Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility—your go-to source for the latest news and insights shaping the future of transportation. Sign up here for free and stay ahead of the curve with TechCrunch Mobility!
This week, we’re sharing a shorter edition of our newsletter due to the 4th of July holiday. Whether you’re driving, flying, or taking the train to celebrate, AAA estimates that over 72 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles or more. Stay safe out there! Don’t worry — the full newsletter will return next week.
**Big News: TechCrunch Mobility is Moving!**
In a few weeks, we’ll be transitioning to the Beehiiv publishing platform. This new platform offers exciting features like polls, which will help us connect better with you, our readers. Rest assured, our emails will still come from [email protected]—just make sure to add us to your contacts and move us to your primary inbox so you never miss an update. It’s all about making your experience more engaging and seamless.
**A Little Birdie Tells Us…**
Last week, a report from The New York Times revealed that Uber co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick is teaming up with investors to acquire the U.S. division of Chinese autonomous vehicle company Pony AI, with Uber potentially lending a hand. Rumors suggest that Eric Meyhofer, a key ally of Kalanick and a veteran of Uber’s autonomous vehicle division, is involved in the effort. Meyhofer’s background includes work at Carnegie Mellon’s National Robotics Engineering Center before joining Uber in 2015, eventually leading Uber’s self-driving unit before it was sold to Aurora. Interestingly, Meyhofer has also been linked to Kalanick’s CloudKitchens through a restaurant automation startup called Lab37.
Got tips or inside info? Reach out to Kirsten Korosec, Sean O’Kane, or Rebecca Bellan via email or secure messaging—your secrets are safe with us.
**Must-Read Highlights & Industry Buzz**
**Autonomous Vehicles**
A new term has entered the scene: *Minimum Viable Autonomy Theater* (MVAT). Coined during a recent Autonocast podcast episode, MVAT describes the practice where companies deploy just enough autonomous driving tech to create an illusion of progress. For example, Tesla’s recent “autonomous delivery”—a Model Y driving about 15 miles from the factory to its new owner’s apartment—was deemed an MVAT if it was merely a demonstration rather than a fully autonomous system.
This trend isn’t unique to Tesla; many automakers have posted flashy videos showcasing their tech. Back in 2015, such demonstrations were even more prevalent as autonomous vehicles gained rapid hype.
**Electric Vehicles, Batteries, & Charging**
As we close out Q2, it’s time for the latest sales and production figures. Some highlights include:
– The electric Hummer is nearly outselling the Ford F-150 Lightning.
– Lucid Motors is making progress, pushing ahead with its Gravity SUV production.
– Rivian has secured an additional $1 billion from Volkswagen amid ongoing sales challenges.
– Tesla reports its second consecutive year of declining sales following another tough quarter.
Meanwhile, legislative changes are impacting the EV industry. A recently passed reconciliation bill is rolling back many incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, including tax credits for new and used EVs, solar, wind, and clean hydrogen projects, as well as home charging equipment. This shift is already affecting companies like Slate Auto, which had planned to price its upcoming pickup truck below $20,000 after tax credits—but now, those plans are in flux.
In other EV news, startups like Pebble in California are beginning customer deliveries of their all-electric travel trailers. Grounded, a Detroit-based company founded by former SpaceX engineers, has delivered its first electric van, the G3, to a customer—marking another step forward in electrifying recreational and commercial vehicles.
**Security Alert**
Cybersecurity experts warn that the hacking group known as Scattered Spider is targeting airlines and transportation sectors. Notably, Australian airline giant Qantas disclosed a data breach affecting at least 6 million passengers’ personal information. As threats evolve, staying vigilant is more important than ever.
Thanks for reading this special edition of TechCrunch Mobility. Stay tuned for the full newsletter next week, and in the meantime, drive safe and stay curious!
