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Uber's Expanding Autonomous Vehicle Strategy

The company’s ambitions in the autonomous vehicle sector are becoming increasingly clear. Uber is actively pursuing a significant role in the development and deployment of self-driving technology.

Over the last two years, the ride-hailing giant has been strategically forming alliances with numerous AV companies. These partnerships span a wide range of applications, including delivery services, robotaxis, and long-haul trucking.

However, the scale of Uber’s recent investments in its collaborations with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro was particularly noteworthy.

Further details regarding these investments have come to light since the initial announcement. A closer examination reveals the extent of Uber’s financial commitment.

Investment Details Revealed

As a publicly listed entity, Lucid was required to disclose Uber’s $300 million investment. Uber was not obligated to reveal the amount allocated to Nuro, initially stating it was a “multi-hundred-million-dollar” sum.

Information obtained from a source directly familiar with the matter indicates that the Nuro investment exceeded Lucid’s $300 million. Subsequent confirmations, received from multiple sources, suggest an approximate investment of $400 million in Nuro.

This substantial financial commitment underscores Uber’s dedication to establishing a leading position in the autonomous vehicle landscape.

Do you have information to share? Contact Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or via Signal at kkorosec.07, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com.

Investment Highlights

Following the closure of Waymo's autonomous trucking division, questions arose regarding the future employment of its skilled personnel. It was anticipated, and subsequently confirmed, that some individuals would leverage their expertise to establish new ventures.

Reports surfaced last year indicating that Boris Sofman, formerly the leader of Waymo’s self-driving trucks program, had initiated a startup concentrating on autonomous technology for heavy machinery utilized in construction environments. A brief mention of this development appeared in a previous update. However, details concerning funding amounts and additional team members remained unconfirmed.

These details are now available. The company, known as Bedrock Robotics, has secured $80 million in investment from Eclipse and 8VC. Sofman co-founded Bedrock Robotics with Waymo colleagues Kevin Peterson and Ajay Gummalla, alongside Tom Eliaz, who has a background with Segment and Twilio.

Notable Investment Activity This Week

Amogy, a Brooklyn-based firm specializing in ammonia-to-power technology applicable to the shipping industry, has received an additional $23 million in funding, increasing its total recent fundraising to $80 million. The Korea Development Bank and KDB Silicon Valley LLC spearheaded the round, with contributions from BonAngels Venture Partners, JB Investment, and Pathway Investment.

Geely Auto is planning to take its electric vehicle subsidiary, Zeekr, private through a merger agreement. This decision comes just over a year after Zeekr’s initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

Gridserve, a U.K.-based provider of mobile electric vehicle charging solutions, has raised £100 million ($134 million) from its current investors, including TPG Rise Climate, Infracapital, and Mitsubishi.

Pronto, a San Francisco-based company developing autonomous systems for trucks and off-road vehicles used in construction and mining, has acquired its competitor, SafeAI. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Anthony Levandowski, co-founder and CEO, characterized the deal as a strategic move to acquire talent and intellectual property. The majority of SafeAI’s 12-person engineering team and its IP will be integrated into Pronto.

Via, a transit software company, has again filed for a confidential initial public offering. Previously, Via submitted a confidential IPO filing in 2021 but did not proceed with the necessary steps for a public listing. The company now asserts its readiness for an IPO; it remains to be seen if 2025 will be the year.

Industry Updates and Key Developments

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems

A significant advancement in driver-assistance technology is occurring at Lucid. The company is preparing to release a software update later this month that will enable hands-free highway driving for its Air sedan models.

Autonomous Vehicle Deployments

Uber has established a partnership with Baidu, a leading Chinese technology firm, to integrate thousands of autonomous vehicles into service across various markets, excluding the U.S. and mainland China.

Electric Vehicle Technology and Infrastructure

GM is collaborating with Redwood Materials on a new energy storage initiative. Furthermore, the automaker is enhancing its Tennessee production facility, jointly owned with LG Energy Solution, to manufacture more affordable LFP batteries.

Recent public records requests have yielded interesting information. Specifically, Rivian is scheduled to recommence preparatory work on its Georgia factory in August, with groundbreaking anticipated in early next year, as revealed through documents obtained by TechCrunch.

Rivian News: A recent divorce proceeding has resulted in RJ Scaringe, the co-founder and CEO of Rivian, transferring a portion of his ownership and voting rights. This situation is noteworthy as Scaringe historically held a relatively limited amount of voting power following the company’s IPO.

The latest software update for Rivian vehicles introduces a redesigned in-car navigation system. The update replaces Mapbox with a customized application that blends Rivian’s design aesthetic with the functionality of Google Maps.

Our senior reporter, Sean O’Kane, and I often discuss developments at Faraday Future. It appears the SEC is also closely monitoring the company and is preparing to initiate action.

Subaru has unveiled its all-electric crossover, the Uncharted, boasting a range exceeding 300 miles. The vehicle is slated for release in the U.S. market in early 2026, with pricing details to be announced closer to the launch date.

Tesla has finally entered the Indian market with the opening of its first showroom. This move follows a nine-year period since CEO Elon Musk initially announced intentions, and numerous delays in one of the world’s largest automotive markets. Further coverage will be provided by our India-based reporter, Jagmeet Singh.

Sales of the Tesla Cybertruck have decreased significantly since their initial peak last year. To illustrate, the GMC Hummer EV, which is not a high-volume seller, surpassed the Cybertruck in sales during the second quarter.

Jury selection has begun for a federal civil lawsuit involving Tesla. The case centers on whether the company’s driver-assistance systems contributed to a fatal crash that occurred in Key Largo, Florida, in 2019. Preconceived notions about Elon Musk have become a factor during the jury selection process.

Advancements in Aerial Mobility

Joby Aviation is expanding its manufacturing capabilities. The company has doubled the size of its pilot production facility in Marina, California, to accelerate the commercialization of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, targeted for early next year.