TechCrunch Mobility is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation Sign up here \u2014 just click TechCrunch Mobility<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free.<\/em><\/p>\n Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility \u2013 the same weekly newsletter you\u2019ve been reading, but with a new name and a few changes.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t worry, this is still your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. This week, read about Amazon<\/strong>, EV startup Fisker<\/strong>, electric boats, a bunch of new funding deals and my time driving the all-new Kia EV9<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n A little bird pointed us to a new website with some electric trucks that sure do look familiar.<\/p>\n Remember Lordstown Motors<\/strong>, the EV startup that went public via a SPAC and has since filed for bankruptcy protection? Steve Burns<\/strong>, who founded and was then ousted from Lordstown Motors, is back with a new EV startup called LandX Motors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The new LandX Motors website<\/a> prominently displays the same electric Endurance pickup truck he once promised would beat Tesla, Ford and General Motors to market.<\/p>\n A person familiar with the company\u2019s plans told TechCrunch that it\u2019s not so much about the Endurance truck, but the underlying platform, software and engineering behind it. Still, with the former Lordstown trucks playing a starring role on company\u2019s website and video, it\u2019s unclear just how developed this plan is.<\/p>\n Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com<\/a> or sean.okane@techcrunch.com<\/a>.<\/em>\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 Supply chain logistics startup Flexport<\/strong> had a rather tumultuous 2023 that included founder Ryan Petersen<\/strong> ousting his hand-picked successor<\/a> and taking back the CEO spot and then acquiring the assets<\/a> of shuttered digital freight network Convoy.<\/p>\n The startup is kicking off 2024 by shoring up its business with a $260 million \u201cuncapped convertible note\u201d from Shopify<\/strong>, a deal that was announced by Petersen in a series of posts on social media site X.<\/p>\n As a reminder, Shopify and Flexport are already attached. Flexport acquired in 2023 Shopify\u2019s logistics arm. The deal gave Shopify 13% equity stake in Flexport and a seat on the board.<\/p>\n Other deals that got my attention \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Electra<\/strong>, the Paris-based EV charging startup, raised $330 million<\/a> in a Series B round led by Dutch pension fund service provider PGGM and Bpifrance\u2019s Large Venture fund. Eurazeo, RIVE Private Investment, the SNCF group through 574 Invest and Serena also participated.<\/p>\n Franziska Bossart<\/strong>, the new head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, spoke to me about how the $1 billion fund is evolving<\/a>. Tl;dr: She\u2019s expanding its geographic focus to Asia and Europe, and homing in on three areas, including AI.<\/p>\n International Battery Company<\/strong>, a startup developing lithium-ion battery cells for EVs, raised $35 million<\/a> in a pre-Series A round led by RTP Global.<\/p>\n Land Moto<\/strong>, the Cleveland-based electric motorcycle startup, raised $3 million<\/a> in a round led by a special purpose venture vehicle called Nunc Coepi Ventures.<\/p>\n Lightship<\/strong>, an all-electric RV startup, raised $34 million in a Series B round co-led by Obvious Ventures and Prelude Ventures. Other new investors include Allegis Capital and global RV manufacturer THOR Industries and its investment partner TechNexus Venture Collaborative.<\/p>\n Northvolt<\/strong>, the Swedish battery startup, secured a $5 billion debt deal<\/a> to help pay for the expansion of its first gigafactory. As TC+ reporter Tim de Chant writes: \u201cNorthvolt\u2019s $5 billion loan won\u2019t be enough to guarantee success, but it should be enough to help ramp up its production to a targeted 60 gigawatt hours.\u201d<\/p>\n Uber<\/strong> shut down<\/a> alcohol delivery service Drizly<\/strong> three years after the cab-hailing company acquired it for $1.1 billion.<\/p>\n TuSimple<\/strong> will delist itself from the Nasdaq stock exchange<\/a>\u00a0as it moves forward with its plan to fully exit the U.S. market.<\/p>\n BMW\u2019<\/strong>s future growth depends on EVs, and it\u2019s finally going all in<\/a>, TC+ reporter Tim de Chants writes.<\/p>\n Fisker\u2019s<\/strong> electric Ocean SUV is under investigation<\/a> by federal regulators over braking loss complaints.<\/p>\n GM<\/strong> recalled 66 electric delivery vans<\/a> made by its BrightDrop<\/strong> subsidiary after the front drive units in at least two of them caught fire late last year. The cause appears to be related to a manufacturing defect.<\/p>\n Navier<\/strong>, the electric boat startup, has launched a pilot program for its hydrofoiling watercraf<\/a>t via a partnership with Stripe<\/strong> to bring passengers from San Francisco\u2019s outskirts to the downtown area.<\/p>\n Wing<\/strong>, the drone-powered delivery company operated by Alphabet<\/strong>, intends to introduce a larger craft<\/a> capable of delivering heavier packages to customers.<\/p>\nA little bird<\/h2>\n
Deal of the week<\/h2>\n
![\"money](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/money-the-station.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNotable reads and other tidbits<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/the-station-ride-hailing1.png\")
<\/a><\/h3>\nAutonomous vehicles<\/h3>\n
Electric vehicles, charging & batteries<\/h3>\n
Future of flight<\/h3>\n
This week\u2019s wheels<\/h2>\n
![\"kia](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/kia-ev9-ksk.jpg\")
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