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receive back toTechCrunch Mobility — your primal hub for news and insights on the time to come of transportation .
I was in Los Angeles sooner this workweek where I interviewedWaymoco - CEOTekedra Mawakanaonstage at our StrictlyVC LA event . You canwatch the whole interview here , which covers her views on the Apple Car project , the company ’s “ community tour ” in Los Angeles , whether Waymo ascertain anything ( or changed ) in the viewing of the Cruise drubbing and if it ’s committed to staying in San Francisco even if vandalism of its robotaxis continues .
The following morning ( and by entire coincidence ) , theCalifornia Public Utilities Commissionapproved Waymo ’s applicationto operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles , the San Francisco Peninsula and on San Francisco pike . The approval withdraw the last roadblock for the Alphabet company to charge for rides in these expand area . Importantly , it opens up new dominion for Waymo in one of the country ’s largest cities and unlocks a itinerary to San Francisco International Airport , which is located to the south of the urban center .
This hebdomad ’s news program also includesFordgiving its EV ownersaccess to Tesla Superchargers , theSecurities and Exchange CommissionchargingLordstown Motorswithmisleading investors , Toyotapractically paying citizenry to buy itshydrogen fuel cell - powered Miraiand more !
Let ’s go !
A little bird
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EV upstartFiskerhas been portion out with a raft latterly — underperforming its own sale goals , dispense with quality and customer service problem and pivot from a verbatim gross revenue model to trying to sign up dealer partners .
This retiring hebdomad the company announced it ’s go tocut 15 % of its staffas part of that transition and needs more cash to survive . Reuters cover Friday that it ’s in dialogue with Nissan to cooperate on an galvanising pickup truck , in a move that could save the startup .
Afew little birdstold us that these talking have been going on for more than a class , and that it was n’t the only Japanese auto manufacturer that has spoken to Fisker about a possible collaborationism — Fisker also held negotiation with Mazda . But Nissan is the last one standing , and its continued interest come at a essential mo for the tumultuous inauguration .
Got a tip for us ? EmailKirsten Korosecatkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.comorSean O’Kanesean.okane@techcrunch.com . If you prefer to persist anon. , get across here to get through us , which includes SecureDrop ( instructions here ) and various encrypted messaging apps .
Deal of the week
Polestarhas a little more respiration elbow room now that the Swedish EV company — that ’s owned by China ’s Geely Holdings — secured a $ 950 million loanfrom a dozen banks .
Why does it count ? These are decisive funds needed to keep Polestar ’s EV plans proceed onwards following Volvo ’s decision to pull out back its financial support of the electric automaker . The company had about $ 770 million in immediate payment at the end of 2023 , agree to regulative filings .
However , the backing does n’t work all of Polestar ’s financial woes . Even with this new shot of capital , the company read it will go on to cut costs and depend for efficiency , include layoff . Polestar , which has cut 10 % of jobs since mid-2023 , said it plans to make another 15 % cut of meat this twelvemonth . The company previously disclosed that 15 % job cut , which will impress about 450 masses .
Other deals that let my attention …
Range Energy , the startup developing electric - powered trailers for commercial trucking , raise $ 23.5 million in a funding round lead by Trousdale Ventures , with involvement from UP.Partners , R7 and Yamaha Motor Ventures . kitchen range has raised $ 31.5 million to day of the month .
Notable reads and other tidbits
Autonomous vehicles
GoodbyeApple Car ; we never knew ya . Yup , that ’s right , Appleended plansto build and sell an self-directed galvanizing car . Do n’t care , months from now we will surely be treated to rumors that it ’s back after all . ;D
ReporterSean O’Kanelearned that Apple is probably cutting C of employees from the squad and all operate on the project has stopped . Some will shift to Apple ’s generative AI projection , according to Bloomberg , which first reported the project ’s cancellation . Others will have 90 days to find a reassignment to other roles inside the caller , or they will be let go . The car project still had around 1,400 employee work on it , according to one employee who was granted anonymity because they were not clear to address about their work . Side note : Here ’s a timelineof the decennary - long project .
GMis squirreling away its custom - builtCruise Origin robotaxisin a defunct Michigan plant .
Motionaltold employee it will trim back about5 % of its workforce(fewer than 70 mass ) , TechCrunch has learned . The cuts mostly sham administrative roles and some employees working in Boston , one of several urban center where it try autonomous vehicles . The other very important detail from source is that the company needs to assure more funding . That will think of either Hyundai foot the full bill for the joint venture company it once partake in with Aptiv or finding another better half .
Electric vehicles, batteries & charging
Xiaomishowed off itsfirst galvanising car , the SU7 , at Mobile World Congress .
In-car tech
Amazonstopped sellingtheRing Car Cam .
This week’s wheels
This calendar week I was n’t drive ; I was taunt in a driverlessWaymorobotaxi . I ’ve assume numerous ride in Waymo robotaxis , but never one in Los Angeles . This tripper provided an interesting test part for how these robotaxis handle unexpected blockade .
Moments after getting into the Waymo , the fomite was approaching a stop sign when it encountered a minor crash between two human - driven cars . Funny enough , another driverless Waymo was correct in front of me . A postal worker , who was also vex , end up back into a turning lane and making a U - bout .
My driverless railcar stayed put and I began to question if it would ever move . A message soon appear on the touchscreen informing me that “ our team is play to get you moving . ” A moment afterward the fomite reversed a few feet and made the same maneuver the postal worker did . This was likely an incident when remote counselling was provided . About two moment were tote up to my ride due to the dealings hole .
We ’ll be posting a video recording of the ride soon !
