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I was interviewed in Los Angeles earlier this week Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana On stage at our StrictlyVC LA event. You can watch the entire interview here, which covers her thoughts on the Apple Car project, the company’s “community tour” in Los Angeles, whether Waymo has learned anything (or changed) after the Cruise debacle, and whether it’s committed to Stay in San Francisco, even as the destruction of its robotaxis continues.
The next morning (totally coincidental), California Public Utilities Commission Approved Waymo’s application to operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Peninsula and San Francisco freeways. The approval removes the final hurdle for Alphabet Inc. to charge for rides in these expanded areas. Importantly, it opens up new territory for Waymo in one of the largest U.S. cities and opens a route to San Francisco International Airport, just south of the city.
This week’s news also includes Ford Providing Tesla Superchargers to electric vehicle owners Securities and Exchange Commission TOLL Lordstown Motor Company misleading investors, toyota Actually pay people to buy a hydrogen fuel cell powered Mirai and more!
let’s go!
a little bird
Electric car upstart Fisker It’s been a lot to deal with lately – failing to hit my own sales goals, dealing with quality and customer service issues, and pivoting from a direct sales model to trying to sign up reseller partners.
Last week, the company announced it would lay off 15% of its workforce as part of a transformation and that it would need more cash to survive. Reuters reported on Friday that the company was in talks with Nissan to develop an electric pickup truck, a move that could save the startup.
A a few birds Tell us these talks have been going on for more than a year, and it’s not the only Japanese automaker talking to Fisker about a possible tie-up – Fisker has also been in talks with Mazda. But Nissan is the last company standing, and its continued interest comes at a critical time for the troubled startup.
Any tips for us?e-mail Kirsten Korosek Send an email to kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or Sean O’Kane Sean.okane@techcrunch.com. If you wish to remain anonymous, Click here to contact uswhich includes SecureDrop (Description here) and various encrypted messaging applications.
Trades of the week
pole star Now the Swedish electric car company, owned by China’s Geely Holding, has more breathing room with a $950 million loan from more than a dozen banks.
Why does this matter? The funds are critical to keeping Polestar’s electric car plans moving forward after Volvo decided to withdraw financial support for the electric car maker. The company had about $770 million in cash at the end of 2023, according to regulatory filings.
However, this funding will not solve all of Polestar’s financial woes. Even with the new capital infusion, the company said it would continue to cut costs and seek efficiencies, including job cuts. Polestar has cut 10% of its workforce since mid-2023 and said it plans to cut another 15% this year. The company previously disclosed 15% of its layoffs, which will affect about 450 people.
Other deals that caught my eye…
area energy, a startup developing electric trailers for commercial trucking, has raised $23.5 million in a round led by Trousdale Ventures, with participation from UP.Partners, R7 and Yamaha Motor Ventures. Range has raised $31.5 million to date.
Noteworthy Reads and Other Tidbits
self-driving cars
goodbye apple car; We never knew you. Yes, Apple has ended plans to build and sell self-driving electric cars. Don’t worry, we’ll definitely hear rumors of its return in a few months. ;D
reporter Sean O’Kane It is reported that Apple may lay off hundreds of employees from the team, and all work on the project has been stopped. According to Bloomberg, some will turn to Apple’s generative artificial intelligence project, which was the first to be canceled. Others will have 90 days to be reassigned to other positions within the company or be terminated. About 1,400 employees remain involved in the car project, according to an employee who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss his work. Side note: Here’s the timeline for the decade-long project.
General Motors is storing its customized Cruise Origin robotaxis in an abandoned Michigan factory.
dynamic TechCrunch has learned that the company told employees it would cut about 5% of its workforce (fewer than 70 people). The layoffs primarily affect administrative positions and some employees working in Boston, one of several cities testing self-driving cars. Another very important detail revealed by sources is that the company needs to secure more funding. That means Hyundai will either shoulder the full cost of the joint venture it once shared with Aptiv or find another partner.
Electric vehicles, batteries and charging
Millet It showcased its first electric car, SU7, at the Mobile World Congress.
in-car technology
Amazon Stop selling ring car cam.
This week’s wheel
Image Source: Alan J. Schaben/Getty Images
I didn’t drive this week; I took a ride in a self-driving car Waymo Robot taxi. I’ve taken countless Waymo robotaxis, but never one in Los Angeles. The trip provided an interesting test of how these robot axes handle unexpected blockades.
Shortly after entering Waymo, the vehicle encountered a minor collision between two human-driven cars while approaching a stop sign. Interestingly, another self-driving Waymo was right in front of me. A postal worker, who was also trapped, eventually backed into the turn lane and made a U-turn.
My self-driving car was parked in place, and I began to wonder if it was going to move. A message quickly appeared on the touch screen, informing me that “our team is working to get you moving.” After a moment, the vehicle backed up a few feet and made the same moves as the postal worker. This is most likely an event that occurs when distal guidance is provided. Traffic added about two minutes to my trip.
We’ll be releasing a video of the ride soon!
