EV Startup Funding: $100M Raised & Tesla's Federal Funding

TechCrunch Mobility: Latest Updates

Welcome once again to TechCrunch Mobility, your primary source for news and perspectives concerning the evolution of transportation. Registration is complimentary – simply select TechCrunch Mobility to subscribe!

CES 2025 Transportation Tech Recap

Prior to delving into this week’s news, a final summary of transportation technology showcased at CES 2025 is presented. As previously highlighted, autonomous vehicle technologies were prominently featured throughout the event.

However, other significant trends also emerged. Further details regarding these themes can be found here.

Recent Developments in Transportation Technology

Now, let's examine the most recent advancements and noteworthy news within the future of transportation technology.

The field is rapidly evolving, with continuous innovation shaping its trajectory. TechCrunch Mobility remains dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage of these changes.

Stay tuned for further updates and in-depth analysis as we continue to monitor the progress of transportation technology.

Farewell to Hindenburg Research

This week brings news beyond the typical "little bird" update. We mark the closure of Hindenburg Research, a firm renowned for its investigative work into publicly traded companies.

Founded by Nate Anderson, Hindenburg Research gained prominence by investigating claims made by whistleblowers and conducting independent research to uncover fraudulent activities.

Notable Investigations

Within the transportation and climate technology sectors, Hindenburg Research is particularly well-known for its exposures of several companies.

• Nikola Motors: The firm’s investigation brought scrutiny to the electric vehicle manufacturer.
• Lordstown Motors: Hindenburg Research also investigated and reported on issues surrounding this EV startup.
• The Adani Group: Billionaire Gautam Adani and his company were the subject of an investigation concerning alleged bribery schemes related to a substantial solar power project.

Specifically, the Adani Group faced accusations of paying over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure contracts for a 12-gigawatt solar power initiative.

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Recent Investment and Acquisition Activity

This week saw a number of significant developments in the automotive and technology sectors. Several companies secured funding, and an acquisition was announced.

Acquisition in the Automotive Marketplace

eBay has announced the acquisition of Caramel, a company specializing in facilitating the completion of vehicle sales transactions. The financial details of this deal have not been publicly released.

Harbinger Motors Secures Series B Funding

Harbinger, an emerging electric vehicle (EV) startup, has successfully raised $100 million in a Series B funding round. This round was jointly led by Capricorn Investment Group, an early investor in Tesla, and Leitmotif, a recently established U.S. investment fund.

Existing investors, Tiger Global and Maniv, a mobility-focused venture firm, also participated in this funding initiative.

Sarla Aviation Gains Investment

Sarla Aviation has received $10 million in new funding. The investment round was spearheaded by Accel and included contributions from prominent angel investors.

Notable angel investors include Binny Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart, Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, and Sriharsha Majety, co-founder of Swiggy.

Tesla’s Mixed Results in Federal Funding

Tesla experienced both successes and setbacks in the recent allocation of federal funds designated for EV charging infrastructure. The Department of Transportation denied Tesla’s application for $97 million intended for the development of a heavy-duty truck charging network spanning California to Texas.

However, Tesla, in collaboration with three other industry partners, was subsequently awarded $100 million to establish electric truck charging stations throughout Illinois.

Shippeo Receives Funding for Real-Time Tracking

Shippeo, a company specializing in real-time transportation tracking software, has secured $30 million in funding. This round was led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s corporate venture capital arm.

Additional investors included Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good, and Yamaha Motor Ventures.

Key Developments and Industry Updates

Self-Governing Vehicle Technology

Aurora Innovation is currently engaged in legal proceedings with federal safety authorities. The dispute concerns the standard practice of deploying physical warning triangles near stationary semi-trucks on roadways.

This legal challenge could significantly impact companies developing self-driving trucks. It raises questions about regulations designed for human drivers in the context of autonomous operation.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has finalized a regulation restricting the sale and importation of connected vehicles originating from China and Russia. This action is based on concerns regarding national security.

Consequently, Chinese automotive firms, including WeRide and Pony AI, will be prohibited from conducting autonomous vehicle testing within the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded its inquiry into Cruise. The investigation focused on whether the company’s robotaxis demonstrated sufficient care around pedestrians.

The agency acknowledged that Cruise had initiated a software recall and subsequently halted its business operations as a subsidiary of GM.

Electric Vehicles, Powering, and Battery Technology

Arc Boats showcased its technology at CES 2025. Sean O’Kane, a senior reporter, experienced the Arc Sport boat firsthand on Lake Mead.

His assessment provides insights into the capabilities of this new offering from the startup.

Tesla has unveiled a redesigned Model Y specifically tailored for the Chinese and broader Asian Pacific markets.

This represents the first substantial update to the SUV since its initial release in 2020.

Sean Duffy, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation, proposes a road usage fee for electric vehicle owners.

However, as Rebecca Bellan reports, implementing such a system presents considerable challenges.

Recent Automotive Evaluations

Just prior to the holiday season, an opportunity arose to experience a production prototype of the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus. Further, more extensive driving time with the finalized production model is planned. However, initial impressions of this all-electric minibus, carrying a price tag of $69,595, are detailed below.

Anticipation for this electric minibus has been building since its unveiling as a concept vehicle by Volkswagen in 2017. The challenge presented to Volkswagen was significant. The vehicle needed to immediately evoke its historical predecessor while simultaneously charting a course toward a modern, electric future. In numerous respects, the ID. Buzz achieves this balance. Its design is striking, consistently attracting attention from passersby.

The test vehicle featured an all-wheel drive configuration, finished in Metro Silver Metallic paint, and boasted a distinctive “copper” interior with leatherette upholstery. The interior space is remarkably generous, offering substantial room. Thoughtful details contribute to a premium feel. Despite its considerable length of 195.4 inches, the vehicle proved surprisingly agile in navigating congested urban streets.

The ID. Buzz largely fulfilled initial expectations. However, questions remain regarding its long-term viability. It appears ideally suited for family transportation and local errands. Potential applications also exist within commercial fleets operating in city centers. Nevertheless, the 91 kilowatt-hour battery provides an estimated range of 234 miles, raising concerns about its capability to replicate the long-distance travel capabilities of its forebears.

As a related note, previous newsletter content included preliminary observations from my experiences with Zoox robotaxis. A comprehensive review of my Zoox experience in Las Vegas is now available.

About “This Week’s Wheels”

• This segment provides insights into the various transportation technologies currently under evaluation.
• Evaluations encompass a wide range of vehicles, including electric and hybrid cars.
• Testing also extends to e-bikes and autonomous vehicle experiences.

The goal is to offer readers a firsthand perspective on emerging transportation solutions.