Welcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B. Kirsten is away, so I\u2019ll be your host this week.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been another week of probes into Tesla <\/strong>that appear to be coming from all sides:<\/p>\n First, let\u2019s start with Autopilot, Tesla\u2019s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). As part of an ongoing investigation into the ADAS after a series of Teslas crashed into emergency vehicles,\u00a0 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requesting more info<\/a> from the automaker. This time, it\u2019s about a software change that allows drivers to use the system for extended periods of time without prompting the driver to place their hands on the wheel. The NHTSA said this could \u201clead to greater driver inattention and failure of the driver to properly supervise Autopilot.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in Tesla\u2019s battery department, federal prosecutors are investigating Tesla\u2019s performance claims<\/a> after Reuters reported that the EV maker exaggerated the potential driving distance of its vehicles.<\/p>\n And finally, the Elon Musk\u2013owned automaker is reportedly under the microscope<\/a> from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for using company funds to \u2014 *checks notes* \u2014 build a giant glass house for Musk near Tesla\u2019s Austin HQ.<\/p>\n Have I missed anything?<\/p>\n Before we jump into the news, a little update about TechCrunch Disrupt<\/a>. Kyle Vogt, CEO and co-founder of\u00a0Cruise<\/strong>, will be joining us September 20 on the Disrupt Stage in a session called \u201cThe Robotaxi Revolution<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com<\/a> or Rebecca at rebecca.techcrunch@gmail.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Reminder that you can drop us a\u00a0note at\u00a0tips@techcrunch.com<\/a>.\u00a0If you prefer to remain anonymous<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em>click here to contact us<\/em><\/a>, which includes SecureDrop (<\/em>instructions here<\/em><\/a>) and various encrypted messaging apps.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019re into e-bikes, you\u2019ve probably noticed that the new ones are being built with GPS tracking enabled, ostensibly so you can find your bike if someone steals it. But most people aren\u2019t going to track down their bike and confront a potentially dangerous thief, and the police probably have more important things on their plates.<\/p>\n Enter BackPedal<\/b>, a UK-based startup that\u2019s building a business model around e-bike recovery<\/a>. Using a network of on-the-ground recovery agents, good relationships with police, and GPS tracking, the company will go and get your stolen e-bike for you.<\/p>\n The business model is a monthly subscription service, starting at \u00a38.99 per month, that also includes insurance in the event that the startup can\u2019t reclaim the bike. But so far, BackPedal boasts a 90% success rate and is working on improving that rate as it grows across the U.K.<\/p>\n Chinese EV startup XPeng<\/b> will acquire the smart EV assets<\/a> of ride-hailing giant Didi<\/b> for $744 million. The Didi assets will become a new sub-brand called \u201cMona\u201d under XPeng and is scheduled to launch in 2024. There are several reasons why this piqued my interest.<\/p>\n The deal marks Didi\u2019s surrender of its carmaking dream. The firm has been slowly climbing out<\/a> from under a dark cloud following a series of regulatory crackdowns from the Chinese government, so selling off a money-hemorrhaging EV business was a good way for Didi to focus back on ride-hailing.<\/p>\n The deal might also help XPeng, a Tesla competitor, expand its market reach, particularly if Didi features Mona vehicles as a preferred option for riders.<\/p>\n A partnership between the two companies could boost both XPeng\u2019s autonomous driving technology and Didi\u2019s robotaxi pursuits. In April, Didi said it was working with Chinese carmakers to <\/span>deploy self-developed robotaxis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong> to the public by 2025. And while XPeng has mainly focused on ADAS, the automaker has been making moves to test its <\/span>G9 SUV as a commercial autonomous vehicle<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Real quick before we get to the other deals\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.<\/p>\n Chinese startups are beginning to get the OK<\/a> to sell shares abroad \u2014 but they have to adhere to China\u2019s strict new set of rules.<\/a> Two startups that have surfaced recently are Zeekr<\/b>, a young yet well-financed<\/a> EV brand under Chinese auto giant Geely, and WeRide<\/b>, an autonomous driving startup that\u2019s raised over $1 billion in funding. Zeekr has been given the green light to issue up to 926 million common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and WeRide is allowed to issue 159 million shares on either the NYSE or Nasdaq.<\/p>\n Both the guidance set by Beijing and an agreement by the U.S. to accept auditing of Chinese companies by Chinese accounting firms means there\u2019s now a path forward to IPO abroad. This has led to a slight rebound in Chinese IPOs.<\/p>\n The Biden administration<\/b> is offering $15.5 billion in funds<\/a> and loans to spur the EV transition. The money will go toward retooling existing auto factories for electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, as well as boosting battery manufacturing domestically.<\/p>\n Bosch<\/b>\u2019s deal to acquire TSI Semiconductors<\/b> has gone through<\/a>, but it\u2019s facing some hurdles. The company said it needs subsidies from the U.S. government to carry out its full expansion plans. California has approved a $25 million tax credit for the factory.<\/p>\n Lyft<\/b> lead independent director, Sean Aggarwal, bought over $1 million in Lyft shares. The company\u2019s share price rose around 11% in the days that followed.<\/p>\n Redwood Materials, <\/b>the battery recycling and materials startup founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, raised $1 billion<\/a> to expand the U.S.\u2019s battery supply chain.<\/p>\n VanMoof<\/b>, the flashy e-bike startup that declared bankruptcy this summer, has gotten a lifeline. British e-scooter company Lavoie<\/b> has acquired the business<\/a>, with plans to invest in the brand and relaunch the business. Sources told TechCrunch that Lavoie paid \u201ctens of millions\u201d of euros for VanMoof.<\/p>\n Ford<\/b>\u2018s BlueCruise hands-off ADAS has been <\/span>approved<\/span><\/a> for use in Germany.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tesla\u00a0<\/strong>has dropped<\/a> the price of its \u201cFull Self-Driving\u201d (FSD) beta software to $12,000, down from $15,000. The EV maker didn\u2019t say why, but I have my suspicions. As other ADAS, like Ford\u2019s BlueCruise, takes off, Tesla could be trying to implement dynamic pricing to stay ahead of the game. But I think it\u2019s more about data. Musk has made no bones about the importance of achieving actual full self-driving, and to do so with only cameras and no lidar or radar will require all the data Tesla can get its hands on. A cheaper FSD cost might incentivize more buyers to install the controversial software.<\/p>\n AB316<\/strong>, a California bill that would ban fully driverless heavy-duty AVs in the state, is getting close to making it to the state\u2019s Senate floor. The California DMV has spoken out, saying the ban will not increase safety and will instead have a chilling effect on the development of technology in California that\u2019s intended to increase safety on roadways.<\/p>\n Cruise<\/strong> is beginning manual data collection in Seattle; Washington, D.C.; and Las Vegas, even as its tech comes under scrutiny in its hometown of San Francisco. This article<\/a> runs through what that means and lists all the markets Cruise is in today.<\/p>\n Volvo Autonomous Solutions<\/strong> has successfully removed its safety driver in an active commercial mining operation in Norway.<\/p>\n FreeWire Technologies<\/strong>, an EV charging tech company, unveiled<\/a> an AI-enabled prediction tool to help business and C-store retailer customers to determine the optimal locations to place EV charging stations. The tool will be available across the U.S. and in four Canadian provinces in Q1 2024.\u00a0\u00a0 Fisker <\/strong>revealed more details <\/a>about its Pear crossover EV, but what we found most interesting was the automaker\u2019s confirmation that Foxconn<\/strong> would indeed be building the EV at its Lordstown, Ohio, factory. CEO Henrik Fisker told TechCrunch in August that the deal was still not finalized, and indeed we still have some questions. Like, what other details do Foxconn and Fisker need to hammer out? And how on earth does Fisker think it\u2019ll be able to pull off building a sub-$30,000 EV at a profit?<\/p>\n Mercedes-Benz<\/strong> is opening its first EV DC fast-charging hubs<\/a> in Atlanta, China and Germany, starting in the fourth quarter of 2023. This is the automaker\u2019s first step toward installing 2,000 charging hubs worldwide by the end of 2024, and 10,000 chargers by 2030.<\/p>\n Tesla<\/strong> has also packed higher-end Model S and Model X features<\/a> \u2014 like ambient lighting and ventilated seats \u2014 into the refreshed Model 3.<\/p>\n Apple<\/strong> has filed a patent<\/a> for an augmented reality heads-up display. Whether or not Apple is actually working on its mythical Apple Car, this product would make good use of the company\u2019s XR tech.\u00a0 General Motors<\/strong> is using Google<\/strong>\u2019s AI chatbot, Dialogflow, to power its OnStar in-car concierge<\/a> service. The AI will be able to handle non-emergency requests, like routing, navigation and answering questions about GM vehicles in an oh-so-lifelike way.<\/p>\n Speaking of Google<\/strong>, Google Flights has released a new feature<\/a> that will help travelers figure out the cheapest time to book. The new insights tool will lean on historical trend data to let consumers see when prices have typically been the lowest to their chosen destination on their selected dates.<\/p>\n Toyota Motor Europe<\/strong> has launched Toyota Open Labs<\/strong>, an innovation platform designed to bring together startups with business units across the Toyota ecosystem. The goal is to help transform Toyota into a mobility company with expertise across energy, circular economy, carbon-neutral tech, smart communities and more.<\/p>\n Rivian\u00a0<\/strong>has brought on Dr. Kjell Gruner as chief commercial officer and president of business growth. Gruner comes to the table with 25 years of automotive experience, most recently serving as CEO of Porsche Cars North America. He also worked as director of strategy at Mercedes-Benz for six years.<\/p>\n We\u2019re covering all things sustainable mobility at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, taking place in San Francisco on September 19\u201321. Last-minute passes are still available. Save 15% with code STATION. Register now<\/strong>!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMicromobbin\u2019<\/h2>\n
Deal of the week<\/h2>\n
![\"money](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/money-the-station.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOther deals that caught my attention\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Notable news and other tidbits<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/the-station-ride-hailing1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nADAS<\/h3>\n
Autonomous vehicles<\/h3>\n
Electric vehicles, charging & batteries<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nMiscellaneous<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPeople<\/h3>\n
Grab your pass to TC Disrupt 2023<\/h2>\n