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Waymo’s Game-Changing Deal with SFO, Elon Musk’s Pivotal Moment, and BYD’s Innovative Leap: Insights from TechCrunch Mobility

Welcome to the latest edition of TechCrunch Mobility, your go-to source for the most recent developments in the future of transportation. Stay updated by signing up for free to TechCrunch Mobility!

Waymo’s New Partnership with San Francisco Airport

This week, Waymo has entered into a significant agreement with the San Francisco Airport Commission. This deal will allow Waymo to utilize its vehicles for mapping the airport’s roadways, a move that could pave the way for expanding its robotaxi service to the airport in the future. However, for now, the vehicles will be manually operated.

Key Terms of the Agreement

  • Data Sharing: Waymo must share data after each mapping session, including vehicle identification, trip details, and geographic location.
  • Commercial Restrictions: The agreement prohibits Waymo from utilizing autonomous vehicles for commercial goods transport, a significant point for organizations like the Teamsters.

For further tips or insights, feel free to reach out via email to Kirsten Korosec or Sean O’Kane.

Latest Funding Deals in Transportation Technology

This week saw several exciting funding deals in the tech and transportation sectors:

  1. Coreshell: The battery materials startup raised $24 million in a Series A2 round led by Ferroglobe.
  2. Einride: The Swedish driverless truck company is reportedly considering an IPO that could value it at over $5 billion.
  3. Evera: This French EV subscription startup secured €2 million from various investors including Groupe Magellim.
  4. Leta: The African logistics provider raised $5 million in seed funding led by Speedinvest.
  5. Seadronix: This South Korean autonomous navigation firm raised $11.3 million in Series B funding.

Noteworthy Trends and Insights

Autonomous Vehicles

Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, recently discussed the company’s commitment to self-driving technology during his keynote at the GTC conference. The event also featured announcements about partnerships with companies like Gatik and GM.

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Electric Vehicles and Charging Solutions

  • BYD: Announced groundbreaking EV charging technology that could rival traditional gas refueling speeds.
  • Tesla: Despite ongoing issues with the Cybertruck, the company leads in EV sales and has issued a recall for approximately 46,000 units.
  • Charging Experience: According to a Consumer Reports survey, Tesla and Rivian provide the best EV-charging experiences.

The Future of Flight

Joby Aviation has partnered with Virgin Atlantic to introduce electric air taxis in the U.K., further expanding their reach in the air mobility sector.

In-Car Technology Developments

GM and Nvidia have expanded their collaboration to develop custom AI systems, aiming to enhance productivity in GM’s manufacturing processes and vehicles. For more detailed insights, check out TechCrunch.

Stay tuned for more updates in the world of transportation technology!

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