Welcome again to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for information and insights on the way forward for transportation. Enroll right here at no cost — simply click on TechCrunch Mobility!
The most recent information cycle is an effective reminder that even a grizzled outdated reporter who thinks she has seen all of it can nonetheless be shocked — and nothing lasts perpetually. Intrigued? Learn on.
Just a little chook
Welp, it positive is getting spicy over at TuSimple, in response to a number of little birds.
The corporate disclosed final month a brand new enterprise section targeted on — anticipate it — AI-generated animation and video gaming. That motion, our little chook community instructed us, has prompted backlash amongst some shareholders. Now it appears a battle is brewing over roughly $450 million in funds, the majority of which stays in america. And arguments over the corporate’s mission lie on the middle of it.
TechCrunch reporters Rebecca Bellan and Rita Liao chased down the story, and there are fairly a couple of fascinating particulars. For example, TuSimple was beefing up its autonomous automobile workforce in China late final yr however then modified course in early 2024. Tons of have been laid off, though when requested, CEO Cheng Lu instructed Rebecca that these people (about 500) resigned en masse.
The place does TuSimple go from right here? There have been threats of lawsuits, though nothing new simply but. Whereas the threats loom within the background, TuSimple is shifting ahead with improvement of an animated function movie and online game based mostly on the science-fiction collection “The Three-Body Problem.”
This whack-a-doodle pivot had me considering: Sheesh, perhaps I’ve been masking this business just too lengthy.
Acquired a tip for us? E mail Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or take a look at these directions to learn to contact us by way of encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.
Offers!
Deal stream within the transportation business is a bit mild this week. Listed here are some highlights.
Alaska Airways accomplished its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airways. The acquisition is one more instance of consolidation within the airline business.
AIfleet, a trucking tech startup, raised $16.6 million in a Sequence B funding spherical led by Tom Williams at Heron Rock. Notably, Volvo Group VC participated, together with Apparent Ventures, Ibex Buyers, Compound, Winthrop Sq., and Cooley. The corporate has raised $50 million to this point.
Clear Electrical, an Indian battery tech startup, raised $6 million in a funding spherical co-led by Information Edge Ventures, Pi Ventures, and Kalaari Capital. Lok Capital and different traders additionally participated.
SiLC obtained an undisclosed funding from Honda to develop next-generation FMCW lidar options for all sorts of mobility.
ZeroAvia, a startup creating hydrogen-electric (gasoline cell-powered) engines for planes, prolonged its Sequence C financing spherical to a complete of $150 million, with an funding from Scottish Nationwide Funding Financial institution. The spherical was co-led by Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Influence Capital, and NEOM Funding Fund, with UK Infrastructure Financial institution becoming a member of as a cornerstone-level investor. Breakthrough Vitality Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Fairness, Alaska Airways, Amazon’s Local weather Pledge Fund, and AP Ventures additionally participated.
Oxa, a Google-backed startup creating software program for autonomous autos, acquired industrial logistics firm StreetDrone for an undisclosed sum.
Notable reads and different tidbits
Autonomous autos
Motional president and CEO Karl Iagnemma — an early pioneer within the AV business — has stepped down from the highest management spot. CTO Laura Main is now interim CEO. Whether or not Main retains that place is unknown. My inside sources counsel that is very a lot an evolving state of affairs. Keep tuned.
Waymo and Uber expanded their relationship in a deal that’s larger than some people would possibly notice. Uber customers in Austin and Atlanta will be capable to hail Waymo robotaxis via the app in early 2025 as a part of an expanded partnership between the 2 firms. Why so notable? For one, Uber, not Waymo, would be the operator.
Electrical autos, charging, & batteries
Faraday Future is doling out huge raises and bonuses to its CEO and its founder. Keep in mind that this firm is barely hanging on and has delivered simply 13 vehicles in its 10-year historical past.
Fisker, the bankrupt EV startup, is reversing course only a few days after telling house owners they must pay labor prices for recall repairs.
GM’s electrical automobile prospects can now formally entry Tesla’s Superchargers, greater than a yr after the automaker first introduced that it will undertake its rival’s charging customary. However what about all the opposite non-Tesla EVs on the market? Keep tuned for an inventory that we’ll be conserving up to date.
Gogoro CEO Horace Luke resigned as an investigation into subsidy fraud continues on the Taiwanese electrical scooter producer and battery-swapping firm.
Way forward for flight
U.Ok. startup Apian, Alphabet’s drone firm Wing, and the U.Ok.’s Nationwide Well being Service have launched a pilot program that can use drones to fly pressing blood samples between two hospitals in London.
United’s chief buyer officer, Linda Jojo, defined to TechCrunch why the airline picked SpaceX’s Starlink to energy its free Wi-Fi.
Safety
Keep in mind that obvious cyberattack on the Port of Seattle, which additionally operates the Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport? We now have official affirmation that it was focused by a ransomware assault.
This week’s wheels
This week’s wheels will return subsequent week with insights into the GMC Sierra EV. Future autos embody the Mazda CX-90 PHEV and e-bikes.
What’s “This week’s wheels”? It’s an opportunity to be taught in regards to the completely different transportation merchandise we’re testing, whether or not it’s an electrical or hybrid automotive, an e-bike, or perhaps a trip in an autonomous automobile.
