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I did n’t meetJean Jenningsuntil long after she had cemented her status as an automotive news media icon . By then , Jennings ( formerly Lindamood ) had been editor program of Car and Driver and had helped constitute Automobile Magazine — where she would finally become editor - in - chief — and launched a website called Jean Knows Cars . Jennings died December 16at historic period 70 after live with Alzheimer ’s disease .
To say she was well roll in the hay in the manufacture is an understatement . To give you an mind of her encroachment , Ford CEO Jim Farley and Chairman Bill Fordissued an official statementon her decease , and Stellantis clothes designer Ralph Gilles and many , many others in the manufacture have posted their own memorials to Jean on societal culture medium .
And for good grounds . Jennings lived and emit railroad car , first as a shop mechanic and later as a journalist and editor . Her articles and traveling are part of automotive lore . I was just dipping my toe into the automotive jam pool when she was emerge from it , but I still knewofJennings . It was n’t just her writing , which was witty and delicious . It was the whole energetic parcel , which sometimes made her a central character reference in other article , like Brock Yates’1983 Baja Mexico Sedan Torture Testarticle in C&D.
Of naturally , once you meet her ( which I was lucky enough to do ) , there was no forget her . Jean , hat ’s off to you .
And before we derail into the rest of the news , turn back out TechCrunch’s51 most troubled startups of 2024to learn about some interesting technical school and companies outdoors of transit .
To get TechCrunch Mobility in your inbox every Thursday , sign up here for devoid — just clickTechCrunch Mobility !
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Got a tip for us ? Email Kirsten Korosec atkirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com , Sean O’Kane atsean.okane@techcrunch.com , or Rebecca Bellan atrebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com . Or check outthese instructionsto learn how to get hold of us via encrypted message apps or SecureDrop .
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Deals!
TheBiden administrationis belt along to O.K. a number of initiatives before President - elect Donald Trump take over , including clean-living vigor loans . late Department of Energy ( DOE ) loanword recipients let in StarPlus Energy ( a shelling joint venture from Stellantis and Samsung ) andRivian .
This week , it was electric vehicle charging startup EVgo ’s twist .
The DOEapproved a $ 1.25 billion loanto EVgo to aid the inauguration install 7,500 public chargers at 1,100 level station across the U.S. over the next five years . The first deployments will let in 350kW DC tight - charge equipment that can shoot two car at once .
Other deals that got my tending …
Bikmo , a U.K. startup that provides insurance for bikes and cyclists , raise £ 4.75 million($5.9 million ) in a round chair by Puma Growth Partners .
HondaandNissanare reportedly in merger talk . If that were to total together , the fusion , which may also admit Mitsubishi , would forge the cosmos ’s third - largest auto maker . The machination around the potential mountain became even more interesting when Bloomberg reported that discourse accelerated after Foxconn , the Taiwan - based producer of iPhones , approached Nissan about acquiring a bet in the company .
Nanoramic , a Boston - based advanced stamp battery technology startup , raised $ 44 millionin a round Centennial State - led by General Motors Ventures and Catalus Capital , with involution from Samsung Venture Investment Corporation , Top Material , and existing investor , including Fortistar Capital and WindSail Capital Group .
Orqa , a Croatian developer of modern self-directed drone systems , raised 5.8 million euros($6 million ) in a seed round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners , with participation from Radius Capital , Decisive Point , and existing investor Day One cap .
Slip Roboticsraised $ 28 millionin a Series B funding cycle led by DCVC and saw engagement from existing investor Eve Atlas , Tech Square Ventures , Hyde Park Venture Partners , Overline , and Pathbreaker Ventures . James Hardiman of DCVC has joined the board .
Vaeridion , a German airmanship startup developing an electric aircraft for short - haul commercial flights , raised a € 14 million Series A backing troll lead by World Fund , with participation from Project A Ventures , Vsquared Ventures , Andreas Kupke , Schwarz Holding , and InnovationQuarter .
Zingbus , the Amerind intercity bus service , raised $ 9 millionfrom BP Ventures in a Series A funding around .
Notable reads and other tidbits
Waymocontinues to step into the blank space where its old rivals were planning to set up shop . The latest exemplar : Waymo is bringing itsrobotaxis to Tokyoin 2025 with partners taxi - hailing app GO and cab caller Nihon Kotsu as part of its Japanese “ road misstep . ” History lesson : Cruise was planning on operating in Japan in 2026 through a partnership with Honda .
Waymo may be dominating , but its robotaxis still have challenges . One recentlygot caught in a roundabout .
Reutersgot its hand on a document from the Trump changeover squad that bear witness deep interest in end a federal formula thatrequires automakers to report crasheswhen advanced gadget driver - assistance or autonomous driving technology is engaged . Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long opposed the federal crash - reporting convention . The timing of this is illustrious . If successful , Union safety agency would lose the power to inquire and modulate the prophylactic of vehicles with automated - driving system just as more mechanisation comes to public roadstead .
Drama atTuSimplecontinues . This time , carbon monoxide gas - founder and former CEOXiaodi Houis pushing shareholder tochange the boardand replace it with new fellow member who would back up do in the society .
Zooxhas hiredZheng Gaoas manager of hardware technology . Zheng was most recently at Tesla , where he spent eight age and was head teacher of Tesla ’s Autopilot hardware engineering squad . Prior to Tesla , Zheng was at Apple for nine years .
Canooishurting for cash . The EV startup has idle its manufactory and furloughed workers as it seeks exigency support .
TheEnvironmental Protection Agency(still under the Biden organization ) will allow California toban most salesof new gas- and diesel - powered car and light trucks starting in 2035 . Keep in nous , though , that this is sealed to be vacate by the incoming Trump administration .
Ramdelayed its electric truckto 2026 and will instead put the range - extended truck known as the Ramcharger in the front of the queue . Lagging EV requirement is behind the decision .
Teslais get backfree Superchargingto customer who buy a novel Model S. But this is likely a bit of a shell biz , as Tesla also increased the monetary value of the Model S by $ 5,000 .
Rivianreleased a novel software update to its vehicles that bring some long - awaited apps to its in - fomite experience , includingYouTube , Google Cast , and SiriusXM(with a subscription ) .
Kakao Mobility , the ride - hail unit of Korean tech business firm Kakao , wasfined $ 10.5 million(KRW 15.1 billion ) for limiting rival ’ access to its taxi app .
Alphabet’sWingis amplify itspartnership with DoorDashto play drone speech to customers in the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex .
This week’s wheels
TechCrunch reporterRebecca Bellanspent clip in the2025 Lucid Air Pure — doubly ! You canread the whole review here . But for those who desire the gist , here it is .
The 2025 Lucid Air Pure is dreamy , aphrodisiac , and luxurious — and has some enough tech to reboot — even though it is the trashy passementerie in the EV maker ’s current lineup . As Bellan wrote , “ I felt fancy and discerning get around , but in an understated way — as if I were wearing interior decorator sweatpants . ” I guess that means the Lucid Air Pure is the equivalent of expensive athleisure .
Still , did that transform into value ? Bellan says yes , but only if Lucid continues to improve its computer software through over - the - air updates .
As someone who has driven the Lucid Air a few times , I was proud of to find out that some of my biggest complaints , like the fomite ping - ponging when the lane - centering feature is engaged , have been purpose .
What is “ This week ’s wheels ” ? It ’s a hazard to larn about the different transportation product we ’re testing , whether it ’s an electric or intercrossed car , an e - cycle or even a drive in an autonomous vehicle . Future vehicles include the next - genRivian R1Sand theVolkswagen ID Buzz . Stay tune up .
