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The tardy news cycle is a good monitor that even a grizzled honest-to-god newsman who thinks she has check it all can still be surprised — and nothing last perpetually . scheme ? Read on .
A little bird
Welp , it sure is contract spicy over atTuSimple , accord to several little birdie .
The company disclosed last month a unexampled line section focused on — waitress for it — AI - generated animation and television gambling . That action , our little bird web separate us , has prompted backlash among some shareowner . Now it seems afight is brewing over or so $ 450 million in investment firm , the mass of which remains in the United States . And argument over the party ’s delegacy Trygve Halvden Lie at the center of it .
TechCrunch reporters Rebecca Bellan and Rita Liao chased down the story , and there are quite a few interesting details . For instance , TuSimple was beefing up its self-reliant vehicle workforce in China tardily last year but then changed course in early 2024 . hundred were laid off , although when asked , CEO Cheng Lu told Rebecca that these folks ( about 500 ) resigned en masse .
Where does TuSimple go from here ? There have been threats of lawsuits , although nothing young just yet . While the threats tower in the scope , TuSimple is moving forward with development of an animated feature moving picture and video game based on the skill - fiction serial “ The Three - Body Problem . ”
This belt - a - doodle pivot had me thinking : Sheesh , possibly I ’ve been covering this diligence but too foresighted .
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get a pourboire for us ? Email Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com , Sean O’Kane atsean.okane@techcrunch.comor Rebecca Bellan atrebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com . Or tally outthese instructionsto learn how to touch us via encrypted message apps or SecureDrop .
Deals!
pot flow in the transportation industry is a number light this week . Here are some highlights .
Alaska Airlinescompleted its$1.9 billion learning of Hawaiian Airlines . The acquisition is yet another example of consolidation in the airline industry .
AIfleet , a hauling technical school inauguration , raised $ 16.6 million in a Series B funding roundled by Tom Williams at Heron Rock . Notably , Volvo Group VC take part , along with Obvious Ventures , Ibex Investors , Compound , Winthrop Square , and Cooley . The company has raised $ 50 million to date .
Clean Electric , an Indian battery technical school startup , raise $ 6 millionin a financial backing unit of ammunition co - led by Info Edge Ventures , Pi Ventures , and Kalaari Capital . Lok Capital and other investors also participated .
SiLCreceived anundisclosed investmentfrom Honda to acquire next - contemporaries FMCW lidar solutions for all types of mobility .
ZeroAvia , a startup develop H - electric ( fuel cell - powered ) engines for planing machine , extended its Series C funding bout to atotal of $ 150 million , with an investing from Scottish National Investment Bank . The round was co - leave by Airbus , Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital , and NEOM Investment Fund , with UK Infrastructure Bank get together as a cornerstone - point investor . Breakthrough Energy Ventures , Horizons Ventures , Ecosystem Integrity Fund , Summa Equity , Alaska Airlines , Amazon ’s Climate Pledge Fund , and AP Ventures also participate .
Oxa , a Google - backed startup break software for autonomous vehicle , acquired industrial logistics company StreetDronefor an undisclosed sum .
Notable reads and other tidbits
Motionalpresident and CEOKarl Iagnemma — an former trailblazer in the Ab industriousness — has stepped down from the top leaders pip . CTO Laura Major is now interim CEO . Whether Major keep open that place is unsung . My inside sources hint this is very much an evolving situation . Stay tune up .
WaymoandUberexpanded their relationship in a deal that is big than some common people might realize . Uber user in Austin and Atlanta will be able tohail Waymo robotaxisthrough the app in other 2025 as part of an expanded partnership between the two companies . Why so notable ? For one , Uber , not Waymo , will be the operator .
Faraday Futureis doling outbig raise and bonusesto its CEO and its father . Remember that this company is scarce hang on and has delivered just 13 machine in its 10 - twelvemonth history .
Fisker , the bankrupt EV inauguration , isreversing coursejust a few days after telling possessor they would have to pay task costs for recall repair .
GM ’s electric fomite customers can nowofficially accessTesla ’s Superchargers , more than a year after the automaker first declare that it would take up its rival’scharging touchstone . But what about all the other non - Tesla eV out there ? Stay tuned for a list that we ’ll be hold back updated .
GogoroCEO Horace Lukeresignedas an investigation into subsidy fraud continues at the Chinese electrical scooter manufacturer and barrage fire - swapping society .
U.K. startupApian , Alphabet ’s drone companyWing , and the U.K. ’s National Health Service havelaunched a pilot programthat will use drones to fly urgent blood sample distribution between two hospitals in London .
United ’s main client officer , Linda Jojo , explain to TechCrunch why theairline picked SpaceX ’s Starlinkto mogul its free Wi - Fi .
call back that apparent cyberattack at thePort of Seattle , which also operates the Seattle - Tacoma International Airport ? We now haveofficial confirmationthat it was targeted by a ransomware onset .
This week’s wheels
This calendar week ’s wheel will return next calendar week with perceptiveness into theGMC Sierra EV . next vehicles admit theMazda CX-90 PHEVand e - bikes .
What is “ This hebdomad ’s wheels ” ? It ’s a fortune to get wind about the different transportation product we ’re testing , whether it ’s an electric or hybrid car , an e - bike , or even a ride in an autonomous fomite .
