former Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, will be recycling production scrap for batteries going into General Motors electric vehicles. The company announced Thursday that it’s working with Ultium Cells, the joint battery manufacturing venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, to recycle cathode, anode and cell scrap from… Continue reading Redwood Materials is partnering with Ultium Cells to recycle GM’s EV battery scrap
The new Kia EV3 will have an AI assistant with ChatGPT DNA
The Kia EV3 — the new all-electric compact SUV revealed Thursday — illustrates a growing appetite among global automakers to bring generative AI into their vehicles. The automaker said the Kia EV3 will feature a new voice assistant that is built off ChatGPT, the text-generating AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. The Kia EV3, and its… Continue reading The new Kia EV3 will have an AI assistant with ChatGPT DNA
India’s BluSmart is testing its ride-hailing service in Dubai
Indian ride-hailing startup BluSmart has started operating in Dubai, TechCrunch has exclusively learned and confirmed with its executive. The move to Dubai, which has been rumored for months, could help counter the likes of Careem, Uber and Hala in the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city. The Gurugram-based startup quietly enabled the new Dubai service… Continue reading India’s BluSmart is testing its ride-hailing service in Dubai
Uber’s and Lyft’s ride-hailing deal with Minnesota comes at a cost
Uber and Lyft drivers in Minnesota will see higher pay thanks to a deal between the state and the country’s two largest ride-hailing companies. The upshot: a new law that gives some protections to drivers while placing limits on state government. The bill, which Governor Tim Walz has supported publicly and is expected to sign,… Continue reading Uber’s and Lyft’s ride-hailing deal with Minnesota comes at a cost
Porsche Ventures invests in battery startup South 8 to boost cold-weather EV performance
All cars suffer when the mercury drops, but electric vehicles suffer more than most as heaters draw more power and batteries charge more slowly as the liquid electrolyte inside thickens. Drivers in Chicago found this out the hard way last January after many Teslas failed to charge during a deep freeze. One startup, South 8… Continue reading Porsche Ventures invests in battery startup South 8 to boost cold-weather EV performance
Aurora and Volvo unveil self-driving truck designed for a driverless future
A new self-driving truck — manufactured by Volvo and loaded with autonomous vehicle tech developed by Aurora Innovation — could be on public highways as early as this summer. The Volvo VNL Autonomous truck, which was revealed Monday evening at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas, is the product of a partnership between Aurora and… Continue reading Aurora and Volvo unveil self-driving truck designed for a driverless future
VinFast crash that killed family of four now under federal investigation
The top vehicle safety regulator in the U.S. has launched a formal probe into an April crash involving the all-electric VinFast VF8 SUV that claimed the lives of a family of four, TechCrunch has learned. The crash happened in Pleasanton, California at about 9 p.m. on April 24. Police told local news outlets at the… Continue reading VinFast crash that killed family of four now under federal investigation
UK’s autonomous vehicle legislation becomes law, paving the way for first driverless cars by 2026
The U.K.’s self-proclaimed “world-leading” regulations for self-driving cars are now official, after the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act received royal assent — the final rubber stamp any legislation must go through before becoming enshrined in law. The government says that fully self-driving vehicles could be on U.K. roads within two years. “While this doesn’t take away… Continue reading UK’s autonomous vehicle legislation becomes law, paving the way for first driverless cars by 2026