Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your go-to source for all things related to transportation and technology. It’s only been a couple of days since the election, and there’s already a lot of talk about how another Trump presidency could impact the tech and transportation industries, as well as areas like energy and climate. It will take some time for these questions to be answered, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on how transportation may be influenced in the future.
In the early days following the election, we’ve been looking into who might benefit or suffer as a result, and how various sectors could adapt to changes in the administration. Our reporter Tim De Chant provided some insights into why it might be challenging for President-elect Trump to reverse the Inflation Reduction Act, while reporter Rebecca Bellan delved into what the outcome could mean for Elon Musk and his companies, such as Tesla, SpaceX, and X.
According to sources, Tesla has reportedly abandoned its plans for a $25,000 electric vehicle in favor of focusing on the development of a robotaxi. This shift in strategy, which was unexpected by many Tesla employees, has led to decreased morale among staff members. Additionally, there have been reports of executives leaving and furloughs at EV startup Canoo, indicating internal challenges within the company.
In the realm of funding, Beta Technologies, a startup working on electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, recently secured a significant investment of $318 million in a Series C funding round led by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. This funding brings Beta’s total funding to over $1 billion, although the company’s valuation has not been disclosed.
Other notable deals in the tech and transportation space include DeepRoute.ai’s $100 million investment from Great Wall Motor, Waymo’s recent $5.6 billion funding round from Alphabet, and Vanguard’s valuation of Indian ride-hailing startup Ola at around $2 billion. Xavveo, a startup specializing in autonomous vehicle sensor technology, also raised $8.6 million in a seed round.
In the autonomous vehicle sector, Lyft has announced partnerships with several companies, including May Mobility, Mobileye, and Nexar, as part of its efforts to establish a presence in the AV market. Ford, on the other hand, has decided to pause production of its F-150 Lightning electric pickup due to various challenges in the EV business.
This week, our team had the opportunity to experience rides in Waymo autonomous vehicles in San Francisco. Despite initial apprehensions, most found the rides to be safe and enjoyable, with some noting minor issues such as pricing discrepancies and drop-off locations. Overall, the experience was seen as positive, with potential for regular usage in the future.
“This week’s wheels” is a segment where we share our experiences testing different transportation products, whether it’s electric vehicles, e-bikes, or autonomous vehicles. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments in the world of tech and transportation.
