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Tesla’s Ambitious Plans for Driverless Ride-Hailing in Austin

In a recent announcement, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed plans to launch a paid ride-hailing service featuring driverless vehicles in Austin by June. This initiative is eagerly anticipated, as it promises to redefine the future of transportation in urban areas.

Details from the Earnings Call

During Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Musk shared minimal information regarding the upcoming service, leaving many questions unanswered. Notably, he did not specify the geo-fence parameters for the launch. This could be a strategic move to generate buzz and divert attention from Tesla’s sluggish automotive performance.

For more insights, be sure to check out our live blog of the earnings report where you can find additional highlights, including:

  • Updates on bitcoin and lithium refinery projects
  • The absence of Dojo
  • Training progress for Full Self-Driving (FSD) in China

Additionally, Musk confirmed that all hardware 3 vehicles will require an upgrade to fully utilize future capabilities in the FSD software.

Updates from Cruise and GM

In related news, Cruise has been making headlines following GM’s decision to halt its robotaxi development program, which is expected to save the automaker up to $1 billion annually. Sources indicate that management has started extending retention offers to engineers as part of the restructuring process.

Employee Notifications and Future Plans

CEO Marc Whitten shared in an internal email that the first wave of notifications has been sent to employees whose roles will continue at Cruise. He emphasized that those who have not received notifications are not necessarily at risk of job loss.

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The Cruise board is expected to meet in early February to finalize plans for the remaining workforce. For more information on the developments at Cruise, stay tuned to our updates.

Moove’s Remarkable Growth and Acquisitions

If you haven’t been following Moove, the African mobility fintech backed by Uber, now is the time to take notice. Since its inception in 2020, Moove has expanded from just 76 cars in Lagos, Nigeria, to a fleet of 36,000 cars operating across 19 cities on six continents.

Strategic Partnerships and Acquisitions

Last year, Moove announced a partnership with Waymo to provide driverless vehicle fleet operations in Phoenix and Miami. Recently, Moove acquired Kovi, a Brazil-based urban mobility provider, in an all-share transaction. This acquisition is projected to boost Moove’s annual revenue to $275 million.

Recent Funding and Business Developments

Several notable deals have emerged in the mobility sector:

  • Angell, a French smart electric bike startup, is nearing bankruptcy.
  • Bonsai Robotics raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Bison Ventures.
  • TravelPerk secured $200 million at a valuation of $2.7 billion, nearly double its previous valuation.
  • UVeye raised $191 million in an extension to its Series D round led by Toyota’s Woven Capital.
  • Voi reported its first profitable year in 2024.

Trends in Autonomous and Electric Vehicles

Key developments in autonomous and electric vehicles include:

  • GM’s anticipated savings from the cessation of the Cruise robotaxi program.
  • Kodiak Robotics launched its first commercial autonomous truck operations with Atlas Energy Solutions.
  • Waymo is testing driverless vehicles on Los Angeles freeways and plans to expand its robotaxi services to ten U.S. cities this year.
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Looking Ahead

As the mobility landscape continues to evolve, keep an eye on advancements in electric vehicles, charging technologies, and autonomous driving systems. For more insights, follow our updates on TechCrunch Mobility and stay informed about the future of transportation!

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