Welcome back to the station, your central hub for moving past, present and future people and packages from Point A to Point B Kirsten. So I’ll be your host this week.
Another week of investigation has passed Tesla They seem to come from all directions:
First, let’s start with Autopilot, Tesla’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is part of an ongoing investigation into ADAS after a series of Tesla crashes into emergency vehicles. Requesting more information From the automobile. This time, it’s a software change that allows drivers to use the system for longer periods of time without having to keep their hands on the wheel. NHTSA said this “could lead to a significant loss of driver attention and the driver’s inability to properly control Autopilot.”
Meanwhile, in Tesla’s battery department, federal prosecutors are investigating I understand Tesla’s performance According to Reuters, the EV maker exaggerated the driving range of its vehicles.
And finally, Elon Musk is reported to own the automaker with a microscope To use company funds from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – *checknotes* – to build a giant glass house for Musk near Tesla’s Austin headquarters.
Am I missing something?
Before we jump into the news, a little update TechCrunch Disruption. Kyle Vogt, CEO and co-founder Cruz“In the said session, September 20, he will join the rioting platform.The Robotaxis Revolution.He said.
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Micromobin
If you’re into e-bikes, you may have noticed that the newer ones are built with GPS tracking enabled, so you can find your bike even if someone steals it. But most people aren’t going to track down their bike and face a potentially dangerous thief, and the police may have more important things on their plate.
Enter Back pedalA UK-based startup that is building a business model around E-bike recovery. Using a network of recovery agents on the ground, good relations with the police and GPS tracking, the company can go and deliver the stolen e-bike to you.
The business model is a monthly subscription service starting at £8.99 a month, which includes insurance in case the startup fails to recover the bike. But so far, BackPedal boasts a 90% success rate and is working to improve that rate as it grows across the UK.
Deal of the week
China’s EV startup Xpeng will do Discover the properties of a smart EV The ride-hailing giant DD for 744 million dollars. DD Properties will be a new sub-brand under Xpeng called “Mona” and is scheduled to launch in 2024. There are several reasons why this piqued my interest.
The deal shows Diddy has given up on his car dream. The organization has been Go out slowly Under a dark cloud following a series of regulatory measures from the Chinese government, so selling the cash-bleeding EV business was a good way for DD to focus on horse riding.
The deal could help Tesla rival Xpeng expand its market reach, especially if it makes DD Mona vehicles more attractive to drivers.
The partnership between the two companies could boost both Xpeng’s autonomous driving technology and its pursuit of DD’s robotaxis. In April, DD said it was working with Chinese automakers. Self-developed robotaxis deployment In the year By 2025 to the public. And while Xpeng is primarily focused on ADAS, the automaker has been making moves to do its own testing. G9 SUV as a commercial autonomous vehicle.
Just a quick one before we get into the other offers. . .
Chinese startups are getting started. Get the OK To sell shares abroad – but they must respect China A set of strict new rules. They are two recent startups. Remembrancestill young Well supported EV brand under Chinese auto giant Geely, and WeRideAn autonomous driving startup that has raised over $1 billion in funding. Zeekr has been given the green light to issue up to 926 million common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and WeRide is authorized to issue 159 million shares on the NYSE or Nasdaq.
Guidelines set by Beijing and an agreement by the US to allow Chinese companies to be audited by Chinese accounting firms mean there is now a path to IPOs abroad. This led to a slight recovery in Chinese IPOs.
Other offers that caught my attention. . .
of The Biden administration He is presenting. 15.5 billion dollar fund and loans to encourage the EV transition. The funding will help repackage existing automobiles for electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and boost battery production locally.
BoschAgreement to obtain TSI Semiconductors it has It has passedBut it is facing some obstacles. The company has announced that it needs funding from the US government to carry out its full expansion plans. California approved $25 million in tax credits for the plant.
Elevator Lead independent director Sean Agarwal bought more than $1 million in Lyft shares. In the following days, the company’s stock price increased by 11%.
Redwood materials, a battery recycling and materials startup founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel; He collected 1 billion dollars To expand the US battery supply chain.
VanmuffA flashy e-bike startup that declared bankruptcy this summer has gotten a lifeline. British e-scooter company way it has He got the business, planning to invest in the product and restart the business. The sources told TechCrunch that Lavoie paid Vanmoff “tens of millions” of euros.
Popular news and other news
ADAS
FordS BlueCruise has been hands-off ADAS approved For use in Germany.
Tesla it has He came down The price of the “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) beta software has dropped to $12,000, down from $15,000. The EV maker hasn’t said why, but I have my suspicions. As other ADAS, like the Ford Bluecruise, take off, Tesla may be trying to implement dynamic pricing to stay ahead of the game. But I think it’s more about data. Musk has made no bones about the need for true full self-driving, and to do so he needs only cameras and no lidar or radar to get all the data Tesla can get at his fingertips. The cheap cost of FSD may encourage more buyers to install the controversial software.
Automatic vehicles
AB316A California bill that would ban fully driverless heavy-duty AVs in the state is nearing its way to the state Senate floor. The California DMV said the ban would not increase safety and would instead have a chilling effect on the development of technology intended to increase safety on the roads in California.
Cruz Manual data collection begins in Seattle; Washington, DC; and Las Vegas, although the technology is being researched in his hometown of San Francisco. This column Going through what this means, Cruz lists all the markets available today.
Volvo Auto Solutions Successfully removed the security driver in active commercial mining in Norway.
Electric vehicles, batteries and batteries
FreeWire TechnologiesEV Charging Technology Co., Ltd. It was announced An AI-enabled prediction tool to help commercial and C-store retail customers determine optimal locations for placing EV charging stations. The device will be available across the US and four Canadian provinces in Q1 2024.
Fisker revealed More details About the Pear Junction EV, however, what we find most interesting is the automaker’s confirmation. Foxconn The EV will actually be built at the Lordstown, Ohio plant. CEO Henrik Fisker told TechCrunch in August that the deal is still not done and of course we still have some questions. Like, what other specifications do Foxconn and Fisker hammers need? And how on earth does Fisker think it can make a profit building an EV for under $30,000?
Mercedes-Benz is it. It opens the first EV DC fast charging centers. In Atlanta, China and Germany, it will begin in the fourth quarter of 2023. This is the first step towards the automaker installing 2,000 charging centers by the end of 2024 and 10,000 chargers by 2030.
Tesla It is also sealed High-end Model S and Model X features — like ambient lighting and ventilated seats — to the refreshed Model 3.
Various
Apple it has Registered ownership Auto display for augmented reality. Whether Apple is working on the fabled Apple Car or not, this product makes good use of the company’s XR technology.
General Motors It is being used. google‘s AI chatbot, Dialogflow, to Turn on the OnStar transmitter in the car. Service. AI can answer non-emergency questions, such as directions, navigation, and questions about GM vehicles in an oh-so-lifelike manner.
When he spoke googleGoogle has flights Released a new feature It helps travelers know the cheapest time to book. The new insights tool focuses on historical trend data to help shoppers see when the lowest prices are for their chosen destination on their chosen date.
Toyota Motor Europe It has started. Toyota Open LabsAn innovation platform designed to bring startups together with business units across the Toyota ecosystem. The goal is to help transform Toyota into a mobility company with expertise in energy, circular economy, carbon-neutral technology, smart communities and more.
People
Rivian He brought on Dr. Kjell Gruner as Chief Commercial Officer and President of Business Development. Gruner brings 25 years of automotive experience to the table, most recently serving as CEO of Porsche Cars North America. He worked for six years as the Director of Strategy at Mercedes-Benz.
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