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Another week , another batch of transportation news . And as always , fourth-year reporterSean O’Kaneis deep in theFiskerbeat .
Fisker has a little something to celebrate this workweek as it winds its way through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings . Despiteone major objector , a jurist has approved the sales event of more than 3,000 Fisker Ocean sport utility vehicle to a fomite leasing company , a raft that will nett the defunct EV startup a upper limit of $ 46.25 million . The proceeding still have a fashion to go and a few rest hurdles , which O’Kanelays out in detail in this story .
Of of course , there was so much more that chance this week . Let ’s get to it .
A little bird
baffle a tip for us ? Email Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com , Sean O’Kane atsean.okane@techcrunch.comor Rebecca Bellan atrebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com . Or check outthese instructionsto check how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop .
Deals!
This pile should be identify as the heavy unwinding .
I ’m talking aboutYandex NV — the Netherlands - based ship’s company that recently sell off its Russian business and has been renamedNebius Group . You might echo that Yandex NV , which owned the Russian search engine giant , issue forth under scrutiny and sanctions after the 2022 encroachment of Ukraine . The company reached an agreement earlier this yr to betray its Russian businessfor about $ 5.2 billionto a consortium of Russian vendee . The raft officiallywrapped upthis hebdomad .
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Why do we care about this over here at TechCrunch Mobility ? Nebius is using the proceeds of the sale to get four project , which includeAvride , an autonomous vehicle applied science company . Yandex has worked on sovereign force technology for years ; I even tested out their tech at cerium several age ago . And some of you may have receive its obstetrical delivery golem , which utilise the same underlying technology , on college campuses .
I spent some time talking to the folks at Avride , including Artem Fokin , who heads up business concern growing there . Keep an oculus out for my longer clause on this company . In the lag , I ’ll leave you with a few teasers .
Avride has picked Austin , Texas , for its home base , where the volume of its 270 employees will finally be located . The inauguration does have global operation , however , with offices in Tel Aviv , Belgrade and Seoul . Avride is currently try its engineering in Austin and Seoul .
Other deal that stick my attention …
Hayden AI Technologies , a startup that uses AI - power camera system to help city detect and impose parking and moving assault , raise $ 90 millionin a Series C round direct by The Rise Fund . Existing investors such as the Drawdown Fund and Autotech Ventures also participated .
Huture , a Taiwanese hydrogen push company , will go publicin the U.S. via a merger with blank - check firm Aquaron Acquisition Corp. The combined company would be valued at $ 1 billion .
Moving Tech , the Bengaluru - based parent house of Indian open source ride - portion out app Namma Yatri , raised $ 11 millionin a pre - Series A financial support round co - led by Blume Ventures and Antler . Google also participated in the round .
Northbound , a German inauguration that has developed package for world-wide shipping logistics , raised€1.3 million($1.42 million ) in a pre - seed round led by Apex Black . investor id4 ventures , IBB Ventures , Schenker Ventures and MVP Factory also participated .
Tekion Corp. , a California - base startup founded in 2016 that developed software for self-propelling retailers and manufacturers , raised $ 200 millionfrom Dragoneer Investment Group that push its valuation above $ 4 billion .
UP.Partners , the Santa Monica - ground VC firm that focuses on mobility startups , is aiming to prove $ 230 million for its second store , peran SEC filingandreporting by Axios .
Notable reads and other tidbits
Autonomous vehicles
Auroraco - founderSterling Andersonrecently sit down with George Gianarikas , the sustainable and sovereign driving psychoanalyst atCanaccord Genuity , for a treatment on dissimilar approach to driverless vehicle . It’sworth listeningto Anderson ’s thoughts on end - to - goal AI — the advance that Tesla purports to use — and whether it can be safely employ to self-directed vehicles .
TeslaCEOElon Muskhas reassert other account the company isdelaying its robotaxi reveal , explain it was because he bespeak an “ important aim change to the front . ” We ’re still need for more details , include exactlywhenthis robotaxi event will be sustain .
Remember thoseWaymorobotaxis that were vandalize ? A Castro Valley occupier was charge for allegedly thresh the tires of17 Waymo robotaxisin San Francisco . Exterior tv camera on the robotaxi catch the footage and helped constabulary identify the defendant .
In other Waymo news , Automotive News dug into how the Alphabet - owned companyuses AI to enhance ego - ride vehicle skills .
Electric vehicles, charging & batteries
TechCrunch contributorTim Stevensfound an interesting electron volt inauguration calledHelixxat theGoodwood Festival of Speed . arrest out this audience with Helixx co - laminitis and CEOSteve Peggto learn about the startup’s“factory - in - a - box ” strategyand its 3-D - print epitome delivery avant-garde . As Stevens bank note , Helixx ’s pitch is less about an adorably boxy little caravan designed to be just $ 6,000 and more about rebooting everything we know about build cars .
VanMoof , the vitamin E - bike startup that declared bankruptcy last year , is back with new owner anda pitchto the 5,000 customers who had pre - ordered atomic number 99 - bikes and were depart in the lurch . Can VanMoof woo them back ? elderly reporterRebecca Bellangives us the skinny .
Future of flight
Archer AviationandSouthwest Airlinesannounced a partnership that will focus on figuring out what it will take to establish out anetwork of electrical air taxisat California airdrome . As senior newsperson Rebecca Bellan discovered , Southwest ’s client data is at the centre of it .
This week’s wheels
I was n’t super impressed last year when I got into theNissan Ariya , largely because I had advance expectations and felt that the price point was too eminent . After all , Nissan brought us the Leaf ; the Ariya should have been a barb dunk that incorporated all of the lesson Nissan had learned from the Leaf and its client .
I of late spend more time in the all - electric SUV ; this metre it was the2024 Nissan Ariya Empower+ , a front - cycle - thrust trimness with two - tone Boulder Gray and Super Black paint that gets about 289 miles of kitchen stove and has a base price of $ 47,690 . ( The radical price does n’t admit finish fees or tax . ) Not much has changed between 2023 and 2024 model years . However , Nissan has lowered the price of the Nissan Ariya and its legion trim levels , which solves one of my primary complaints .
The Ariya Interior Department , including the fascia , has a modern and clean look that is a clean raise from its Leaf predecessor . It feels roomy in the front thanks to the flat floor and go center console . And the fanny are nice to take care at and , importantly , well-situated to sit down in .
I appreciate that the HVAC controls have their own freestanding area below the 12.3 - in touch screen . However , haptic feedback restraint were n’t as piquant as I would like ; oftentimes , I would end up hitting a push multiple prison term before getting the action I wanted . I ’m also not a huge fan of the train selector , but I did conform after a few sashay .
The Nissan Ariya Empower+ — the top clipping in front - wheel drive — comes with an 87 kWh battery and a single motor . The powertrain deliver 238 horsepower and 221 Sudanese pound - feet of torque . On the road , that translates to a vehicle that offers a small - key , comfortable and balanced ride . And that ’s hunky-dory for customers who are n’t looking for off - the - line punchiness and performance - like handling ( to be clear , the upper all - wheel - driving trims are flying ) .
Nissan did n’t make any far-famed changes to the package in the 2024 Ariya . I had hoped for more improvements on that front , include the ability to set the land of heraldic bearing via the central CRT screen . Right now , customers must turn to the My Nissan app to set the country of charge .
