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Summer road trip season is upon us , so whenGoogleannounced some updates to Google Maps , we got aroused . sure this would let in a lineament that allow users to break piloting so it does n’t yell at you to get back on course every time you deplume off the state highway . Sadly , it does not , according to TC senior reporter Sean O’Kane , who drop his days daydream of a future where he will be able to easily hesitate seafaring to make brief fuel and intellectual nourishment pit stops . Here ’s a summing up of what Google did announce and O’Kane’splea for the pause button .
Ah , and before I forget , who here is going toMonterey Car Week — aka holy week to some of us — this calendar month ? I wo n’t be there , but a span of TC contributors will be look for for interesting tech , loan-blend and EVs at the various events hold in within the yearly case . Reach out to Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.comif you ’ve got something to apportion or show us .
Let ’s go ! ! !
A little bird
A little snort reach out to let us knowRad Power Bikes , the buzzy e - bike startup that has raised more than $ 300 million from investors , laid off workers(again ) in July . This is the 5th circle of layoffs since April 2021 , when it cut 100 workers .
Rad Power has confirmed the layoffs but would n’t share telephone number . Our sources tell us the company ’s product development squad was affect . continue tune as we get the picture around for more data .
Got a tip for us ? Email Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com , Sean O’Kane atsean.okane@techcrunch.comor Rebecca Bellan atrebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com . Or see outthese instructionsto memorise how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Deals!
apply Intuitionco - founder Qasar Younis told TechCrunch in March that he require his company to be the “ first call ” when car maker or United States Department of Defense companies have a software or AI job to clear .
Automakers and AV companies are calling . And so are investor !
The autonomous fomite package startup has closed a$300 millionsecondary sale . That ’s a illustrious number in these parts . But it ’s even more interesting when you regard the caller raised $ 250 million in a Series E bout just four month ago .
Fidelity Management & Research Company joined the lowly sale . Applied suspicion is also back by Lux Capital ’s Bilal Zuberi , Elad Gil , Andreessen Horowitz , and Mary Meeker ’s growth investment company Bond .
Applied Intuition is shaping up to be the “ picks and shovels ” AI pet of 2024 .
Other deals that got my attention …
Rapido , the Amerind bike - taxi inauguration , raised $ 120 millionin a Series E funding turn led by WestBridge Capital . The startup is now a unicorn with a valuation over $ 1 billion .
Sennder , the German payload forwarding unicorn , is acquiring the European priming transportation assets of logistics giant C.H. Robinsonin an all - cash hand . It did not give away the financial terms of the heap , but a source penny-pinching to the company tell TechCrunch it is similar in note value to Sennder ’s 2020 acquisition of Uber ’s European freight business , which was rumored to be deserving around € 900 million at the time .
Notable reads and other tidbits
ADAS
The WSJanalyzed Tesla ’s clangour datato better understand safety issues surroundingTesla ’s Autopilot .
Autonomous vehicles
I recently caught up withAnthony Levandowski — the open up and polarize self-reliant fomite engineer and successive laminitis — about his startupPronto . The companionship has started gaining a routine of traction lately , notably an prolonged pilot program with building materials and cement producer Heidelberg Materials . Read on to acquire how(and why ) Levandowski is play on off - route Ab engineering science .
Nuroisgearing up for a comebackafter securing approval from California regulators to boom its driverless examination field .
Electric vehicles, charging & batteries
Fisker’sbankruptcy proceedings took an unexpected turnwhen it reached an agreement with Heights Capital Management — its only secured lender — to try and forge out a closure on how to liquidate its assets . If that cause fails , it will change over to Chapter 7 . Want the whole Fisker story?Check out this handy timeline .
TechCrunch reporterRebecca Bellanspent some time withtwo Modern productsthat Lime is test in a few cities : the LimeBike and the LimeGlider .
Zapp Electric Vehicles , the London - based electric two - wheeler stigma that is about to roll out its first product , has global ambitions . AndIndia will be one of its launchpad , TechCrunch has exclusively learned .
Privacy and security
TC cybersecurity editorZack Whittakerexplains how to prefer out offacial recognition at airports(if you ’re American ) .
U.S. edge agentsmust get a warrantbefore searching the electronic devices of Americans and international travelers hybridize the U.S. margin , a federal district court has ruled .
Ride-hailing and the gig economy
Uberis hustle outconcurrent ride in India , a feature of speech that allows users to book up to three trip for any of their contact lens . Uber even let concurrent drive user in India to give drivers direct with cash or via the app ; that ’s one way to attract more client .
Uber , Lyft , DoorDashand other gig economy companies can remain toclassify workers as contractorsin California , the state ’s Supreme Court ruled .
This week’s wheels
My neighbors are used to a steady watercourse of new electron volt and loanblend draw in and out of my driveway . So I always take note when they go out of their way to notice on one of my exam cars . The2024 Fiat 500e Inspired by Designwas one of those omg - cunning - what - is - that moment .
The 2024 Fiat 500e Inspired by Design , which is price at $ 37,595 , including the address fee , is one of two new trims of the revived electric hatchback . The EV , with its rose - gold outside and cream inside , is pack with all variety of features that press it above the Fiat 500e Inspi(RED ) edition , which came out early this yr . The kick upstairs clipping follow with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto , as well as an expanded menu of number one wood - help features , admit lane - departure monition , drowsy - machine driver detection , adaptive cruise control and blind - spot sensing . It also look more luxurious than the Inspi(RED ) variant thanks to chrome accents and a vinyl - wrapped dashboard . The small back seat and petite computer storage space are still sufficient enough to hold market and a bit of luggage .
And it is cute . But how does it actually function ? The Fiat 500e is n’t on the dot potent , nor does it have a spate of compass ( about 141 miles from its 42 kW - time of day battery ) compare with its larger EV counterparts . The Fiat 500e feels sporty in urban environment even though the individual galvanising motor produce just 117 horsepower and 162 punt - groundwork of torque . It has a stiff reprieve , which not everyone will love , but it works in a car plan for the city .
The front - steering wheel - drive EV declare oneself three different drive modes : Normal , Range and Sherpa . These let the driver control the level of regenerative braking and preserve grasp . The Sherpa mode was a bit too much for me — even the AC is turn off — in the Arizona summertime .
In all , this well - appointed urban EV had more than enough mountain chain and tech lineament to accommodate all of my need as I run errands around townspeople and into the mountains for the weekend .
What is “ This workweek ’s wheels ” ? It ’s a luck to learn about the different transportation ware we ’re testing , whether it ’s an electric or intercrossed car , an einsteinium - bike or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle .
