Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Tesla We, Robot event (screenshot)
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Tesla We, Robot event (screenshot)
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
fund raise
contrivance
Gaming
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
blank
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
touch Us
receive back toTechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation . Sign up here for free — just clickTechCrunch Mobility !
commemorate last week whenAuroramet a major milepost — just squeaking by under its own deadline — andlaunched a driverless ego - labor truck service ? Welp , this calendar week Aurora made newspaper headline again , but for a surprising alteration in leadership .
He did n’t say on the dot where he was going , either , except that it will be an “ exciting external chance in a senior leadership role at an iconic orbicular company . ”
I ’ll permit you all place your bets .
Aurora is press on without Anderson . The company announced during its remuneration call that it will start transport its self - driving trucksout at night and during adverse weather conditionslike rain or heavy jazz by the 2nd one-half of 2025 . The society also plans to spread out its driverless hauling path beyond Dallas to Houston , and into El Paso and Phoenix .
A little bird
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 determine outthese instructionsto read how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Deals!
It ’s not every 24-hour interval a public society reverses naturally and go private . But then again , these are n’t normal time . Especially for any company catch up in the U.S.-China trade war .
TakeZeekr , for instance . One year ago , the Chinese EV companydebuted on the New York Stock Exchange . Now , parent companyGeely Autowants totake Zeekr privatein answer to the Trump administration ’s idea to kick Chinese companies off American store exchange .
Other deals that capture my attention …
Bosch Ventureshas a Modern $ 270 million fund that will keep on its tradition of gift in deep technical school startups . Managing directorIngo Ramesohltold TechCrunch the plan is to putmore of its money into North American startup .
Investors who previously back Native American Uber rivalBluSmarthave proposed a program to inject another $ 30 million into the struggling cab - hailing inauguration , which short staunch operations last calendar month . But there ’s a gimmick .
Breathe , a barrage fire software startup , raise $ 21 millionin a Series B beat led by Kinnevik Online AB , the society exclusively evidence TechCrunch . Lowercarbon Capital and Volvo Cars Tech Fund participated .
DoorDashannounced two major acquisitions as it expands into Europe . The company agreed to buy its U.K. rivalDeliveroofor about £ 2.9 billion(around $ 3.87 billion ) and separately aver it is buyingSevenRooms — which provides CRM , marketing , and operations software program to aid restaurants , hotels , and public venues with reservation and guest direction — for $ 1.2 billion in cash .
Meanwhile , Uberwas busy this week , acquiring company and place in them .
Uber increase its investment into Formosan autonomous vehicle companionship WeRideby $ 100 millionas part of an amplify partnership trade to play the Robert William Service to another 15 cities over the next five geezerhood . In a separate deal , Uber alsoacquired an 85 % controlling stakeinTrendyol Go , the online repast and grocery store delivery business organization based in Istanbul , for about $ 700 million in cash .
Notable reads and other tidbits
Autonomous vehicles
Here ’s a personnel electrical switch I did n’t gestate . Mo Elshenawy , the former Chief Executive and CTO of now - shutter self - driving car companyCruise , was just named the chief applied science policeman at telehealth and wellness companyHims & Hers . I talk to Hims & Hers co - founder and CEOAndrew Dudum , and he sound out he specifically focused on the AV industry to find the next CTO.Here ’s why .
Nurohas started testing its Ab tech on theLas Vegas Strip . I lately sat down with carbon monoxide gas - founder and president Dave Ferguson . stay on tuned for an update on why the company shifted its business model .
Tesla‘s “ Robotaxi ” and “ Cybercab ” trademarks have hit a few barricade . TheU.S. Patent and Trademark Officedenied Tesla ’s attemptto stylemark the terminus “ Robotaxi ” in reference to its vehicles because it ’s too generic . Meanwhile , applications from Tesla for the trademark on the term “ Cybercab ” were halted because of companies pursuing standardised “ Cyber ” stylemark .
Uberlocked up partnerships with three Taiwanese autonomous fomite companies — Pony AI , Momenta , andWeRide — in a bid to bolt up robotaxi market share in the Middle East and Europe . Footnote : These deals are not to engage in China .
Waymoannounced it has a new 239,000 - hearty - foot mill in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa through a mess with Magna tobuild more than 2,000 autonomous Jaguar I - Pace vehicles . That obviously have a mickle of attention . But I was most concerned in finally learning the size of it of Waymo ’s existing commercial fleet , which is now 1,500 .
Zooxpaused its driverless testing curriculum for more than a week and come forth avoluntary recall of its softwarefollowing a crash in Las Vegas .
Electric vehicles, charging, & batteries
TheCadillac Celestiq EV — yep , that monster — is here , and contributor Emme Hall has thoughts afterspending a mean solar day behind the wheel .
It ’s earnings season , and the U.S.-China trade war is starting to leave a scratch on the blusher of car maker everywhere . And , well , I do n’t cogitate we ’ll be capable to buffet it out .
FordandGeneral Motorspulled their steering for the year , citing economic uncertainty related to Trump ’s duty . Meanwhile , Riviansaid it will likelydeliver fewer vehiclesthis class ( 40,000 to 46,000 electron volt ) than antecedently augur due to tariffs and other regulatory change . monitor : The company was already tracking for its third straight year with no volume growth before the guidance cut . There was some practiced news for Rivian , though : It generate gross profit ( yeah I jazz , gross profits is n’t exactly my fave , either ) . But this met a contractual milestone that unlock about $ 1 billion in funding from Volkswagen Group as part of a joint venture with the German automaker .
Fordis raising the cost of theall - electric Mustang Mach - E SUVand the Maverick pickup truck by as much as $ 2,000 due to the consequence taxes Trump is placing on vehicles made in Mexico .
Lucid Motorshas been working through somequality “ hiccups”in the early stages of delivering its long - awaited galvanising Gravity SUV .
Mitsubishi Motorsis in talk withFoxconntosource an electric car modelthe Nipponese automaker plans to sell in Australia and New Zealand in the latter half of 2026 .
Teslasalescontinue to slumpacross Europe despite an April EV sales swell .
Future of flight
Joby Aviationseems to be settling on 2026 for its first commercial passenger service , harmonise to itsfirst - quarter earnings report . The electrical vertical takeoff and landing place startup - turned - SPAC was targeting 2025 , then was stating “ former 2026 . ” Now it ’s just 2026 , which suggests it might not be early next year .
