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Welcome back toTechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of Department of Transportation . Sign up here for gratis — just clickTechCrunch Mobility !
Before we jump into the transportation news of the calendar week , it ’s worth pointing you to a couple of articles that are focused onElon Musk , the chief executive officer and largest shareowner of Tesla and the founder of several other company , including SpaceX and Neuralink .
You might return an investigation the team here at TechCrunch published in February on thepeople in Elon Musk ’s DOGE universe . The article , which continues to be updated , focused on those lick for theDepartment of Government Efficiency , an entity ground via President Trump ’s executive order . A new report , by another team here at TechCrunch , rivet on thefounders and VCs working with DOGE . Check it out !
Speaking of Musk , his near allyTrumphas placed 25 % tariff on all cars imported to the United States , include those from Mexico and Canada . He ’s also placed a 25 % tariff on sure parts used to build cars . As newsman Sean O’Kane notes , it ’s a decision that will likely supercharge the toll of new and used automobile , but it’salso a gift to Tesla , the company run by Musk , his biggest financial supporter in the presidential election .
And finally , in other am - I - in - a - computer simulation news , Trevor Milton , the founder of belly-up hydrogen trucking inauguration Nikola who was convicted of fraud , hasbeen pardon by Trump , the White House confirmed to TechCrunch . Tidbit : We waited for hours and time of day before the White House would substantiate .
OK , forward with the rest of the tidings of the hebdomad .
A little bird
A little fowl recently told us thatLucidis eyeball partnerships as a way to attain mellow levels of autonomy , peculiarly with the raw Gravity SUV . Could we see a partnership with Mobileye or some other improbable automatise driving technology supplier ?
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Got a gratuity for us ? Email Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.comor my Signal at kkorosec.07 , Sean O’Kane atsean.okane@techcrunch.com , or Rebecca Bellan atrebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com . Or check outthese instructionsto learn how to contact us via encrypted message apps or SecureDrop .
Deals!
Welp , here is a trade that is not transportation related , but very much deserves some attention .
TechCrunchwasacquired by private investing house Regent . No fiscal full term were disclosed , but our soon - to - be previous owner Yahoo Holdings is maintaining a small percentage of ownership . The acquisition , which has yet to close , comes just a few day after Regent bought Foundry , the publisher home to technical school publications like PCWorld , Macworld , InfoWorld , and CIO .
Other flock that got my attention …
BetterFleet , the Michigan - based party that evolve EV charging fleet management software , raised $ 15 millionin a Series A financial backing unit of ammunition lead by Aligned Climate Capital , Ecosystem Integrity Fund ( EIF ) , and Remarkable Ventures Climate ( RVC ) .
The Bot Company , the robotics startup founded by former Cruise Colorado - founder and CEOKyle Vogt , has fire $ 150 million in a rhythm pass by Greenoaks , Reutersreported , quote unnamed sources .
DeCharge , an EV charging base inauguration , raised $ 2.5 millionin a round led by Lemniscap . Other investors include Colosseum , Daedalus Angels , EV3 Labs , Echo Fundraiser Chainyoda Jedis , and Levitate Labs .
Fleetio , a fomite fleet software management ship’s company , stir $ 450 millionin a round of drinks co - led by Elephant VC and Goldman Sachs Alternatives . The funds will be used to finance the leverage of criminal maintenance - authorization platform Auto Integrate .
Manna , the Dublin - based monotone delivery party , recruit $ 30 millionin a round led by Tapestry VC and Molten Ventures . Coca - Cola and Dynama Venture also participated .
Notable reads and other tidbits
Autonomous vehicles
Waymowill begin offering robotaxi ridesin Washington , D.C. , via the Waymo One app in 2026 . There is an of import catch : Before Waymo can plunge commercially , the company will have to up its lobbying plot in the capital , where autonomous vehicle permit still require a homo behind the roulette wheel , according to newsperson Rebecca Bellan .
Electric vehicles, charging, & batteries
BYD ’s breakthrough electron volt - burden announcement last hebdomad prompted newsperson Tim De Chant tofind out more .
Cadillacdebuted another EV : the Optiq SUV . Contributor Emme Hall got a chance todrive the Optiq and the new Escalade IQ .
revelry , the Brooklyn - base electric vehicle bill base inauguration , launched its firstfast - charging stationin San Francisco .
Rivianoperated a skunkworks program for years focused on electric micromobility , founder and CEORJ Scaringetold TechCrunch . Now , Rivian isspinning out the startup — known as Also — with $ 105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures . Rivian has a minority post in Also and Scaringe will serve on its board . Chris Yu , Rivian ’s VP of succeeding programs , will be its chairperson .
In-car tech
Waze hasremoved Google Assistantfrom Io due to ongoing payoff . The fellowship plans to introduce an “ enhance voice interaction result ” sometime in the near future as a substitute .
