Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your go-to source for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free by clicking on TechCrunch Mobility!
With summer road trip season in full swing, the recent updates to Google Maps by Google have sparked excitement. Although the feature to pause navigation is still missing, TechCrunch senior reporter Sean O’Kane shares details on the latest announcements and his plea for the much-desired pause button.
Are you heading to Monterey Car Week this month? While I won’t be there, our TC contributors will be on the lookout for exciting tech, hybrids, and EVs. Contact Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com if you have something interesting to share!
Let’s dive in!
A little bird
An insider shared that Rad Power Bikes, the e-bike startup that has raised over $300 million, underwent its fifth round of layoffs since April 2021. Stay tuned as we uncover more details on this recent development.
Have a tip? Reach out to Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. You can also learn how to contact us through encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.
Deals!
In March, Applied Intuition co-founder Qasar Younis expressed his ambition for the company to be the go-to solution for software and AI challenges in the automotive and defense sectors. The startup has recently closed a $300 million secondary sale, following a successful $250 million Series E round only four months ago.
Backed by Fidelity Management & Research Company, Lux Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Mary Meeker’s growth fund Bond, Applied Intuition is poised to lead in AI innovation in 2024.
Other notable deals:
Rapido, an Indian bike-taxi startup, secured $120 million in a Series E funding round, becoming a unicorn. Meanwhile, Sennder announced the acquisition of European ground transportation assets from C.H. Robinson in an all-cash deal, further expanding its footprint in the logistics space.
Notable reads and other updates
ADAS
The Wall Street Journal analyzed Tesla’s Autopilot crash data to delve into safety concerns surrounding the technology.
Autonomous vehicles
Anthony Levandowski, the autonomous vehicle engineer and founder, discussed his startup Pronto and its focus on off-road AV technology. Additionally, Nuro received approval to expand its driverless testing in California.
Electric vehicles, charging & batteries
Privacy and security
Learn how to opt-out of facial recognition at airports and stay informed about recent rulings regarding electronic device searches at the U.S. border.
Ride-hailing and the gig economy
Catch up on Uber’s new concurrent rides feature in India, as well as the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing gig economy companies to classify workers as contractors in California.
This week’s wheels
Have a look at the 2024 Fiat 500e Inspired by Design, a charming electric vehicle with features like Apple CarPlay and adaptive cruise control. While it may lack power and range compared to larger EVs, this urban-friendly model offers a unique driving experience tailored for city environments.
Find out more about its performance and features, including drive modes like Normal, Range, and Sherpa. With its compact size and tech-savvy updates, the Fiat 500e proves to be a stylish and practical choice for urban commuters.
Explore the latest in transportation with “This week’s wheels,” where we share insights on various products we’re testing, from electric vehicles to autonomous technology.
