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Welcome back toTechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news show and insight on the future of fare . Sign up here for free — just clickTechCrunch Mobility !
Enough with my typical small talk of the town . Let ’s parachute into the news justly away this hebdomad . And there ’s plenty of it , includingLyft ’s entry into Europe , Ab startupNuroheading to Japan , the first thrust of theLucid Gravity SUV , a fewNew York International Auto Showhighlights , and a SPAC .
Yes , the SPAC is back . Or did this fiscal instrument really ever fade by ?
Let ’s go .
A little bird
A piddling Bronx cheer tell us that some masses are hope to get onward of the many , many hurdles eVTOLs postulate to jump before there can be “ main road in the skies . ” This include do work with real estate owner in rural areas to set up vertiports and charging infrastructure . The pitch ? add that substructure has the potency to increase your property time value in the futurity .
We ’re digging into this to discover out more !
Got a tip for us ? Email Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.comor my Signal at kkorosec.07 , Sean O’Kane atsean.okane@techcrunch.com , or Rebecca Bellan atrebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com . Or check outthese instructionsto learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop .
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Deals!
I expect a few more IPOs in 2025 than the anterior year , but SPACs ? Say it ai n’t so . And yet , here we are with afresh mergerbetween autonomous vehicle technology startupKodiak Roboticsand special determination acquisition company Ares Acquisition Corporation II .
The dealings values Kodiak , which has raised around $ 243 million to engagement , at about $ 2.5 billion pre - money . New and live Kodiak institutional investor , like Soros Fund Management , ARK Investments , and Ares , have funded or committed over $ 110 million in financing to support the dealings , as well as about $ 551 million of cash held in trust .
I speak to Kodiak beginner and CEODon Burnetteand demand the obvious interrogation : A SPAC ? Now ? Why ?
“ Kodiak , now that we have launched driverless , we have our vehicles on the route , we have driverless revenue coming in , ” Burnette told me . “ We cogitate now is the time for growth . We require to take advantage of the tailwind we ’re see in the markets . ”
Tailwinds ? I ask him to explicate , and Burnette meant tailwinds in the autonomy sphere as opposed to the unsubtle economic market place .
“ Obviously , we ’re interpret short - terminus excitableness — that ’s an understatement , ” he say . “ But we ’re really thinking about this as a long - terminus thesis of transforming the transferral market , using AI , using engineering science , and through mechanisation . It ’s something I ’ve always believed in . ”
Other deals that get my tending …
Conifer , a startup developing galvanizing hub motors that are gratuitous of rarified earth constituent , lift a$20 million seed roundfrom investors , include True Ventures , MaC Ventures , MFV Partners , and others . True Ventures ’ Rohit Sharma has connect Conifer ’s board .
Kavak , a Mexico - based online used car monger , raised $ 127 millionin an fairness round , foreshorten its evaluation to $ 2.2 billion from $ 6.5 billion . The round was co - led by SoftBank Group Corp and General Atlantic . The company also secured $ 400 million in new debt .
Lyftagreed to acquireFreeNow , a German multi - mobility app with ride - hail at its meat , from BMW and Mercedes - Benz Mobility for about $ 197 million in cash . The acquisition opens up the European marketplace to Lyft for the first sentence .
Nyobolt , a British EV charging startup , raised $ 30 millionin funding , led by IQ Capital and Latitude . strategical partners , include Scania Invest and Takasago Industry , also participated .
Notable reads and other tidbits
ADAS
Chinais cracking down on how automakers advertise driver - aid feature , banish termslike “ autonomous driving , ” “ ego - drive , ” and “ wise driving . ” If you immediately cogitate ofTeslaand its “ Full Self - Driving ” software package , it ’s worth take note the car manufacturer has changed the stigmatisation . But Tesla and others will be affected by normal around over - the - line software updates for ADAS , which requires examination and government approval .
Autonomous vehicles
Nurowill begin mapping and gather datain Japanusing self-reliant vehicles ( retrofitted Prius cars ) from its U.S. fleet .
WaymoandUberare devise to plunge their joint robotaxi Robert William Service in Atlanta this summer . Uberopened up an “ interest list”this week to customers in Atlanta . The two companies plunge the “ Waymo on Uber ” service in Austin in March . data point from marketplace analytics business firm YipitData shows Waymo robotaxis made upabout 20 % of ridesoffered by Uber in Austin in the last week of March .
Zooxhaspartnered with Stingray Music , which will extend a curated choice of 16 stations via the touch screen inside the robotaxis . Yet another sign Zoox is catch ready to launch commercially .
Electric vehicles, charging, & batteries
Limewillsend batteriesused in its scooters and e - bikes to Redwood Materials , which will take out and recycle vital minerals such as lithium , cobalt , nickel , and atomic number 29 .
Kiadebuted its2026 EV4 sedanat the New York International Auto Show . This is the troupe ’s first global electric saloon and one plan for client looking for an low-cost EV . Will Americans buy it ?
TechCrunch contributorAbigail Bassettspent a daylight driving the raw all - electricLucid Gravity SUV . Read the full recapitulation and find out why she wrote that the Gravity is“over - engineering science at its better . ”
Rivian’sfirstnon - Amazon vancustomer is HelloFresh .
Subaruunveiled its 2nd EV , a black Maria - like SUVcalled the Trailseekerthat , like its predecessor the Solterra , include a bit of Toyota handiwork .
Future of flight
Archer Aviationunveiled its proposedair taxi mesh for New York Cityin partnership with United Airlines , which would allow passengers to tack on an Archer drive to their traditional airline tickets .
Ride-hailing
India ’s market governor launched an investigation intoGensol Engineeringafter finding allegedmisuse of electric fomite loans . BluSmart , a drive - hailing startup connected to Gensol that was once seen as an issue Uber competition in the South Asian market , has also been swept up into the investigation . And now it seems BluSmart hassuspended servicesin some Indian city .
Hertzcustomers have been notified of adata breachthat included their personal selective information and driver ’s licenses . Hertz attribute the rift to a vendor , software makerCleo , which last year wasat the centre of a mass - hack on campaignby a fecund Russia - associate ransomware pack .
