Volkswagen has launched an autonomous vehicle test program in Austin using a fleet of 10 all-electric ID Buzz vehicles equipped with partner Mobileye’s technology. The new program comes about nine months since autonomous vehicle technology startup Argo shut down after its two backers, Volkswagen and Ford, pulled financial support and gobbled up its remains. Argo… Continue reading Volkswagen to start testing self-driving ID Buzz vans in Austin
Author: Tech Crunch Online News
Police want robotaxi video footage to help solve crimes
Police are starting to turn to robotaxis — specifically all of that footage captured by cameras — for video evidence to help solve crimes. While it might not be a trend quite yet, evidence suggests that the robotaxi is the new proving ground for privacy advocates and law enforcement, especially as companies like Cruise and… Continue reading Police want robotaxi video footage to help solve crimes
Lyft co-founder Logan Green retains board seat despite shareholder opposition
Logan Green, the co-founder and former CEO of ride-hailing platform Lyft, will remain on the company’s board despite opposition from some shareholders, according to preliminary results from the company’s annual shareholder meeting Thursday. The SOC Investment Group, an organization that says it holds corporations and leadership accountable for irresponsible and unethical corporate behavior, sent a… Continue reading Lyft co-founder Logan Green retains board seat despite shareholder opposition
Uber leads $20M round in India’s Everest Fleet for EV expansion
Uber has led a $20 million round into Everest Fleet, a Mumbai-based fleet management company that boasts over 10,000 vehicles running on rideshare platforms Uber and Ola throughout India. The company will use the funds to accelerate its transition to electric vehicles, with a goal of having 10,000 EVs in its fleet by 2026. Uber… Continue reading Uber leads $20M round in India’s Everest Fleet for EV expansion
Mercedes first to sell vehicles in California with hands-free, eyes-off automated driving
Mercedes-Benz received a permit from California regulators that will allow the German automaker to sell or lease vehicles in the state equipped with a conditional automated driving system that allows for hands-off, eyes-off driving on certain highways. The California Department of Motor Vehicles said Thursday it issued an autonomous vehicle deployment permit to Mercedes-Benz for… Continue reading Mercedes first to sell vehicles in California with hands-free, eyes-off automated driving
Uber is taking its car-sharing service to North America
Uber plans to bring peer-to-peer car sharing to North America, starting with Toronto and Boston, the company said Thursday at its Go-Get product event in London. The ride-hailing and delivery app company launched a car-sharing service in Australia last year after acquiring local startup Car Next Door. The service, which lets apps users rent out… Continue reading Uber is taking its car-sharing service to North America
Uber toots its eco horn and gears up for big sustainability drive
Uber unveiled a handful of new eco-focused features, services, and expansions today, as the ride-hailing giant doubles down on previous efforts to align itself with sustainable transport. The announcements came during the second instalment of Uber’s annual Go-Get product event — the first incarnation was held in New York last month with a focus on family,… Continue reading Uber toots its eco horn and gears up for big sustainability drive
Nuview’s lidar satellites hit $15M in funding as Leonardo DiCaprio joins latest round
Nuview, a startup that wants to map the entire landmass of Earth on an annual basis using space-based light detection and ranging (lidar) technology, has raised $15 million so far, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. That capital includes a $3 million seed round and an in-progress Series A, of which $12 million has closed so far,… Continue reading Nuview’s lidar satellites hit $15M in funding as Leonardo DiCaprio joins latest round
A Waymo self-driving car killed a dog in ‘unavoidable’ accident
A Waymo robotaxi operating in autonomous mode struck and killed a small dog last month in San Francisco, according to an incident report filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The incident appears to have been unavoidable, based on information provided in the report. Any collision involving an autonomous vehicle — even one in… Continue reading A Waymo self-driving car killed a dog in ‘unavoidable’ accident
Gig workers in California to receive millions for unpaid vehicle expenses
Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other app-based ride-hail and delivery companies will have to reimburse California gig workers potentially millions of dollars for unpaid vehicle expenses between 2022 and 2023. The back payments come from a provision in Proposition 22, the controversial law that classifies gig workers as independent contractors rather than employees and promises them… Continue reading Gig workers in California to receive millions for unpaid vehicle expenses