Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility<\/strong> \u2014 your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free \u2014 just click TechCrunch Mobility<\/a>!<\/p>\n Fifteen years ago, I started writing about a little EV startup that was trying to survive even as others failed in the clean tech boom-and-bust cycle. Back then Tesla<\/strong> had captured the interest of some celebrities and EV enthusiasts \u2014 but it was a small circle.\u00a0<\/p>\n A lot has changed since then, including the profile of its largest shareholder and CEO, Elon Musk. His companies, which include SpaceX<\/strong>, Tesla, X<\/strong>, xAI<\/strong>, Neuralink<\/strong>, and The Boring Company<\/strong>, have multiplied. And he\u2019s using it to find talent to support the Department of Government Efficiency<\/strong>, an entity established via President Trump\u2019s executive order.\u00a0<\/p>\n I recently put my institutional knowledge to work \u2014 covering Musk over all these years, you learn a few things \u2014\u00a0and teamed up with several TechCrunch editors and reporters. Our task was not just to identify the people working at DOGE, but also to help readers understand their connection to Musk\u2019s universe<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is a living document \u2014 and one we will regularly update as we continue our reporting. Have a tip about DOGE, its workers, or other related topics? Reach out to me at\u00a0 kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com<\/a> or my Signal at kkorosec.07.<\/p>\n Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com<\/a>, Sean O\u2019Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com<\/a>, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com<\/a>.<\/em> Or check out these instructions<\/a> to learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s deals were dimmed by a partnership that ended before it ever really started, a shutdown, a bankruptcy, and one dead IPO.\u00a0<\/p>\n First up, beleaguered hydrogen-electric truck maker Nikola<\/strong> has finally filed for bankruptcy<\/a> after failing to raise enough funds to continue operations or find a buyer. It\u2019s been a yearslong battle for the company after it suffered a series of scandals surrounding its founder and former CEO Trevor Milton, who was convicted of securities and wire fraud after making exaggerated claims about the company\u2019s electric truck technology. We all remember that infamous marketing video<\/a>, right?<\/p>\n Meanwhile, peer-to-peer car-sharing startups had a chaotic week.\u00a0<\/p>\n Getaround<\/strong>, a San Francisco startup and VC darling turned publicly traded SPAC, shut down its U.S. operations<\/a> one year after cutting 30% of its North American workforce as part of a restructuring. Getaround said it\u2019s now focused on its European business where it operates in six countries, including Norway, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Austria.<\/p>\n The craziest part of this shutdown was how the company managed it. The board made the decision on February 7 but didn\u2019t alert owners and renters about the closure until February 12. Oh, and their insurance coverage would expire by the end of the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then there was Turo<\/strong>, which has called off its long-awaited IPO<\/a>. The company publicly filed in January 2022 for an initial public offering, but IPO conditions changed soon afterward. Still, it seemed like Turo might finally IPO in 2025 \u2014 until it didn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other deals that got my attention \u2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Aurora <\/strong>last week entered into an agreement to sell up to $500 million <\/a>in stock at an \u201cat-the-market\u201d offering. Aurora said in its Q4 2024 earnings report that it has enough cash to get through initial commercialization in April, but this agreement sets it up to raise cash quickly in the future should it need the funds to scale and get to cash-flow positive.<\/p>\n Fetii<\/strong>, a group ride-share app based in Austin, raised a $7.35 million seed round<\/a> led by Mark Cuban, with participation from Y Combinator, Goodwater Capital, and others.\u00a0<\/p>\n The $60 billion mega-merger<\/a> between Honda<\/strong> and Nissan<\/strong> died. And per Reuters\u2019 sources, pride is partially to blame.\u00a0<\/p>\n One Equity Partners<\/strong>, a private equity firm, is acquiring<\/a> Wheeler Fleet Solutions<\/strong>, an aftermarket parts distribution company. Terms were not disclosed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Saronic<\/strong>, a military drone-boat maker, has raised $600 million<\/a> in funding at a $4 billion valuation. General Catalyst led the round into the less than three-year-old company.<\/p>\n Avride<\/strong>\u2019s autonomous sidewalk delivery robots are now delivering orders for Uber Eats<\/a> customers in Jersey City.<\/p>\n Waymo<\/strong> looks like it might launch a membership program<\/a>. Some Los Angeles customers got a survey invite that asked them which types of memberships they\u2019d be most likely to choose. When asked, Waymo said it regularly conducts research and experiments to figure out what features, promotions, and experiences riders might like but didn\u2019t share anything else.<\/p>\n Serve Robotics<\/strong> has launched its delivery bots<\/a> in Miami. The company also expanded its existing partnership with Shake Shack and added another with Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza, so customers in Miami ordering from those restaurants on Uber Eats might have their food delivered by a bot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Elon Musk<\/strong>\u2019s political activities \u2014 namely his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency \u2014 have turned some consumers against Tesla<\/strong>. Senior reporter Sean O\u2019Kane connected with two people who organized the Tesla Takeover movement<\/a>, which led to protests at Tesla showrooms in dozens of U.S. cities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Blue Whale Materials<\/strong>, a lithium-ion battery recycling company, has partnered<\/a> with Call2Recycle<\/strong> to advance domestic battery recycling and meet the need for domestically sourced battery materials.\u00a0<\/p>\n Beta Technologies<\/strong> has flown somewhat more under the radar than its competition in the electric aviation industry, but the startup has been quietly growing the business and collecting more piloted flight hours than anyone else under the leadership of its tattooed, enigmatic founder and CEO, Kyle Clark<\/a>, writes senior reporter Rebecca Bellan.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Trump administration<\/strong> fired hundreds<\/a> of Federal Aviation Administration employees who maintain critical air traffic control infrastructure. The firings come as Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX has been tapped<\/a> to help create a new air traffic control system.<\/p>\n Lime <\/strong>reported<\/a> its second consecutive year of being free cash flow positive. The scooter and bike-share company also said its adjusted EBITDA exceeded $140 million for 2024, up from $94 million in 2023. These results are unaudited, so take them with a grain of salt.\u00a0<\/p>\n Uber<\/strong> filed a lawsuit against<\/a> DoorDash<\/strong>, accusing the delivery outfit of stifling competition by intimidating restaurant owners into exclusive deals.<\/p>\n We\u2019re back with another edition of This Week\u2019s Wheels, this time with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5<\/strong>, which ranges in price between $43,975 and $59,575, depending on the trim.\u00a0<\/p>\n Contributor Emme Hall <\/strong>spent some time behind the wheel of this refreshed all-electric compact SUV and found a lot to love. But there is one literal shortfall<\/a>, at least for the time being. This EV is equipped with Tesla\u2019s North American Charging Standard port, but Hall discovered that the charging port location didn\u2019t match up with the Tesla Supercharger cord. It simply didn\u2019t reach.<\/p>\n That meant she would need to wait for another Tesla to vacate its space and use that charging cable, essentially taking up two spaces, or use the in-car navigation to find a CCS-equipped charging station and use the adapter that comes with the car.\u00a0<\/p>\n Not great. But here is what was great \u2014 the 2025 model year comes in a new XRT trim that includes a one-inch lift and 29-inch Continental CrossContact ATR tires for better performance in the dirt and over gravel. And this 2025 model year, which also received a few tech upgrades, is still poised on the pavement with well-balanced handling and a comfortable ride.\u00a0<\/p>\n What is \u201cThis week\u2019s wheels\u201d? It\u2019s a chance to learn about the different transportation products we\u2019re testing, whether it\u2019s an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike, or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nA little bird<\/h2>\n
Deals!<\/h2>\n
![\"money](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/money-the-station.png?w=680\")
Notable reads and other tidbits<\/h2>\n
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Autonomous vehicles<\/h3>\n
Electric vehicles, charging, & batteries<\/h3>\n
Future of flight<\/h4>\n
Micromobility<\/h3>\n
Ride-hailing and gig economy<\/h3>\n
This week\u2019s wheels<\/h2>\n
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