Two startups that have surfaced recently are Zeekr, a young yet well-financed EV brand under Chinese auto giant Geely, and WeRide, an autonomous driving startup that’s raised over $1 billion in funding. Real quick before we get to the other deals . . .Ĭhinese startups are beginning to get the OK to sell shares abroad - but they have to adhere to China’s strict new set of rules. And while XPeng has mainly focused on ADAS, the automaker has been making moves to test its G9 SUV as a commercial autonomous vehicle. In April, Didi said it was working with Chinese carmakers to deploy self-developed robotaxis to the public by 2025. The deal might also help XPeng, a Tesla competitor, expand its market reach, particularly if Didi features Mona vehicles as a preferred option for riders.Ī partnership between the two companies could boost both XPeng’s autonomous driving technology and Didi’s robotaxi pursuits. The firm has been slowly climbing out from under a dark cloud following a series of regulatory crackdowns from the Chinese government, so selling off a money-hemorrhaging EV business was a good way for Didi to focus back on ride-hailing. The deal marks Didi’s surrender of its carmaking dream. There are several reasons why this piqued my interest. The Didi assets will become a new sub-brand called “Mona” under XPeng and is scheduled to launch in 2024. Deal of the weekĬhinese EV startup XPeng will acquire the smart EV assets of ride-hailing giant Didi for $744 million. But so far, BackPedal boasts a 90% success rate and is working on improving that rate as it grows across the U.K. The business model is a monthly subscription service, starting at £8.99 per month, that also includes insurance in the event that the startup can’t reclaim the bike. Using a network of on-the-ground recovery agents, good relationships with police, and GPS tracking, the company will go and get your stolen e-bike for you. But most people aren’t going to track down their bike and confront a potentially dangerous thief, and the police probably have more important things on their plates.Įnter BackPedal, a UK-based startup that’s building a business model around e-bike recovery. If you’re into e-bikes, you’ve probably noticed that the new ones are being built with GPS tracking enabled, ostensibly so you can find your bike if someone steals it. Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at or Rebecca at that you can drop us a note at If you prefer to remain anonymous, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop ( instructions here ) and various encrypted messaging apps. Kyle Vogt, CEO and co-founder of Cruise, will be joining us September 20 on the Disrupt Stage in a session called “ The Robotaxi Revolution.” Meanwhile, in Tesla’s battery department, federal prosecutors are investigating Tesla’s performance claims after Reuters reported that the EV maker exaggerated the potential driving distance of its vehicles.Īnd finally, the Elon Musk–owned automaker is reportedly under the microscope from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for using company funds to - *checks notes* - build a giant glass house for Musk near Tesla’s Austin HQ.īefore we jump into the news, a little update about TechCrunch Disrupt. The NHTSA said this could “lead to greater driver inattention and failure of the driver to properly supervise Autopilot.” This time, it’s about a software change that allows drivers to use the system for extended periods of time without prompting the driver to place their hands on the wheel. As part of an ongoing investigation into the ADAS after a series of Teslas crashed into emergency vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requesting more info from the automaker. It’s been another week of probes into Tesla that appear to be coming from all sides:įirst, let’s start with Autopilot, Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). Kirsten is away, so I’ll be your host this week. Welcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B.
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