The Future of Mobility: Key Developments in EV and Autonomous Tech
Tariff Turbulence Shakes the Auto Industry
The U.S. transportation sector faces ongoing uncertainty as tariff policies continue to evolve. While a 90-day pause on “reciprocal” tariffs offers temporary relief, a 10% base tariff remains, with China-facing tariffs skyrocketing to approximately 145%.
Key impacts:
- Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives reduced price targets for Apple and Tesla due to tariff exposure
- EV manufacturers using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries face particular vulnerability
- The full effects won’t be clear for months as companies decide whether to absorb costs or pass them to consumers
Exclusive: Inside Jeff Bezos’ Secretive EV Startup
Image Credits: Bryce Durbin
After a year-long investigation, TechCrunch can reveal exclusive details about Slate Auto, a stealth-mode electric vehicle startup with some surprising backers:
- Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder)
- Mark Walter (LA Dodgers owner, Guggenheim Partners CEO)
- Thomas Tull (Re:Build Manufacturing lead investor)
What we know:
- The company is developing an electric pickup truck (recently spotted in prototype form)
- Slate Auto has an unconventional business model combining manufacturing and technology
- The startup represents a growing trend of high-profile investors entering the EV space
Lucid Motors Makes Strategic Acquisition
In an unexpected move, Lucid Motors has acquired key assets from bankrupt EV maker Nikola for approximately $30 million in cash and non-cash considerations. The deal includes:
- Nikola’s Arizona factory
- Phoenix headquarters lease
- Select machinery and inventory
Context: This acquisition comes despite interest from Nikola’s controversial founder Trevor Milton, who recently received a presidential pardon following his securities fraud conviction.
Funding Roundup: Mobility Startups Secure Major Investments
Image Credits: Bryce Durbin
Notable Recent Deals:
Ayan Capital (£25M/$32.6M)
- Halal vehicle financing platform
- Sharia-compliant funding from Partners for Growth
Nowos (€6M + €3M debt)
- European lithium-ion battery repair startup
- Led by Shift4Good with Dutch investor participation
Nuro ($106M Series E)
- Autonomous delivery vehicle company
- Valuation now \(6B (down from \)8.6B in 2021)
Parallel Systems ($38M Series B)
- Autonomous electric freight rail developer
- Anthos Capital-led round with multiple VC participants
Industry Updates: ADAS, AVs, and EV Market Shifts
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
- NHTSA’s autonomous vehicle safety team reportedly impacted by budget cuts
- Nissan partners with Wayve to enhance ADAS capabilities by 2027
Autonomous Vehicles
- Waymo may use robotaxi interior camera data for AI training
- Zoox begins testing retrofitted autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles
- Viral incident: Waymo robotaxi caused Chick-fil-A drive-thru gridlock
Electric Vehicle Market Trends
- Canoo CEO approved to purchase bankrupt company’s assets
- Tesla faces sales challenges as used inventory surges
- Polestar gains market share with strategic discounts and “Tesla conquest” bonuses
Industry Insight: The mobility sector continues to evolve rapidly, with tariff policies, technological advancements, and shifting consumer preferences reshaping the competitive landscape.
For tips or leads on mobility tech developments, contact TechCrunch’s transportation team via encrypted channels.
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