Self-Driving Technology Conquers the Last Mile — Our Investment in Boxbot

I’ve previously argued that it will be years before we share the roads with fully-autonomous, Level 5 self-driving cars. That said, there are specific use cases and environments where autonomous vehicles could hit the roads now. Self-driving delivery is another example of just such a use case. Logistics automation within warehouses has made remarkable progress in… Continue reading Self-Driving Technology Conquers the Last Mile — Our Investment in Boxbot

Self-Driving Delivery Company Boxbot Raises $7.5M in Seed Funding

Boxbot, an Oakland, CA-based startup focused on self-driving delivery vehicles, raised $7.5m in seed funding. This round was led by Artiman Ventures, and includes an investment from Toyota AI Ventures, Pear Ventures, Afore Capital, Ironfire Ventures and The House Fund. Co-founded in 2016 by Austin Oehlerking and Mark Godwin, Boxbot is building self-driving vehicles which… Continue reading Self-Driving Delivery Company Boxbot Raises $7.5M in Seed Funding

CarBlock joins The Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative

CarBlock announced that it has joined MOBI, the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative, to explore blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) for use in the development of a digital mobility ecosystem that could make transportation safer, more affordable, and more widely available. CarBlock is collaborating with the MOBI and other industry, government, and non-profit partners to… Continue reading CarBlock joins The Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative

Volkswagen plans three new plants in China

The VW Group is expanding its capacity in China. In three new factories, especially large SUVs are to be built. For the future, the production of electric cars is planned. Volkswagen dealership in China Saturday, 02.06.2018 14:29 clock The joint venture FAW-Volkswagen intends to open three new plants in China. With the production facilities in… Continue reading Volkswagen plans three new plants in China

China’s automaker Protean Electric closes $40m Series E round

June 4, 2018 Chinese automaker Protean Electric has closed a $40 million equity investment in its series E funding round led by Shenzhen-listed Weifu High-Technology Group and existing investor Oak Investment Partners. According to a press release, the funding will be utilised to support Protean’s ongoing business activities and to help establish a global licensing… Continue reading China’s automaker Protean Electric closes $40m Series E round

This Time with E-Motion The Electric Passion of Henrik Fisker

inFOCUS Henrik Fisker with concept version of his limited production E-Motion electric car By Bill Moore Here’s fair bit of Viking DNA woven into Henrik Fisker, car designer and EV impersario. Tired jokes of “Bad Karma” aside, he’s determined to have a role in the transition to an EV world, one that looks well beyond… Continue reading This Time with E-Motion The Electric Passion of Henrik Fisker

UPDATE 4-Marchionne ramps up SUVs as prepares to hand over Fiat Chrysler wheel

BALOCCO, Italy (Reuters) – Fiat Chrysler’s (FCHA.MI) departing Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne delivered a plan on Friday to ramp up sport utility vehicles and invest 9 billion euros ($10.5 billion) in electric and hybrid cars in a bid to double operating profit by 2022. FILE PHOTO: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee are exhibited on a car… Continue reading UPDATE 4-Marchionne ramps up SUVs as prepares to hand over Fiat Chrysler wheel

California will allow autonomous cars to pick up passengers

Getty Images California is launching two pilot programs that will allow autonomous vehicles to pick up passengers in the state, the San Francisco Examiner reports. One will let companies pick up passengers with their self-driving cars as long as a safety driver is behind the wheel. The other will allow for passenger pickup without a… Continue reading California will allow autonomous cars to pick up passengers

Leading Fiat Out of the Desert

Sergio Marchionne once defined his mission at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV — a company formed via the unlikely union of two hobbled automotive also-rans — in almost biblical terms. “We need to be able to cross the desert,” the CEO told investors in 2016 as he looked at the technological revolution facing the industry. “We… Continue reading Leading Fiat Out of the Desert

SKODA AUTO DigiLab collaborates with Israeli start-ups

ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel Ltd is ŠKODA AUTO’s scout looking for start-ups in Tel Aviv to collaborate on future shared business ideas. At the end of 2017, ŠKODA AUTO founded the joint venture together with the Israeli importer Champion Motors. At the beginning of 2018, the team at ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel Ltd started work… Continue reading SKODA AUTO DigiLab collaborates with Israeli start-ups