Mobility Techcrunch: Lyft buys its way to Europe, Kodiak Spacs, and how the new ADAS bases in China can affect Tesla

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It is enough with my typical little talk. Let’s jump into the news immediately this week. There are many of them, including LiftEntry to Europe, start starting AV Noro Going to Japan, the first campaign of Clearly attractive SUVA few International Automobile Show in New York The most prominent, and spac.

Yes, a plumber returned. Or did this financial instrument really fade?

Let’s go.

birdie

A small bird told us that some people hope to progress in many obstacles that Evtols need to jump before there are “quick ways in the sky”. This includes working with real estate owners in rural areas to create a shipping infrastructure. The stadium? Adding that the infrastructure has the ability to increase the value of your property in the future.

We are digging in this to learn more!

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Deals!

I was expecting a few subscription subscriptions in 2025 of the previous year, but Spacs? Say it not. However, we are here with New merger Between starting independent vehicle technology Kodiak Robotics And the acquisition company for special purposes is the same.

Kodiak treatment, which raised about $ 243 million so far, is estimated at about $ 2.5 billion before money. The new and current institutional investors in Kodiak, such as Soros Fund Management, Ark Investments, and ARES, funded or committed more than $ 110 million in financing to support the transaction, as well as about $ 551 million in confidence -held money.

I have spoken to Kodiak founder and CEO Don Burnett The clear question was asked: spac? now? Why?

Burnett told me: “Kodiak, now that we have launched a driver, we have our cars on the road, and we have revenue without a upcoming driver.” “We now believe that it is time for growth. We want to take advantage of the back wind that we see in the market.”

The back wind? I asked him to explain, and Burnette means the back wind in the autonomous sector instead of the wider economic markets.

“It is clear that we see short-term fluctuations-this is low,” he said. “But we are really thinking about this as a long -term thesis to convert transport markets, using artificial intelligence, using technology, and through automation. It is something I always believed in.”

Other deals caught my attention …

ConiferousAn emerging company that develops an engines of an electric axis free of rare ground elements, raised a A seed tour of $ 20 million From investors, including Ventures True, Mac Ventures, MFV Partners and others. Rohit Sharma joined Ventures True Ventures to the Conifer Council.

CavakAuto trader on the Internet headquarters, Mexico, Rapid 127 million dollars In a shares tour, its evaluation was reduced to $ 2.2 billion from 6.5 billion dollars. The tour was submitted by SoftBank Group Corp and General Atlantic. The company also received $ 400 million from the new debt.

Lift He agreed to acquire Freenow, which is a multi-scale German app with a ride in its heart, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility for about 197 million dollars in cash. The European market acquisition opens to Lyft for the first time.

New BeletA british ev charging, Rapid of 30 million dollars In financing, led by the capital of intelligence and the line of view. Strategic partners, including Scania Invest and Takasago Industry, also participated.

Promise readings and other tales

Adas

China How to announce the auto manufacturers of the driver’s assistance features, Prohibition Like “independent leadership”, “self -driving”, and “smart driving”. If you think immediately Timing And the “Full Self -Leadership” program, it should be noted that the auto company has changed the brand. But Tesla and others will be affected by the rules related to ADAS program updates, which require government testing and approval.

Independent vehicles

Noro The maps fee and data collection will start In Japan Using independent compounds (updated Prius cars) from their American fleet.

And emo and Uber They are preparing to launch the Robotaxi joint service in Atlanta this summer. Uber I opened the “interest list” This week for customers in Atlanta. The two companies launched the “Waymo on Uber” service in Austin in March. Data from the YIPITDATA Market Analysis Company, consisting of Waymo Robotaxis About 20 % of the horse riding Uber presented it in Austin in the last week of March.

Zoo He has Participated in Stingray MusicWhich will provide a selection of 16 stations across the touch screen inside the robotics. Another sign on Zoox is preparing to start commercially.

Electric cars, shipping and batteries

Lime will Send the batteries It is used in motorcycles and electronic bicycles for Redwood materials, which will extract and recycle critical metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper.

Kia First 2026 EV4 sedan At the New York International Motor Show. This is the first global electric sedan for the company and the other designed for customers looking for EV at reasonable prices. Will the Americans buy it?

Techcrunch shareholder Abeel Basit A day spent driving all new electricity Clearly attractive SUV. Read the full review and discover why I wrote that gravity “Excessive engineering at its best.”

Rural Firstly Valermous The customer is Hellofresh.

Subaru The second EV, the Car -like SUV, unveiled He called TrailSeker This, like his Solterra predecessor, includes a little manual work.

The future of the trip

Artcher Aviation He unveiled his proposal New York City Air City Network In partnership with United Airlines, which would allow travelers to ride on Archer to traditional airline tickets.

horseback riding

India’s market organizer launched an investigation Genesol engineering After finding the alleged Poor use of electric vehicle loans. BlusmartA start -up company has been operated on the ride ride associated with Gensol, which was once seen as an emerging Uber competition in the South Asian market, also in the investigation. And now it seems that Blusmart has Hanging services In some Indian cities.

protection

Hirtz Customers were notified by Back to the data This included their personal information and driver licenses. Herz of breach to a seller and a programmaker CleoThat is, last year it was In a large campaign center By the Ranomwari gang Russia is prolific.