Welcome again to The Station, your central hub for all previous, current and future technique of transferring folks and packages from Level A to Level B.
Your standard host Kirsten was shredding off-road on the Rebelle Rally this week, so I’ll be taking on the publication. Let’s soar in with a couple of phrases about Tesla.
Ah, however earlier than Rebecca does . . . it’s me, Kirsten, popping in right here to share a little bit of what I noticed and skilled at Rebelle Rally 2023, a 2,120-kilometer off-road and navigation competitors. In its eighth yr, the Rebelle has grow to be a proving floor of types for the 65 all-women groups who take part in addition to inventory producer autos. The catch? GPS and different digital gadgets are strictly prohibited.
So what am I testing at this seemingly non-tech occasion? EVs and tech, in fact. Oh, and inexperienced hydrogen, imagine it or not.
There have been 10 autos out of the 65 that fell into the electrified class such because the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. 4 of these autos — all of them Rivian R1T pickups — have been electrical. And this yr, one Rivian group took first place within the 4×4 class (there are two lessons within the Rebelle) — the primary time an all-electric car was on the highest podium. The primary place finishers, driver Lillian Macaruso and navigator Alexandra Anderson, are each workers of Rivian.
OK, Rebecca, again to you.
Tesla reported its third-quarter earnings this week, and as soon as once more, all eyes have been on the automaker’s margins amid ongoing worth cuts.
Tesla’s shares, that are priced extra as a tech inventory than as an automaker’s inventory, have been down after Q3 earnings. Buyers have been clearly feeling skittish after Tesla reported a gross margin of 17.9%, down from 25.1% in the identical interval final yr. That’s additionally down from Q2’s margins of 18.2%. In consequence, income fell 44% to $1.85 billion in Q3 from the identical year-ago interval.
Buyers see the falling margins and Tesla’s worth cuts as proof that demand is lessening for the autos as different EVs take market share and rising rates of interest make it troublesome for a lot of consumers to afford large ticket purchases. The corporate additionally reported that photo voltaic deployments slipped 48% in Q3 from the identical interval final yr. However the firm made up for it by pulling in a 90% spike in power storage deployments.
Tesla additionally gave some updates about its long-delayed Cybertruck. Preliminary deliveries are set for an occasion at Giga Texas on November 30. Elon Musk famous that scaling the Cybertruck shall be laborious and it’ll take 18 months earlier than the pickup is worthwhile.
“I imply, we dug our personal grave with Cybertruck,” mentioned Musk.
The billionaire govt additionally mentioned Giga Texas will have the ability to produce about 250,000 Cybertrucks a yr beginning in 2025. However let’s keep in mind that Musk isn’t nice at making predictions. In any case, he initially mentioned the Cybertruck can be in the marketplace by 2021. Count on a few of these numbers to be pushed out, too.
Need to attain out with a tip, remark or grievance? E mail Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or Rebecca at rebecca.techcrunch@gmail.com.
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Micromobbin’
This week was the commerce present Micromobility America. Listed here are a number of the greatest bits that got here out of it:
Hen is now doing e-bikes once more? However as a substitute of the VanMoof knockoff of earlier years, Hen has partnered with TradeHubb, an e-bike provider, and Spring, a strategic retail progress firm, to launch the bike. You would possibly recall that Hen final yr ditched its retail bike providing to concentrate on shared rides in an try to succeed in profitability. The struggling firm was additionally just lately delisted from the inventory market. Who is aware of what’s happening behind the scenes? I attempted reaching out to study extra, however no response. If in case you have a tip, hit me up!
The group at Experience Evaluate launched the Rider’s Selection Awards once more, for individuals who need to vote. Winners shall be introduced January 25.
The parents behind Micromobility America additionally launched the Electrical Rider Alliance, a 501c6 membership group that’s set as much as “create a degree taking part in subject within the transportation business for the small electrical car ecosystem by requirements, lobbying and governance.”
In different information . . .
Bolt Mobility is introducing distance-based pricing for a few of its micromobility autos. The purpose right here is to incentivize riders to decelerate and trip extra safely, somewhat than racing the clock.
An e-scooter that appears like a Cybertruck? Try Infinite Machine’s first product, the P1, which is on sale now.
Meet Shane, a two-wheeled EV idea space-pod-looking factor from the creator of the unique hoverboard, Shane Chen.
Deal of the week
Kirsten right here once more! Convoy isn’t a standard deal of the week, however its collapse certain acquired my consideration.
The digital freight dealer informed workers this previous week it was shutting down resulting from what executives described as a “huge freight recession.” It seems that disrupting the freight enterprise is tough.
The abrupt closure, which worn out buyers, comes about 18 months because the Seattle-based firm raised $260 million in recent funding that pushed its valuation to $3.8 billion.
I went again and skim an interview TechCrunch performed with Convoy co-founder and CEO Dan Lewis. A couple of issues he mentioned caught out, particularly what led him to start out the corporate within the first place. The previous Amazon and Google govt, who has a background in technique and administration consulting, informed TechCrunch that when he was struck by the urge to start out an organization, he researched the money-attracting industries of the world, after which, utilizing AngelList, noticed what number of corporations have been attempting to disrupt these industries.
Right here’s the nugget:
His search yielded hundreds of corporations that have been engaged on industries starting from telecommunications and trend to video video games and meals. Billions of {dollars} have been going into trucking every year however fewer than 30 startups confirmed an curiosity within the subject.
“I noticed an enormous alternative and few folks going after it,” Lewis informed TechCrunch.
After which later, when requested if his methodology of deciding on a course for a startup remains to be a very good methodology, Lewis mentioned, briefly, sure. Learn the entire interview from Could 2022 right here.
Different offers that acquired our consideration . . .
Hayden AI, an AI and geospatial analytics firm, raised $53 million in a Sequence B funding spherical led by the Drawdown Fund. The corporate’s tech is being utilized by authorities businesses to implement visitors violations that impede transit buses and seize knowledge to assist enhance ridership and enhance visitors effectivity.
Laka, a European mobility insurtech firm for e-bike riders, acquired Cylantro, a French e-bike insurance coverage dealer. The corporate additionally introduced a €7.6 million spherical lead by Shift4Good alongside Ponooc, Autotech Ventures, ABN Amro Ventures, Porsche Ventures and others.
Industrial fleet insurance coverage startup Nirvana Insurance coverage has raised a $57 million Sequence B to develop its large knowledge platform, rent new workers and develop its enterprise within the trucking business. Lightspeed Enterprise Companions led the spherical, with Normal Catalyst and Valor Fairness Companions additionally collaborating. The spherical doubles Nirvana’s valuation to greater than $350 million post-money.
Provide chain logistics firm Transfix raised a $40 million Sequence F. The corporate is backed by New Enterprise Associates, G Squared and Canvas Ventures.
EV charging firm Wallbox has acquired the operations and property of German-based EV charging options startup ABL for €15 million. Collectively the plan is to deploy greater than 1 million chargers globally.
Volta Vans filed for chapter proceedings in Sweden as difficulties with suppliers proved a hindrance to elevating funds. Volta mentioned the chapter in August of Proterra, an EV elements provider, and the uncertainty over its personal battery provider means it wanted to chop down the variety of vehicles it might produce. Volta, which relies in Sweden however has operations within the U.Ok., additionally mentioned it will file for chapter in Britain.
Notable reads and different tidbits
Autonomous autos
Cruise, Normal Motors and Honda are launching a robotaxi service in Japan below a brand new three way partnership. The service will launch with Origin autos in Tokyo in 2026.
Talking of Cruise, the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into the GM subsidiary’s AV system following a number of incidents involving pedestrians in San Francisco. The newest one left a girl caught below a Cruise robotaxi after being hit by a human-driven car.
Foxconn and Nvidia are constructing “AI factories” to assist speed up AVs, robotics and different sensible functions. The AI factories place the 2 in opposition to Tesla, which is constructing the Dojo supercomputer to do kind of the identical factor — soak up huge quantities of knowledge, prepare it, tweak code and ship it again out to self-driving automobiles.
Waymo launched a light-weight simulator referred to as Waymax for the AV analysis group. The simulator is designed to coach a number of brokers to carry out advanced, life like behaviors.
Electrical autos, charging & batteries
BMW Group says it can undertake the NACS charging normal within the U.S. and Canada. Drivers of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce manufacturers will acquire entry to Tesla Superchargers in early 2025, and in that very same yr, BMW says it can implement NACS in EVs bought within the U.S. and Canada throughout those self same manufacturers.
Talking of NACS, international EV charging community ChargePoint has formally opened its AC and DC piles and is now deploying NACS connectors throughout its community.
Normal Motors is delaying its $4 billion plan to transform the Orion Meeting plant into an EV truck manufacturing facility to late 2025 amid softening EV demand and, we’re guessing, the continued UAW strike.
Kia has began taking reservations for its EV9 full-sized SUV. Reservations are $750 and might be utilized to the acquisition of the corporate. This is likely one of the first autos Kia has allowed prospects to order upfront.
Lucid missed Wall Avenue supply estimates within the third quarter by about 500 autos. The automaker delivered 1,457 of its luxurious Air sedans, reporting flat progress year-over-year. The outcomes despatched shares down as buyers anxious about softening demand for Lucid’s solely EV.
California-based EV startup Pebble unveiled a prototype of its flagship all-electric journey trailer. The $100,000 EV is designed to assist a digital nomad trying to get misplaced within the wilderness — it may possibly reside off-grid for seven days.
Industrial EV startup REE Automotive has reported an order e book that now totals $25 million for its modular battery EV platforms, devoted to B2B prospects.
About 10,000 of Rivian’s all-electric vans are delivering packages all through the U.S. for Amazon.
Tesla has urged the Biden administration to undertake stricter gasoline financial system requirements than the NHTSA has proposed. Most different automakers have already mentioned the NHTSA’s proposal was unfeasible, so Tesla’s name on regulators to double down appears to be yet one more method the EV maker can one-up its rivals.
Toyota has additionally joined the NACS bandwagon. The automaker will construct sure Toyota and Lexus autos from 2025 onward with an NACS port.
Way forward for flight
EVTOL firm Archer Aviation plans to begin air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi in 2026. From there, Archer says it can develop throughout the UAE as a part of a memorandum of understanding with the Abu Dhabi Funding Workplace.
Miscellaneous
The United Auto Employees strike is affecting CES. Stellantis canceled its deliberate displays for the tech commerce present in January, citing the price of ongoing UAW strikes.
Zipcar is getting hit with a advantageous from the NHTSA for “renting autos with open, unrepaired recollects.” One recall issues 2015–2017 Ford Transit Vans, which continued to look on Zipcar’s platform regardless of questions of safety with the autos.
Folks
Autobrains employed Uri Yacovy, a former SVP at Mobileye, as its chief working officer.
Logistics firm Flexport is shedding 20% of staff, or about 600 folks, topping off a spate of workers upheavals on the firm.
