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For normal readers of TechCrunch Mobility, chances are you’ll be questioning, “Why did this text land in my inbox on Friday?” People, we’re shifting days in an effort to deliver you a extra full rundown of the information of the week.
I spent the final week at SXSW, the annual tech, movie, comedy, and music competition in Austin. I like to recommend scrolling via our stay weblog to compensate for all of the transportation, AI, social media, creator economic system — mainly tech — information that occurred through the convention.
I’ve watched Austin evolve through the years with some good and unhealthy outcomes. Protected bike lanes have been one optimistic improvement, which I appreciated as I rode a number of Lime scooters and two Mod Bikes e-bikes across the metropolis. Austin can be changing into a hub for autonomous automobile exercise with Avride headquartered there, Zoox testing on public roads, and Waymo launching a business robotaxi service.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to be matched with two Waymo robotaxis — all ride-hails happen via the Uber app, so it’s by no means a assure. I additionally had one coordinated match courtesy of Waymo. As I wrote earlier this week, it’s completely wild that Waymo and Uber are working collectively. Right here’s why.
Oh, and here’s what I found in my Waymo-Uber robotaxi experience. Trace: some updates to the consumer interface.
Slightly chicken
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Offers!
Senior reporter Sean O’Kane took a deep dive into a brand new enterprise agency referred to as Leitmotif that’s been quietly making a great deal of offers for the previous 16 months. The agency, which has funded round 20 startups, broadly focuses on decarbonization with a portfolio that features EV corporations, house and battery performs, and 4 nuclear fusion startups.
That’s not the fascinating half. Right here’s what’s: The entire cash in its fund got here from the Volkswagen Group. Try the complete story about why the German automotive big has dedicated $300 million to Leitmotif’s first fund.
Different offers that bought my consideration …
Carpool Logistics, a automobile logistics platform, raised $12 million in a Collection A funding spherical led by Wavecrest Progress Companions, with participation from CarMax, Impel founders Devin Daly and Michael Quigley, and automotive trade veteran David Metter.
Daqus Vitality, a startup engaged on battery supplies, raised $6 million in a seed spherical led by Morningside with participation from unnamed particular person buyers.
Nirvana, an AI-based insurance coverage platform that makes use of real-time driving telematics and 20 billion miles of truck driving information to construct and handle insurance coverage insurance policies for truckers, raised $80 million in a Collection C spherical of funding led by Normal Catalyst. Lightspeed Enterprise Companions and Valor Fairness Companions additionally participated. The funding values Nirvana at $830 million post-money.
Northvolt filed for chapter in Sweden, the most recent blow to Europe’s makes an attempt to create a battery-manufacturing juggernaut that might rival the Chinese language giants.
Notable reads and different tidbits
ADAS
Rivian rolled out a hands-free model of its driver-assistance system for freeway driving, which founder and CEO RJ Scaringe mentioned onstage at SXSW in Austin. The brand new hands-free function places Rivian in competitors with Ford and GM, which have related hands-free methods that management steering, acceleration, and braking underneath sure circumstances and places.
Autonomous autos
Hugging Face teamed up with AI startup Yaak to develop LeRobot — a group of open AI fashions, datasets, and instruments to assist construct real-world robotics methods — with a coaching set to permit robots and vehicles to navigate environments like metropolis streets autonomously.
Vehicles VC normal companion Reilly Brennan had an fascinating column, Don’t mistake ridehailing for AV ridehailing.
Travis Kalanick, the previous CEO of Uber, thinks the corporate’s resolution to desert its autonomous driving program was a mistake. Reminder: Uber ATG was burning via money when it was bought to Aurora in 2020.
Waymo retains increasing — this time in Silicon Valley. And that growth has include tons of of parking tickets.
Electrical autos, charging, & batteries
The Mint 400 off-road race put two EVs — a Rivian R1T truck and a Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 off-road race truck idea — to the check.
Rad Energy misplaced its CEO and gained a brand new one in a span of some days.
President Donald Trump stated he’ll label violence in opposition to Tesla dealerships as home terrorism — yet one more signal of his deep assist for Elon Musk. As reporter Sean O’Kane notes, “Tesla Takeovers” have been breaking out throughout the globe at Tesla dealerships as folks protest what they see as a hostile takeover of the federal authorities by Musk (who’s CEO of Tesla and its largest shareholder) and his Division of Authorities Effectivity. Among the protests have resulted in graffiti on Tesla indicators, charging stations set on hearth, even Molotov cocktails being thrown in a single dealership’s lot.
This week’s wheels
This week I attempted two e-bikes from Austin-based Mod Bikes. I’ll deal with its latest one, the Groove, which launched earlier this week.
I spent 24 hours with the Groove, an all-electric step-through bike with a souped-up seashore cruiser feel and look. The Groove existed earlier than, however Mod Bikes discontinued it. Now it’s again and has been up to date all through, together with the body, battery, torque sensor, good show, and motor.
The bike itself is sporty and polished with numerous considerate particulars that make the $1,999 worth seem to be a steal. The design is considerate with easy-to-read and easy-to-operate controls and an built-in bike lock that folds neatly on the body.
The Groove is a throttle and pedal help bike, and I discovered it simple to change between the varied modes. I not often relied on the throttle alone as a result of the help offered loads of oomph. The bike has a payload capability of 275 kilos and reaches a high pace of 28 miles per hour. The Groove has 50 miles of vary; nonetheless, there’s a dual-battery possibility that pops it as much as 100 miles.
One word, although: Wow, this bike is hefty. And whereas that’s typically a very good factor, people ought to give themselves a little bit of time to regulate to its weight.
I additionally examined Mod Join, which permits customers to wirelessly pair a Lumos ultra-smart helmet to sync and management flip alerts instantly from the bike. The related bike helmet made me really feel way more seen to drivers as I navigated the busy streets of downtown Austin.
What’s “This week’s wheels”? It’s an opportunity to study concerning the totally different transportation merchandise we’re testing, whether or not it’s an electrical or hybrid automobile, an e-bike, or perhaps a experience in an autonomous automobile.
