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Before we move on to this week’s news, we have one more collection of transportation technology at CES 2025. As I noted last week, autonomous vehicle technology was everywhere. But there were other issues. Check it out here.
Now on to the latest and greatest future transportation technology news.
A little bird
No birdies this week, but I figured this was the best place to say goodbye Hindenburg Surveythe short-selling firm that investigated tips from whistleblowers and used its own research to root out fraud in publicly traded companies. Hindenburg Research founder Nate Anderson posted a note Wednesday when the company closes.
In the world of transport technology and climate, Hindenburg is famous for exposing Nikola Motors, Lordstown Motors and Adani Group billionaire Gautam Adani, who was indicted for an alleged scheme to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indians officials in exchange for contracts. in a 12 gigawatt solar power project.
Do you have a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or see these instructions to learn how to contact us through encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.
Offers!
Just a bunch of deals this week! Here’s what stood out.
Caramela startup that helps car sellers and buyers complete the final steps of the transaction, is being acquired by eBay. Terms were not disclosed.
EV launch Precursor raised $100 million in a Series B round led by early Tesla investor Capricorn Investment Group and Leitmotif, a new US fund co-founded by Volkswagen’s former M&A chief. Tiger Global and mobility venture firm Maniv, both of which were existing investors, also participated in the round.
Sarla Aviation raised $10 million in a fresh round of funding led by Accel and including angel investors like Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and Swiggy co-founder Sriharsha Majety.
Tesla was a winner and loser in the latest round of federal funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Department of Transportation snubbed Tesla in its $97 million application to fund a big-rig charging corridor from California to Texas. But Tesla, along with three other industry partners, ended up getting separate $100 million in funding to build electric truck charging stations across Illinois.
Shippeoa startup developing real-time tracking software across all modes of transportation has raised $30 million in a funding round led by Toyota’s growth fund Woven Capital. Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good and Yamaha Motor Ventures also participated.
Notable reads and other items
Autonomous vehicles
Aurora Innovation is taking federal safety regulators to court in a case centered on the rather common practice of placing physical warning triangles around semi-trucks stopped along highways. TL;DR: This could have far-reaching implications for self-driving truck companies operating in a regulatory environment designed for humans.
THE US Department of Commerce announced a final rule that would ban the sale or import of connected vehicles from China and Russia due to national security concerns. The rule would also bar Chinese car companies such as WeRide and Pony AI from testing self-driving cars on US roads.
THE National Road Safety Agency closed his investigation in Cruise and whether the company’s robotaxis showed appropriate caution around pedestrians. The agency noted that Cruise had recalled its software and that GM’s self-driving vehicle subsidiary had since ceased business.
Electric vehicles, charging and batteries
Arc Boats came to CES 2025 and senior reporter Sean O’Kane took the Arc Sport boat for a joy ride on Lake Mead. See what he thought of the startup’s newest offering.
Tesla has revealed a new-look Model Y destined for the Chinese and other Asia Pacific markets, marking the SUV’s first major update since its 2020 launch.
Sean DuffyPresident-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the US Department of Transportation believes electric vehicle owners should pay to use the roads. As a reporter Rebecca Belan he explains, achieving this goal is not so easy.
This week’s wheels
Just before the holidays, I had the opportunity to step inside a production prototype of it 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus. I plan to spend more time driving the production version soon, but for now here are a few thoughts on this all-electric minibus that was priced at $69,595.
I have been waiting for this electric minibus since 2017 when it was presented by Volkswagen as a concept. This redesigned minibus had a nearly impossible mission. It had to be instantly recognizable and give a nod to its iconic past while paving a new futuristic and electric way forward. And in many ways, identity. Buzz does this. It’s impressive. people stopped me all the time. It’s fun while being practical. And while it’s more expensive than other minivans on the market, it’s not completely outrageous.
The version I tested was four-wheel drive, with Metro Silver Metallic paint and a “bronze” interior with leatherette seats. There’s a ton of space – truly cavernous – and nice details throughout, giving it an elevated feel. It was easy to maneuver through tight city streets, despite its 195.4-inch length. Which yes, so much!
It met many of my expectations. But I wonder about his future. This vehicle would be great as a kid and grocery hauler around town. I could see it being used in commercial fleets and urban environments. But with a 91-kilowatt-hour battery that has around 234 miles of range, I wonder if it will live up to its past as a road trip machine?
Side note: In the last newsletter, I offered some insight into my Zoox robot taxi rides. Here is my full write-up Zoox experience in Las Vegas.
What are “This Week’s Wheels”? It’s an opportunity to learn about the different transportation products we’re testing, whether it’s an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike, or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle.
