Uber and Motional launch robotaxi service in Las Vegas

Uber and Motional, the Hyundai-Aptiv joint venture focused on commercializing self-driving technology, have launched a robotaxi service in Las Vegas — the first step in the companies’ 10-year plan to co-scale across major North American cities, which was announced in October. While Motional has already launched similar services in Las Vegas on both the Lyft… Continue reading Uber and Motional launch robotaxi service in Las Vegas

India’s nationwide 5G rollout plan could hit turbulence due to aircraft interference concerns

India just started rolling out 5G networks after much anticipation and years-long delay. Service operators expect to bring next-generation cellular connectivity to every town in the world’s second-largest wireless market by as early as the end of 2023. But while the rollout is currently at its initial phase, New Delhi last week directed telecom operators… Continue reading India’s nationwide 5G rollout plan could hit turbulence due to aircraft interference concerns

American Battery Factory’s first ‘gigafactory’ inches toward reality

American Battery Factory’s big plan to build a bunch of, erm, American battery factories got a jolt Tuesday when Tucson, Arizona, gave the company the go-ahead to locate its first plant near the city’s airport. Over the course of a decade, ABF says it will pump around $1.2 billion into the facility, claiming it will be… Continue reading American Battery Factory’s first ‘gigafactory’ inches toward reality

Vietnamese luxury EV-maker VinFast files to go public on Nasdaq

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has filed for an initial public offering in the United States, the company said Tuesday. Shares will be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker “VFS.” VinFast, which was founded in 2017 and began operations in 2019, will convert to a Singapore public limited company for the IPO. The number… Continue reading Vietnamese luxury EV-maker VinFast files to go public on Nasdaq

Apple’s first car effort might not be self-driving after all

Apple has talked a big game about its future plans to break into the automotive market. But a report from Bloomberg says that Apple has had to scale back its plans. Last year, reports indicated that Apple would debut a fully self-driving car in 2025, but now, the vehicle is delayed until 2026 and will… Continue reading Apple’s first car effort might not be self-driving after all

Kodiak Robotics wins $50M to help US Army build AVs for recon, surveillance

Autonomous trucking technology company Kodiak Robotics won a $49.9 million contract from the the U.S. Department of Defense to help the Army automate future ground vehicles to conduct high-risk missions like reconnaissance and surveillance. The two year contract, which was awarded by the DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on behalf of the Army’s Robotic Combat… Continue reading Kodiak Robotics wins $50M to help US Army build AVs for recon, surveillance

Onomotion raises €21 million to expand e-cargo bike urban logistics business

Berlin-based Onomotion has come up with a scalable way to do micromobility-powered urban logistics — cargo e-bikes with built-in cover from the elements and attachable containers. Today, Onomotion has a couple hundred vehicles on the road in Germany with logistics partners like UPS, DPD and Hermes. Over the next few years, the company wants to… Continue reading Onomotion raises €21 million to expand e-cargo bike urban logistics business

TuSimple and Navistar end deal to co-develop autonomous trucks

Autonomous trucking technology company TuSimple and truck manufacturer Navistar have scrapped their deal to co-develop self-driving trucks, the companies said Monday. The move to end the partnership comes less than a month after Cheng Lu returned to his role as CEO of TuSimple after previously being ousted. The return of Lu came days after the… Continue reading TuSimple and Navistar end deal to co-develop autonomous trucks

Uber Eats to pay millions for listing Chicago restaurants without consent

Uber has agreed to a $10 million settlement with the City of Chicago for listing local restaurants in the Uber Eats and Postmates food delivery apps without the restaurants’ consent, as well as for charging excess commission fees. Over $5 million will go toward paying damages back to Chicago restaurants that were affected, and $1.5 million… Continue reading Uber Eats to pay millions for listing Chicago restaurants without consent

Tier-owned Spin exits 10 US markets amid low demand, unfavorable city regulations

Micromobility operator Spin is leaving 10 U.S. markets due to a combination of low demand, over-regulation, under-regulation and poor cost structures, according to a company-wide email sent Friday by Philip Reinckens, Spin’s CEO, that was shared with TechCrunch. Reinckens said the market exits would help Spin cut costs and focus on growing markets that provide… Continue reading Tier-owned Spin exits 10 US markets amid low demand, unfavorable city regulations