Uber drivers in New Zealand will be pushing for better pay and working conditions through their first-ever collective agreement with the company. Earlier this week, national trade union First Union initiated collective bargaining with Uber. According to New Zealand employment law, if a party receives a notice to initiate bargaining, they are required to enter.… Continue reading New Zealand Uber drivers begin collective bargaining for first time
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Targeted at commercial and military, hydrogen-powered drones are coming
The last time hydrogen-laden flying vessels zipped around the heavens didn’t end all that well, but that isn’t stopping Heven Drones from fueling up its H2D55 drone. The company claims the octacopter can fly for over an hour and a half, with a payload of 7 kg (15 lbs). The drones are built to spec, and… Continue reading Targeted at commercial and military, hydrogen-powered drones are coming
Fresh off its merger, Ouster-Velodyne make a bet on smart infrastructure
With lidar companies Ouster and Velodyne officially merged, CEO Angus Pacala has identified the next phase of growth. And it’s not self-driving cars or even advanced driver assistance systems. It’s smart infrastructure. “I keep saying this and people think I’m crazy, but there’s a good chance that smart infrastructure becomes our biggest vertical by a long… Continue reading Fresh off its merger, Ouster-Velodyne make a bet on smart infrastructure
EU formally bans sale of gas and diesel cars from 2035
The European Parliament formally approved a law to ban the sale of new gas and diesel cars in the European Union from 2035 in a move designed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles. The new legislation, which is part of a broader effort by the EU to combat climate change, says the carmakers… Continue reading EU formally bans sale of gas and diesel cars from 2035
Joby flies towards 2025 commercial launch with final assembly of eVTOL
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company Joby Aviation has taken another step on its path to start a commercial air taxi service by 2025. The company said Tuesday that it’s begun final assembly on its “company-conforming” eVTOL, which is essentially a prototype that’s a couple steps away from the final version. Joby expects to… Continue reading Joby flies towards 2025 commercial launch with final assembly of eVTOL
Amid merger and bankruptcy in the West, lidar maker Hesai nails $190M IPO
Last week, China’s lidar maker Hesai raised an upsized IPO in the U.S. at a time the industry is reeling from layoffs, bankruptcy, and consolidation. The Shanghai- and California- based company, which makes the sensing technology critical to autonomous driving and increasingly advanced driver assistant systems, raised $190 million from its public offering on Nasdaq.… Continue reading Amid merger and bankruptcy in the West, lidar maker Hesai nails $190M IPO
Subaru recalls Solterra for its nagging wheels-fall-off problem
Subaru has issued another recall for its battery electric Solterra crossover due to concerns that hub bolts on the wheels may loosen and cause it to detach. Subaru said the issue affects 1,182 model year 2023 Subaru Solterra vehicles. The 2023 Subaru Solterra EV and 2023 Toyota bZ4x — the products of a partnership between… Continue reading Subaru recalls Solterra for its nagging wheels-fall-off problem
Ford to build $3.5B LFP battery factory using China tech
Ford said Monday it is investing $3.5 billion to build a factory in Michigan that will make cheaper lithium iron phosphate batteries for its growing portfolio of electric vehicles. The factory, which will be located in Marshall, Michigan, will not make nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), a technology that is in its current EVs. Ford said… Continue reading Ford to build $3.5B LFP battery factory using China tech
Zoox robotaxis start rolling out on California public roads
More than two years ago, Amazon subsidiary Zoox unveiled an electric, autonomous robotaxi it built from the ground up. Now, the cube-like vehicle that is loaded with sensors — and not a steering wheel — is starting to roll out on a few public roads in northern California. A solitary Zoox robotaxi made its inaugural… Continue reading Zoox robotaxis start rolling out on California public roads
Here are the tech industry’s 2023 Super Bowl commercials, with noticeably less crypto
At Super Bowl LVII, the Kansas City Chiefs referees emerged victorious over the Philadelphia Eagles. But maybe the real winner was us, the viewers, who did not have to sit through a bunch of crypto ads this year. (Also, Rihanna. She won.) These ads offer an insight into the way that the companies we write… Continue reading Here are the tech industry’s 2023 Super Bowl commercials, with noticeably less crypto