Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility – the same weekly newsletter you’ve been reading, but with a new name and a few changes.
Don’t worry, this is still your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. This week, read about Amazon, EV startup Fisker, electric boats, a bunch of new funding deals and my time driving the all-new Kia EV9.
Let’s go!
A little bird
A little bird pointed us to a new website with some electric trucks that sure do look familiar. Remember Lordstown Motors, the EV startup that went public via a SPAC and has since filed for bankruptcy protection? Steve Burns, who founded and was then ousted from Lordstown Motors, is back with a new EV startup called LandX Motors.
The new website prominently displays the same electric Endurance pickup truck he once promised would beat Tesla, Ford and General Motors to market. A person familiar with the company’s plans told TechCrunch that it’s not so much about the Endurance truck, but the underlying platform, software, and engineering behind it. Still, with the former Lordstown trucks playing a starring role on the company’s website and video, it’s unclear just how developed this plan is.
Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or sean.okane@techcrunch.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, click here, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps.
Deal of the week
Supply chain logistics startup Flexport had a rather tumultuous 2023 that included founder Ryan Petersen ousting his hand-picked successor and taking back the CEO spot and then acquiring the assets of shuttered digital freight network Convoy. The startup is kicking off 2024 by shoring up its business with a $260 million “uncapped convertible note” from Shopify, a deal that was announced by Petersen in a series of posts on social media site X. As a reminder, Shopify and Flexport are already attached. Flexport acquired in 2023 Shopify’s logistics arm, giving Shopify 13% equity stake in Flexport and a seat on the board.
Other deals that got my attention …
Image Credits: Kirsten Korosec
