Tesla’s High-Stakes Shareholder Vote & Kia’s AI EV Innovation
Tesla’s Board Fights for Musk’s Pay Package & Texas Move
Tesla’s board is pulling out all the stops to secure shareholder approval for two critical measures:
- Relocating corporate headquarters to Texas
- Reinstating Elon Musk’s $56 billion compensation package
Board chair Robyn Denholm told the Financial Times the company faces a “Mount Everest” challenge to win approval before the June 13 annual meeting. This comes after a Delaware court struck down the pay package in January, citing unfairness to shareholders.
Why the Urgency?
The board has released:
- Multiple appeals to shareholders
- Additional proxy materials
- Public statements emphasizing Texas’ “business-friendly” environment
Key question: Will shareholders approve these controversial measures during an election year with heightened scrutiny on executive compensation?
BluSmart’s Quiet Dubai Expansion
India’s electric ride-hailing service BluSmart has launched a stealth pilot in Dubai with:
- 100 Audi E-Tron SUVs
- 130 drivers
Co-founder Anmol Jaggi confirmed the official launch will occur in early June, marking the company’s first international expansion after months of speculation about Middle Eastern operations.
Electric Vehicle Industry Highlights
Major Funding & Partnerships
Harbinger Motors
- Secured $400M in binding preorders
- Added \(13M to Series A (total \)73M)
- Key customers: Bimbo Bakeries USA, Thor Industries
South 8 Technologies
- Porsche Ventures investment (undisclosed amount)
- Focus: Cold-weather EV battery performance
Overland AI & Potential
- $10M seed (Overland)
- $1.5M extension (Potential)
- Both specialize in off-road autonomous tech
Regulatory & Technology Developments
- Aurora Innovation unveiled autonomous trucks with Volvo, targeting summer highway tests
- UK enacted Automated Vehicles Act, paving way for driverless cars by 2026
- Kia revealed EV3 with ChatGPT-powered AI assistant
Notable EV Launches
- Chevrolet Equinox EV (319-mile range) now in dealerships
- Audi developing China-specific EV platform with SAIC
- McLaren entered electric hyperbike market with 4 limited models
Ride-Hailing Policy Shift
Uber & Lyft reached a landmark agreement with Minnesota that:
- Increases driver pay
- Enhances protections
- Limits future state regulation
The deal reflects growing pressure on gig economy companies to improve labor conditions while maintaining operational flexibility.
Coming Soon: Mobility Product Tests
Stay tuned for hands-on reviews of:
- 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Fiat 500e
- Multiple e-bikes
- Two surprise EV models
For mobility news tips, contact TechCrunch’s transportation team.
