Welcome again to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for information and insights on the way forward for transportation. Join right here totally free — simply click on TechCrunch Mobility!
The newest information cycle is an efficient reminder that even a grizzled previous reporter who thinks she has seen all of it can nonetheless be stunned — and nothing lasts without end. Intrigued? Learn on.
A little bit hen
Welp, it positive is getting spicy over at TuSimple, in keeping with a number of little birds.
The corporate disclosed final month a brand new enterprise phase centered on — watch for it — AI-generated animation and video gaming. That motion, our little hen community instructed us, has prompted backlash amongst some shareholders. Now it appears a struggle is brewing over roughly $450 million in funds, the majority of which stays in the USA. And arguments over the corporate’s mission lie on the heart of it.
TechCrunch reporters Rebecca Bellan and Rita Liao chased down the story, and there are fairly just a few attention-grabbing particulars. As an illustration, TuSimple was beefing up its autonomous car workforce in China late final 12 months however then modified course in early 2024. Lots 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 characteristic movie and online game primarily based on the science-fiction sequence “The Three-Body Problem.”
This whack-a-doodle pivot had me considering: Sheesh, perhaps I’ve been masking this trade just too lengthy.
Acquired a tip for us? Electronic 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 discover ways to contact us through encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.
Offers!
Deal circulate within the transportation trade is a bit gentle 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 trade.
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 Traders, Compound, Winthrop Sq., and Cooley. The corporate has raised $50 million thus far.
Clear Electrical, an Indian battery tech startup, raised $6 million in a funding spherical co-led by Data Edge Ventures, Pi Ventures, and Kalaari Capital. Lok Capital and different buyers additionally participated.
SiLC acquired an undisclosed funding from Honda to develop next-generation FMCW lidar options for every type of mobility.
ZeroAvia, a startup growing hydrogen-electric (gas 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 Power 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 growing software program for autonomous automobiles, acquired industrial logistics firm StreetDrone for an undisclosed sum.
Notable reads and different tidbits
Autonomous automobiles
Motional president and CEO Karl Iagnemma — an early pioneer within the AV trade — 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 recommend that is very a lot an evolving scenario. Keep tuned.
Waymo and Uber expanded their relationship in a deal that’s greater than some people would possibly notice. Uber customers in Austin and Atlanta will be capable to hail Waymo robotaxis by way of the app in early 2025 as a part of an expanded partnership between the 2 corporations. Why so notable? For one, Uber, not Waymo, would be the operator.
Electrical automobiles, charging, & batteries
Faraday Future is doling out massive raises and bonuses to its CEO and its founder. Do not forget that this firm is barely hanging on and has delivered simply 13 automobiles in its 10-year historical past.
Fisker, the bankrupt EV startup, is reversing course only a few days after telling homeowners they must pay labor prices for recall repairs.
GM’s electrical car clients can now formally entry Tesla’s Superchargers, greater than a 12 months after the automaker first introduced that it will undertake its rival’s charging commonplace. However what about all the opposite non-Tesla EVs on the market? Keep tuned for a listing that we’ll be preserving 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.Okay. startup Apian, Alphabet’s drone firm Wing, and the U.Okay.’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
Do not forget 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 automobiles embrace 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 totally different transportation merchandise we’re testing, whether or not it’s an electrical or hybrid automotive, an e-bike, or perhaps a journey in an autonomous car.
