Robotaxis Take Center Stage Amid Regulatory Turmoil

The autonomous vehicle industry is at a crossroads, with the federal government and state officials pulling in different directions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been working to cut red tape and accelerate the development of autonomous vehicles. This week, the agency gave Zoox a temporary exemption from eight federal motor vehicle safety standards, allowing the company to charge customers for rides in its custom-built robotaxi. This was a crucial regulatory hurdle for Zoox, and the company plans to start charging for rides in Las Vegas soon.

However, not all robotaxi operators are faring as well. Waymo and others are facing increased scrutiny over how their autonomous vehicles interact with emergency responders. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has asked state regulators to bolster rules for autonomous vehicles, citing a recent incident where a Waymo robotaxi blocked key streets. Representative Kevin Mullin has proposed a bill to establish minimum national safety standards for autonomous vehicle operators.

The push-pull dynamic between federal and local regulations is creating uncertainty for the AV industry. Some companies are gaining traction, while others are facing increased scrutiny. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these regulatory forces play out.

Lucid Motors Secures Saudi Investment

Lucid Motors has landed a significant investment from Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family. The billionaire prince purchased over 19 million shares, or about 5%, of Lucid Motors. This investment is a boost for the company, which is working to establish itself as a major player in the electric vehicle market.

The Boring Company in Talks for $4 Billion Funding Round

Elon Musk's tunneling startup, The Boring Company, is in talks to raise a $4 billion funding round at a valuation of $20 billion. This would be a significant infusion of capital for the company, which is working to revolutionize urban transportation.

Terminal Raises $20 Million in Series A Round

Terminal, a Toronto-based startup that provides telematics data infrastructure for the commercial fleet industry, has raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Battery Ventures. This investment will help the company continue to grow and expand its offerings.

Alaska Airlines CEO Joins Lyft's Board

Alaska Airlines CEO and president, Ben Minicucci, has joined Lyft's board of directors. This appointment brings valuable experience and expertise to the ride-hailing company.

On-Demand Drone Delivery Takes Off

The on-demand drone delivery industry is gaining momentum, with several companies announcing new partnerships and services. Walmart and Alphabet's Wing drone delivery service is now available across Central Florida, and Flytrex has partnered with autonomic logistics platform Nash.

DoorDash to Build Drone Delivery Business

DoorDash has announced plans to build its own drone delivery business, including its own aircraft. This move marks a significant expansion into new territory for the company.

Ferrari Sales Hit Target for Electric Vehicle

Ferrari has hit its sales target for the Luce, its first all-electric vehicle, in just two months. Despite criticism for the car's design, it seems to be gaining traction in the market.

Florida to Use EV Infrastructure Funding for eVTOLs

Florida has been awarded $200 million under the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, but the money will not be used to build charging infrastructure for electric cars. Instead, it will be used to build landing pads with charging stations for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

London to Become Robotaxi Battleground

Baidu has started testing autonomous vehicles in London as part of its partnership with Lyft and Freenow. The companies plan to invite the public to hail their robotaxis in 2027. Meanwhile, Waymo and Uber are also preparing to launch robotaxi services in the city.

Rivian Spinoff Also to Deliver E-Bikes

Rivian spinoff Also will finally start delivering its first e-bikes to customers next week, after months of delays related to unspecified supply chain issues.

Tesla Considers Selling China Business

Tesla is considering selling off its China business ahead of a potential merger with SpaceX. This move would be a significant shift for the company.

Waymo Robotaxis Return to Freeways

Waymo robotaxis have started to return to freeways, more than two months after the company stopped driving these high-speed roads over concerns about how its autonomous vehicles behaved near construction zones.

GM and Ford's EV Ambitions Retreating

TechCrunch has analyzed the last seven years of GM and Ford's quarterly earnings calls and found that both companies are talking about EVs at a lower rate than they did before the pandemic. While they still sell EVs and have new models in their pipelines, their collective focus has shifted away from electric vehicles.