Articles tagged with "mobility-technology"
TechCrunch Mobility: Applied Intuition’s eye-popping valuation, the new age of micromobility, and Waymo’s wild week
The article from TechCrunch Mobility highlights several key developments in the autonomous vehicle and micromobility sectors. Waymo, the leading commercial robotaxi operator providing 250,000 paid rides weekly, has experienced a dynamic week marked by expansion and regulatory challenges. The company announced plans to extend its service area by 80 square miles across Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Silicon Valley, and is seeking permits to test autonomous vehicles in New York City. However, fully driverless operations in NYC will require changes in state law, signaling upcoming lobbying efforts. In investment news, Applied Intuition, a startup specializing in autonomous vehicle software such as simulation and data management tools, raised $500 million in a funding round co-led by BlackRock-managed funds and Kleiner Perkins, boosting its valuation to $15 billion—more than double its $6 billion valuation just a year prior. Other notable deals include Archer Aviation’s $850 million raise linked to a new eVTOL pilot program and Senra’s
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaximobility-technologyapplied-intuitionmicromobilityeVTOLTechCrunch Mobility: How Jony Ive’s LoveFrom helped Rivian and what Uber’s next-generation playbook looks like
The article from TechCrunch Mobility provides insights into recent developments in the transportation and mobility sector, focusing on key industry players and emerging partnerships. It highlights Elon Musk’s ongoing turbulent relationship with political figures, particularly his fallout with former President Donald Trump, which may have broad implications for Tesla’s business, including its autonomous vehicle initiatives and regulatory dealings. The article notes Musk’s pattern of volatile alliances and predicts continued instability affecting Tesla’s robotaxi experiments and legislative efforts like the Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act. A significant revelation is that Jony Ive’s design firm LoveFrom collaborated with Rivian’s design team during the development of a skunkworks program that eventually became a standalone company, underscoring the importance of creative partnerships in automotive innovation. The piece also covers notable deals such as Joby Aviation’s memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabian conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel, potentially accelerating Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle market entry in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, several startups received funding rounds, including Obvio, which uses AI to improve driving safety, Portless, an e-commerce logistics startup, and Toma, an AI voice technology company targeting car dealerships. The article briefly mentions executive changes at Uber, suggesting these shifts may signal strategic moves for the company’s next-generation mobility playbook, though details are incomplete. Overall, the piece offers a snapshot of dynamic collaborations, funding activities, and leadership changes shaping the future of transportation technology.
robotautonomous-vehicleselectric-vehiclesTeslaRivianmobility-technologytransportation-innovationToyota, Waymo consider joint development of self-driving passenger vehicles
robotself-drivingautonomous-vehiclesWaymoToyotamobility-technologytransportation