Rivian Robotaxi, Rivian Rivian, tests hands -free, and Travis Kalanick has AV Fomo

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I spent last week at SXSW, the annual technology festival, films, comedy and music in Austin. I recommend Passing through our live blog To catch all transportation, artificial intelligence, social media, creative economy – technology mainly – news that occurred during the conference.

I have seen Austin developing over the years with some good and bad results. Protected bicycle lanes were a positive development, which I appreciated as some motorbikes installed in lime and two bicycles of electronic cycles throughout the city. Austin has also become a center for an independent car activity with AVRIDE headquarters there, Zoox test on public roads, and the release of Robotaxi commercial service.

You are lucky enough to be identical to Waymo-Robotatin- All Parables Factors occur through the Uber application, so it is never a guarantee. I also had one game coordinated from the Waymo courtyard. As I wrote earlier this week, it is completely wild that Waymo and Uber are working together. That is why.

Oh, here I am Discover on the Daymo-Ubeer Robotaxi trip. Tip: Some updates for the user interface.

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Do you have advice to us? Email Kirsten Korosec in [email protected] Or a sign at Kkorosec.07, Sean Okan in [email protected]Or Rebecca Billan in [email protected]. Or achieve These instructions To learn how to contact us via encryptive correspondence applications or secretrop.

Deals!

Senior correspondents, Sean Okan, took a deep diving in a new adventure company called leitmotif Many deals have been quietly made over the past 16 months. The company, which funds about 20 startups, focuses on a wide range of carbon removal with a portfolio that includes EV companies, the plays of space and batteries, and four startups in nuclear fusion.

This is not the interesting part. Here is: All the money came in its box from the Volkswagen group. Check the full story On the reason the German car giant committed $ 300 million to the first Leitmotif fund.

Other deals caught my attention …

Car logistics servicesCurrent logistical platform, Rapid 12 million dollars In a series of financing A series, led by Wavecrest growth partners, with the participation of Carmax, Divel Devin Daly and Michael Quigley, and car warriors in the David Metter.

Dakus EnergyAn young company that works on battery materials, Rapid 6 million dollars On a seed tour led by Mooringside with the participation of individual investors unveiled his name.

TranquilityA platform based on artificial intelligence is used in the actual time and 20 billion miles of truck driving data to build and manage insurance policies for truck drivers, 80 million dollars collected In the C series of financing led by General Catalyst. LightSpeed ​​Venture Partners and Valor Equity Partners also participated. Nirvana investment is estimated at $ 830 million after money.

Northfolt It was submitted to bankruptcy In Sweden, the latest blow to Europe’s attempts to create a battery manufacturing can compete with the Chinese giants.

Promise readings and other tales

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Rural A Hand -free version From his driver assistance system for highway driving, which was discussed by the founder and CEO RJ Scaring on the stage in SXSW in Austin. It puts the new hands -free feature in competition with Ford and GM, which has similar hands -free systems that control guidance, acceleration and braking under certain circumstances and sites.

Independent vehicles

Embroidery Cooperation with AI Startup YAAK Lerubut expansion -A set of AI open models, data groups and tools to help build robots in the real world-with a training group to allow robots and cars to move in environments such as the city streets independently.

VC trucks General partner Riley Brennan He had an interesting column, Do not.

Travis CalnikFormer CEO of Opeber, the company’s decision believes Abandoning an independent leadership program It was a mistake. Remember: Uber Atg was burning through criticism when it was It was sold to Aurora in 2020.

And emo It continues to expand – this time in Silicon Valley. This expansion came with Hundreds of parking tickets.

Electric cars, shipping and batteries

the Mint 400 Eliminating RIV-RIVAN RI1T RI1T RI1T RIVINE and concept of Chevrolet Silvrafo Ev Zr2- To test.

Rad Energy It lost its CEO and I gained a new one Within a few days.

President Donald Trump He said he would classify violence against Tesla agents Local terrorism – Another sign of his deep support for Elon Musk. As a correspondent Sean Okan You note, that “Tesla’s acquisitions” have erupted all over the world in Tesla agents where people protest what they see as a hostile acquisition of the federal government by Musk (the CEO of Tesla, its largest shareholder) and its largest contribution)) Ministry of Governmental efficiency. Some protests have led to writing on the walls on the signs of Tesla, as the charging stations set fire to the Molotov cocktails that are thrown into one group of the agency.

Hurrications this week

I tried this week two Electronic bikes from Austin and Austin The Ministry of Defense bicycles. I will focus on the latest, grooveany It was launched earlier this week.

I spent 24 hours with grooveElectric step bike with a look and beach feeling. The groove was before, but the bicycles of the Ministry of Defense stopped it. It has now has been updated all the time, including the frame, battery, torque sensor, smart screen and engine.

The bike itself is sporty and polished with many of the studied details that make $ 1,999 price It looks like a theft. The design is thoughtful with easy -to -read and easy -to -operate controls and a completely folded bike locking the frame.

The groove is a bike of the fuel pedal and pedal, and found that it is easy to switch between different situations. It rarely relied on the suffocating alone because the help provided a lot of gravity. A tonnage capacity of 275 loads reaches a top speed of 28 miles per hour. The groove has 50 miles of range. However, there is a dual -cheerful option that emerges up to 100 miles.

One note, despite: Wow, this bike is huge. Although this is generally good, people should give themselves some time to adapt to their weight.

I have also tested Mod ConnectWhich allows users to get the Lumos Ultra-Smart helmet wirelessly to synchronize and control signals directly from the bike. The connected bike helmet made me feel more clear to drivers while I was traveling in the streets of the crowded city of Austin.

What are the “wheels this week”? It is an opportunity to learn about the various transport products that we test, whether it is an electric car, hybrid, cyclical, or even a trip in an independent car.