Waymo, Elon Musk & BYD: TechCrunch Mobility News

TechCrunch Mobility Update

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A Brief Pause in Regular Features

Prior to delving into current events, please note a temporary adjustment to our content schedule.

The “This week’s wheels” segment will be paused for several weeks as we broaden our coverage to encompass a wider range of innovative vehicles.

Expanded Coverage to Include Emerging Technologies

Our focus will be shifting to explore EVs, hybrid vehicles, e-bikes, and the rapidly developing field of robotaxis.

We anticipate sharing exciting updates and analyses in these areas soon, so please remain engaged with TechCrunch Mobility for continued insights.

Further announcements regarding the resumption of regular features will be made in due course.

Waymo's Airport Mapping Agreement

Waymo has finalized an agreement with the San Francisco Airport Commission, and consequently the city of San Francisco, to utilize its vehicles for mapping the airport’s road network. This development garnered significant attention due to the possibility of future authorization for Waymo to extend its robotaxi operations to the airport premises. Currently, the agreement is limited to mapping activities, with vehicles being operated under manual control.

Details regarding the agreement’s stipulations have been shared with us by confidential sources, highlighting two key provisions described as “concessions.” It is anticipated that these terms will serve as precedents in subsequent agreements.

As per the agreement reviewed by TechCrunch, Waymo is obligated to share data following each mapping session conducted per vehicle. This “data interface agreement” necessitates the tracking of vehicles upon entry and exit from the airport, including details such as time, geographic coordinates, vehicle identification, trip identifier, transaction type, driver identification, and license plate number.

Furthermore, the agreement explicitly restricts Waymo from employing autonomous vehicles for the transportation of commercial goods. While Waymo has discontinued its self-driving trucks program, such clauses hold importance for organizations like the Teamsters union.

Data Sharing Requirements are a central component of the agreement.

• Time of entry and exit
• Precise geographic location
• Unique vehicle identification
• Specific trip details
• Transaction type
• Driver’s unique identifier
• Vehicle license plate number

The stipulations aim to provide the airport authority with comprehensive oversight of Waymo’s mapping operations. This level of detail ensures transparency and accountability throughout the data collection process.

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Recent Investment Highlights

Several noteworthy funding rounds occurred this past week within the mobility sector.

Coreshell, a company focused on innovative battery materials, successfully completed a $24 million Series A2 funding round. Ferroglobe spearheaded the investment, leveraging their position as Coreshell’s silicon provider.

Investment Details: Coreshell

• Round: Series A2
• Amount: $24 million
• Lead Investor: Ferroglobe
• Other Participants: Asymmetry Ventures, Estrada Ventures, Foothill Ventures, Helios Climate Ventures, Lane Venture, Translink Investment, Trousdale Ventures, and Zeon Ventures.

Einride, a Swedish firm pioneering driverless truck technology, is reportedly exploring a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO). Valuation estimates suggest the company could exceed $5 billion.

Einride's Potential IPO

Discussions surrounding an IPO are underway for Einride. The Financial Times initially reported on the possibility of a valuation surpassing the $5 billion mark.

Evera, a French startup specializing in electric vehicle (EV) subscriptions, secured €2 million in funding. The investment was led by Groupe Magellim and Newfund NAEH Innopy.

Evera Funding

• Amount: €2 million
• Lead Investors: Groupe Magellim and Newfund NAEH Innopy
• Additional Investors: MCapital, AstoryaVC, and business angel Eric Ibled.

Leta, a logistics software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider operating in Africa, has raised $5 million in seed funding. Speedinvest, a European venture capital firm, led the round.

Leta's Seed Funding

Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Equator, a climate tech fund concentrating on Africa, also contributed to Leta’s $5 million seed round.

Pulsetrain, a battery technology startup, obtained €6.1 million in a seed funding round. Vsquared Ventures and Planet co-led this investment.

Pulsetrain Seed Round

Climate Club also participated in the seed funding round for Pulsetrain, bolstering the company’s resources.

Seadronix, a South Korean company developing autonomous ship navigation systems, secured $11.3 million in a Series B funding round. This round attracted several new investors.

Seadronix Series B Funding

• Amount: $11.3 million
• New Investors: LB Investment, KB Investment, and the Korea Development Bank.
• Existing Investors: Wonik Investment Partners and Lighthouse Combined Investment.

Recent Developments in Automotive Technology

Advancements in Autonomous Vehicles

The impetus behind Nvidia’s substantial investment in self-driving technology was recently explained by CEO Jensen Huang during his GTC keynote, who provided historical context. Numerous autonomous vehicle-related announcements emerged from Nvidia’s GTC conference. A comprehensive summary of partnerships with Gatik, GM, Torc, and others is available for review.

Zoox initiated a voluntary recall affecting 258 vehicles. This action stems from concerns regarding the autonomous driving system, which exhibited a tendency for unexpected and forceful braking.

Innovations in Electric Vehicles and Battery Technology

BYD has unveiled a novel EV charging technology. If successfully implemented, this technology promises to significantly outperform existing solutions, achieving charging speeds comparable to traditional gasoline refueling.

Starting in June, Honda and its luxury division Acura will have access to the Tesla Supercharger network. A detailed overview of all brands currently enjoying access to this network has been compiled.

Tesla and Rivian are demonstrating leadership in the EV charging experience. A Consumer Reports survey indicates that these two companies report the fewest issues. Conversely, Shell’s Recharge network, EVgo, and Blink received the lowest ratings.

Despite strong sales figures, Tesla’s Cybertruck is facing challenges. The company has issued a recall for approximately 46,000 units due to a potential issue with the exterior steel trim panel near the windshield, which may detach.

Furthermore, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives urged Elon Musk to curtail his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency. Ives suggests Musk is at a critical juncture with his EV company, citing a “crisis” resulting from his extensive focus on the Trump administration.

The Expanding Realm of Future Flight

Joby Aviation has established a partnership with Virgin Atlantic to introduce electric air taxis in the United Kingdom. This collaboration represents the seventh country where the startup intends to pursue commercial operations. It is worth noting that this potential partnership was initially reported in our “A little bird” section last year.

Developments in In-Car Technology

An expanded collaboration between GM and Nvidia, revealed at the GTC conference, encompasses both in-car and broader technological applications. Essentially, GM will collaborate with Nvidia to develop customized AI systems leveraging the tech giant’s diverse product portfolio.

The objective is to integrate AI across GM’s operations, including manufacturing facilities, robotic systems, and vehicles. Further details regarding this partnership can be found here.

Tesla recently obtained a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission. Some interpretations of this permit have been inaccurate or misleading; a clarification of Tesla’s capabilities and limitations under this transportation charter permit is available.