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TechCrunch Mobility Update: Sterling Anderson Joins General Motors

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Sterling Anderson's Move to GM

Many speculated about the future destination of Aurora co-founder and chief product officer Sterling Anderson, with General Motors emerging as the eventual choice. This follows Anderson’s recent announcement of his departure from Aurora’s leadership.

Anderson shared details regarding his new role as chief product officer at GM. He will be responsible for the complete product range of both gasoline and electric vehicles produced by the company.

Scope of Anderson’s New Role

This position encompasses the full product lifecycle at GM, including the development of hardware, software, related services, and the overall user experience.

Due to the role being newly accepted, Anderson was limited in the specifics he could disclose. However, he indicated a key factor in his decision was Aurora’s successful launch of its commercial self-driving truck service in Texas.

Further News and Updates

Now, let's proceed with the remaining industry news.

A Significant Development

Recent events have seen Austin Russell, the founder of Luminar, unexpectedly removed from his positions as CEO and board chair. Further details regarding this situation can be found in previous reporting. However, the full scope of the circumstances remains complex.

A review of Luminar’s Q1 earnings report would suggest Russell’s continued leadership. Nevertheless, a subsequent press release, coinciding with the earnings release, detailed a change in leadership and Russell’s resignation after an ethics review conducted by the board’s audit committee.

Internal Reactions and Resignations

Sources indicate that the leadership change was largely unexpected. The term “blindsided” was frequently used to describe the reaction to the news. It appears the repercussions of this event are still unfolding.

Jun Hong Heng, a Luminar board member and founder/chief investment officer at Crescent Cove Advisors, as well as a mentor to Russell, resigned from his position a day following the initial announcement. Heng also served on the audit committee.

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Recent Investment Activity

Aurora experienced a period of contrasting developments recently, celebrating the commencement of driverless commercial operations alongside the departure of a co-founder. Subsequently, Uber announced its intention to issue $1 billion in exchangeable senior notes maturing in 2028 through a private placement.

This announcement led to a decline in stock value as investors expressed concerns regarding potential dilution and its implications for Aurora’s share price.

Notable Funding Rounds

AutoUnify, a new venture originating from the Up.Labs-Porsche collaboration, secured $5 million in seed funding. Based in Santa Monica, California, the company has developed an API facilitating real-time communication between dealerships, service centers, and the manufacturers and software providers that support their operations.

The startup has been operating in a stealth mode for approximately nine months.

CATL, a prominent Chinese battery manufacturer, is planning a substantial initial public offering. The company aims to raise at least HK$31.01 billion – nearly $4 billion – in its Hong Kong listing, marking the largest global IPO of 2025.

A prospective agreement is currently under discussion. Regulators overseeing federal railroads are engaging in conversations with The Boring Company, Elon Musk’s tunneling enterprise, concerning a multi-billion dollar Amtrak project.

Flock Freight, a California-based shared truckload freight brokerage, successfully raised $60 million in a Series E funding round. O’Neil Strategic Capital spearheaded the investment, with participation from Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, SignalFire, GLP Capital Partners, and Bracket Capital.

Recent Developments in Automotive and Mobility Technology

Advancements in Autonomous Vehicle Technology

Tesla’s anticipated launch of a robotaxi service in Austin next month has prompted scrutiny from federal safety regulators. Specifically, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation has requested detailed information regarding the operation of the company’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” system, particularly in conditions with limited visibility.

The autonomous vehicle sector is witnessing an increase in recall events. Following a recent recall by Zoox, Waymo has now issued a software recall affecting 1,200 self-driving vehicles. This recall stems from incidents where robotaxis experienced minor collisions involving gates, chains, and similar roadside obstructions.

WeRide is actively expanding its autonomous robotaxi operations in Guangzhou. The Chinese firm has introduced eight new pilot routes within the city center and has also initiated trials of fully driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi.

Innovations in Electric Vehicles, Charging, and Battery Technology

General Motors is developing a novel battery chemistry based on lithium manganese-rich compounds. This new chemistry is projected to significantly reduce battery costs while maintaining competitive driving range. A key benefit is the reduced reliance on nickel and cobalt, materials with limited domestic availability in the United States.

A recent filing by Lucid provides further detail regarding its Q1 sales performance. The electric vehicle manufacturer experienced a boost in sales through rental agreements and company leases during the quarter.

Slate Auto has garnered over 100,000 reservations for its customizable, affordable electric pickup truck.

Toyota has undertaken a redesign – and a renaming – of its all-electric vehicle for the U.S. market. Formerly known as the bZ4X, the EV will now be marketed simply as bZ. The initial bZ4X model received a lukewarm reception, and improvements are anticipated in the revised version. Furthermore, Toyota is reintroducing the C-HR nameplate, this time as an electric vehicle, with a U.S. launch planned for 2026.

Trends in the Gig Economy

Three years ago, a report highlighted Uber’s increasing resemblance to Amazon. The observation was that Uber, similar to Amazon, was creating a self-contained ecosystem to direct customers towards other Uber services. This evolution is now progressing, with Uber expanding beyond transportation to become a comprehensive “super app” offering a range of services, many accessible through a subscription model.

Developments in Future Flight Technologies

U.S. legislators have proposed the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, aiming to overturn the FAA’s 52-year ban on supersonic flight over American airspace. This legislative action is particularly timely for Boom Supersonic, a startup making strides in the development of next-generation supersonic aircraft.

Vertical Aerospace has announced plans to develop a hybrid-electric version of its VX4 aircraft, indicating a strategic focus on opportunities within the defense and logistics sectors.

Advancements in In-Car Technology

The next iteration of Apple’s CarPlay infotainment system is set to launch. This update, initially unveiled three years ago, will debut on new Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. The new version is called CarPlay Ultra.

Google is integrating Gemini, its generative AI model, into cars equipped with Android Auto over the coming months. According to Patrick Brady, VP of Android for Cars, Gemini will be accessible through Android Auto in two primary ways.