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This week’s series of stories highlight ongoing – and apparently growing – investigations. Tesla’s It is an automated driving system known as Full Self-Driving. The fatal crash of a Tesla in Texas that crashed into a home and killed a 76-year-old woman attracted national attention after the driver told police that Tesla’s standard driver assistance system, Autopilot, which has since been discontinued, was active at the time of the crash.
Ashok EluswamyTesla’s vice president of AI software, shared a different account of the crash, claiming that the driver in
In his opinion the vehicle was equipped with Supervision (FSD) rather than Autopilot, but without an independent investigation this cannot be certain. But it might happen in the end.
that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has now opened an investigation into the crash.
Meanwhile, Tesla has settled a lawsuit related to a 2023 fatal crash involving a vehicle using FSD (Supervision). The crash was part of an NHTSA investigation into the Tesla FSD, which focused on whether the system can “detect and appropriately respond to reduced roadway visibility conditions” such as “sunlight, fog or airborne dust.”
All this attention comes as Tesla positions itself as an AI and robotics company. FSD (Director) is currently the most visible and profitable product associated with its branding.
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A reader who previously shared tips with us pointed me to the following research report: Waymo and Ojai’s growing robotaxi fleet. To brighten things up, Waymo has signed supplier agreements with: ZickerChinese-owned brand Geely Holding GroupIt offers electric vehicles designed to operate as robotaxi.
The minivan-like robotaxi was designed in Sweden and manufactured in China. (The vehicle does not include a vehicle communications module; current U.S. policy prohibits Chinese connected vehicle technology.) Once in the U.S., Waymo will take over and add self-driving systems. Ojai is equipped with Waymo’s sixth generation system, which includes 13 cameras, four LiDAR sensors, six radar units, and an array of external audio receivers.
MoffettNathanson, a New York-based research firm, did some digging to find out just how serious Waymo’s Ojai program is. The company examined Bill of Lading documents, which are detailed receipts for shipped goods, submitted to the U.S. government. The company calculated the Zeekr vehicle label CM1e, or CME, which is the company’s label for Waymo-bound vehicles.
MoffettNathanson, who shared the report with TechCrunch, found that Waymo plans to import about 300 vehicles per month, on pace to import 3,156 vehicles into the U.S. this year.
Do you have any tips? Email Kirsten Korosec. kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com Or send my Signal to kkorosec.07 or email Sean O’Kane. sean.okane@techcrunch.com.
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Aseon Research InstituteA Silicon Valley startup developing mobile pods that can autonomously inspect, clean and charge robotaxis has raised $10 million in a seed round led by Crane Venture Partners. Other participants include Y Combinator, Uber co-founder Garrett Camp’s venture firm Expa, Robin Hood Ventures and Founders Capital.
jojo and May Mobilitya self-driving car technology startup, has formed a partnership to jointly explore the commercialization of robotaxi services in international markets, starting with Europe.
Ellroy Airlinesan autonomous heavy-lift drone startup, plans to go public through a merger with blank-check firm Columbus Circle Capital Corp II. The size of this transaction amounts to approximately $1 billion (approximately 1.1 trillion won).
partiallya company that builds AI tools for the auto repair supply chain, has raised $50 million in a Series B round led by DST Global Partners.
spiroan African electric vehicle and clean energy infrastructure platform, has closed a $55 million investment from Chinese growth-stage fund NewTrails Capital.
terawatt infrastructureWaymo and other companies that provide EV charging for vehicles, including self-driving and electric vehicles, have set up a five-year senior secured credit facility that will allow them to borrow up to $300 million from the bank. Proceeds will support the acquisition and development of charging stations, the company said.
Notable Reads and Other Useful Information
same company tesla and Zoox You can get vitality from US Department of TransportationIt proposed changes to federal vehicle regulations that would allow companies to not include brake pedals in “vehicles designed to drive solely with automated driving systems.”
Lucid Motors It laid off about 1,500 people, or 18% of its workforce, and shortened two shifts of EV production at its plant in Casa Grande, Arizona. Reminder: The layoffs come just four months after the EV maker cut its workforce by 12%. CEO Silvio Napoli said the cuts were part of an effort “to simplify the company, strengthen execution and ensure Lucid becomes more competitive over time.” What does Lucid give up in its quest for simplification?
lift CEO David Risher I posted a blog that caught my attention. In it, he presented the company’s multi-sensor safety standards for autonomous driving. Result: Autonomous vehicles using only one type of sensor will not be able to connect to the Lyft network. I contacted the company and they confirmed what this means. Vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab and Tesla Robotaxis that use Unsupervised (FSD) do not qualify because they only use cameras. However, this rule does not apply to advanced driver assistance systems. Therefore, any human driving a Tesla vehicle on the Lyft app will not be affected.
Open AI be hired Uber India President Prabhjeet Singh has been appointed as the first Managing Director.
directorThe Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer, owned by Chinese auto giant Geely, can no longer sell new vehicles in the U.S. market. Imported vehicles are restricted by U.S. government laws banning Chinese connected car technology.
SamsaraFleet management company is launching business card-sized adhesive tracking labels to tackle the problem of cargo theft.
slate auto‘s radically simple electric truck starts at $24,950. Would you pay $25,000 for a two-seat truck with 205 miles, manual windows, no infotainment system, and a gray composite finish (owners can order a custom wrap to fit the vehicle)? And climate technology reporter and in-house battery expert Tim De Chant explains why Slate switched batteries in its affordable EV trucks.
Uber The company is facing lawsuits from shareholders who accuse its board and management of prioritizing profits over compliance and safety due to decisions that have exposed the company and its shareholders to risk.
waymo This was first reported by German media outlet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Looking at the company’s registration documents, it is very clear that they are preparing to launch robotaxi services in the country. But that doesn’t mean it’s imminent, insiders say. Meanwhile, Waymo has removed its waiting list in Nashville in order to open its service to the public.
Zoox A facility in Hayward, California, has modified custom robotaxi in preparation for commercial service and large-scale production.
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