Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:VW
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:VW
Cloud Computing
mercantilism
Crypto
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
fund-raise
appliance
bet on
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
Government & Policy
Hardware
Image Credits:Kirsten Korosec
layoff
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
privateness
Robotics
protection
societal
Space
startup
TikTok
Transportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
newssheet
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Welcome back toTechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news program and insight on the time to come of transportation . Sign up here for free — just clickTechCrunch Mobility !
Short week , forgetful newssheet . For all the U.S.-based readers , I desire you had an enjoyable Labor Day .
Before we jump off into the news program ruffle , here is one keen item that combines robotics , mobility , and accessibility . Korea ’s Institute of Machinery and Materialsshowcased arobotic wheelchairwith large , deformable wheels that can do careen , stairs and other obstacles . delay it out .
Now , on to other newsworthiness . Let ’s go !
A little bird
bring forth a bakshish for us ? Email Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com , Sean O’Kane atsean.okane@techcrunch.comor Rebecca Bellan atrebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com . Or check outthese instructionsto learn how to contact us via write in code messaging apps or SecureDrop .
Deals!
let the cat out of the bag about hustle .
Zepto , the 3 - yr - old Indian delivery and east - Department of Commerce startup , hasraised $ 1 billionin the preceding 90 days , TechCrunch entirely get wind . This affirm our earlier report that the startup wasfinalizing a $ 340 million funding roundled by General Catalyst . Other backer admit Nexus Venture Partners , Lightspeed , Avra , YC Continuity , Contrary and StepStone Group .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
A couple of other noteworthy deal …
E Daddy , a UAE - headquarter business that makes two - wheeler EVs in Dubai , raised $ 15 millionin a backing one shot .
Oxylus Energy , a inauguration reel out of a Yale chemistry lab last twelvemonth , has been working to refine the yield of so - called unripened wood spirit . Now it has some capital . The startupraised a $ 4.5 million seed roundled by Toyota Ventures and Azolla Ventures with involvement from Earth Foundry and Connecticut Innovations . TechCrunch reporterTim De Chantdigs into why its founder believe they can help airline and shipping companies hit net - zero carbon paper emissions by 2050 .
WeMob , a fleet management and telematics SaaS company in Iberia , was acquiredby Alerce for an undisclosed amount .
Notable reads and other tidbits
ADAS
A woman who allegedly killed two people using the hands - free number one wood - help productFord BlueCruisewas chargedwith a DUI homicide .
Autonomous vehicles
Teslaplans to unveil its robotaxi at an upshot at Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. ’s movie studio in the Los Angeles sphere , Bloomberg reported . A hacker , know as greentheonly , follow up withquite the insighton social medium site X. He notice that Tesla start up all-embracing information collection in “ WB Studio ” area 4 . This suggests that Tesla may be pre - mapping the country before the October 10 event .
Electric vehicles, charging & batteries
Tesladeleted all of its blog postsprior to 2019 ( the newspaper headline is for all those 1984 fans out there ) . Those blog posts are a digital story of the party , covering everything from CEO Elon Musk ’s original master program , to the first Autopilot fatality in a Model S , to declarations on the capability of its eV . Neither the company , nor Musk , have explicate why .
Future of flight
Archer Aviationsaid itcompleted 402 test flightsso far this year . The company order it ’s rage up flight examination mathematical operation in forward motion of for - cite flight examination with the FAA .
Ride-hailing and car-sharing
Lyftis keeping its micromobility business , but it’scoming at a toll . The ship’s company is restructuring its operations and put off about 1 % of its workforce ( Lyft employed about 2,945 actor at the final stage of 2023 ) . The troupe wait to incur $ 34 million to $ 46 million of restructuring charges . The big change , besides an integrated unit and a new name , is the end of dockless rides . Docked or bout !
Uberannounced a strategical programme todouble down in South Korea , a move that straight off challenges grocery leader Kakao Mobility , the drive - hail unit of measurement absolute majority - have by South Korean electronic messaging and technical school giant Kakao .
Vay , a startup that has put a teleoperated machine to cable car - communion in Berlin and Las Vegas , isexpanding into commercial-grade and business - to - occupation servicesbuoyed by late deals with automaker Peugeot and car - apportion company Poppy . Thomas von der Ohe , Vay ’s co - beginner and CEO , told me the startup will be announcing some livery - specific partnerships before long , including with hauling , clear commercial vehicle and last - mile manner of speaking companies .
belittled startup world side musical note : Some of the technical school buried in Vay ’s teleoperated Kia Niro vehicles comes from Polysync Technologies , a now - defunct inauguration out of Portland that I discovered waaaayyyy back at the firstself - run car eventat Thunderhill Raceway in 2016 .
This week’s wheels
I spend a few days in the2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV2LT , and I am well-chosen to account that the software worked ! And no , this is n’t snark ; last twelvemonth , GMexperienced what one employee lately described to me as a “ centenary moment ” when it roll out the Chevrolet Blazer EV and it was plagued by buggy software package that left oneauto newsman strand .
The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 2LT , which is front - wheel drive and derive with an 85 kilowatt - hr battery that provides an estimated 319 miles of range , has a suggested retail toll of $ 45,995 ( including the destination fee ) . My variant also included the hands - free advanced driver - assist system recognise as Super Cruise .
I was skeptical after my experience with the Blazer EV , which left me a bit meh . The Equinox EV is not the Blazer . It ’s simply a better EV — and yes , even without Apple CarPlay . There were a few additional step to ensure you ’ll have the same digital experience as the smartphone mirroring CarPlay and Android Auto products provide . And that might turn over off some folks . But once I checked all the confirmation and toggled all the right toggles , I had a seamless experience .
One unmatched item of note : Super Cruise was induct automatic lane change on the highway , but by my second day behind the wheel ( and on the same stretch of main road ) , I had to manually move the vehicle into the lane .
What is “ This week ’s wheels ” ? It ’s a chance to ascertain about the different transportation mathematical product we ’re testing , whether it ’s an galvanic or intercrossed railcar , an eastward - motorcycle or even a ride in an self-governing vehicle . Future vehicles include some atomic number 99 - bikes and theGMC Sierra EVand theChevrolet Equinox EV .
