TechCrunch Mobility is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here \u2014\u00a0just click TechCrunch Mobility<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free.<\/em><\/p>\n Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility<\/strong> \u2014 your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation.<\/p>\n I was in Los Angeles earlier this week where I interviewed Waymo<\/strong> co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana<\/strong> on stage at our StrictlyVC LA event. You can watch the whole interview here<\/a>, which covers her views on the Apple Car project, the company\u2019s \u201ccommunity tour\u201d in Los Angeles, whether Waymo learned anything (or changed) in the wake of the Cruise debacle and if it\u2019s committed to staying in San Francisco even if vandalism of its robotaxis continues.<\/p>\n The following morning (and by total coincidence), the California Public Utilities Commission<\/strong> approved Waymo\u2019s application<\/a> to operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Peninsula and on San Francisco freeways. The approval removes the last barrier for the Alphabet company to charge for rides in these expanded areas. Importantly, it opens up new territory for Waymo in one of the country\u2019s largest cities and unlocks a route to San Francisco International Airport, which is located south of the city.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s news also includes Ford<\/strong> giving its EV owners access to Tesla Superchargers<\/a>, the Securities and Exchange Commission<\/strong> charging Lordstown Motors<\/strong> with misleading investors<\/a>, Toyota<\/strong>\u00a0practically paying people to buy its hydrogen fuel cell-powered Mirai<\/a> and more!<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n EV upstart Fisker<\/strong> has been dealing with a lot lately \u2014 underperforming its own sales goals, dealing with quality and customer service problems and pivoting from a direct sales model to trying to sign up dealer partners.<\/p>\n This past week the company announced it\u2019s going to cut 15% of its staff<\/a> as part of that transition and needs more cash to survive. Reuters reported Friday that it\u2019s in talks with Nissan to collaborate on an electric pickup truck, in a move that could save the startup.<\/p>\n A few little birds<\/strong> told us that these talks have been going on for more than a year, and that it wasn\u2019t the only Japanese automaker that has spoken to Fisker about a possible collaboration \u2014 Fisker also held talks with Mazda. But Nissan is the last one standing, and its continued interest comes at a crucial moment for the troubled startup.<\/p>\n Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec<\/strong>\u00a0at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com<\/a> or Sean O\u2019Kane<\/strong> 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 Polestar<\/strong> has a little more breathing room now that the Swedish EV company \u2014 that\u2019s owned by China\u2019s Geely Holdings \u2014\u00a0secured a $950 million loan<\/a> from a dozen banks.<\/p>\n Why does it matter? These are critical funds needed to keep Polestar\u2019s EV plans moving forward following Volvo\u2019s decision to pull back its financial support of the electric automaker. The company had about $770 million in cash at the end of 2023, according to regulatory filings.<\/p>\n However, the funding doesn\u2019t solve all of Polestar\u2019s financial woes. Even with this new injection of capital, the company said it will continue to cut costs and look for efficiency, including layoffs. Polestar, which has cut 10% of jobs since mid-2023, said it plans to make another 15% cut this year. The company previously disclosed that 15% job cut, which will affect about 450 people.<\/p>\n Other deals that got my attention \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Range Energy<\/strong>, the startup developing electric powered trailers for commercial trucking, raised $23.5 million in a funding round led by Trousdale Ventures, with participation from UP.Partners, R7 and Yamaha Motor Ventures. Range has raised $31.5 million to date.<\/p>\n Goodbye Apple Car<\/strong>; we never knew ya. Yup, that\u2019s right the Apple ended plans<\/a> to build and sell an autonomous electric car. Don\u2019t worry, months from now we will surely be treated to rumors that it\u2019s back after all. ;D<\/p>\n Reporter Sean O\u2019Kane<\/strong> learned that Apple is likely cutting hundreds of employees from the team and all work on the project has stopped. Some will shift to Apple\u2019s generative AI projects, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the project\u2019s cancellation. Others will have 90 days to find a reassignment to other roles inside the company, or they will be let go. The car project still had around 1,400 employees working on it, according to one employee who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about their work. Side note: <\/em>here\u2019s a timeline<\/a> of the decade-long project.<\/p>\n GM<\/strong> is squirreling away its custom-built Cruise Origin robotaxis<\/a> in a defunct Michigan plant.<\/p>\n Motional<\/strong> told employees it will cut about 5% of its workforce<\/a> (fewer than 70 people), TechCrunch has learned. The cuts mostly affect administrative roles and some employees working in Boston, one of several cities where it tests autonomous vehicles. The other very important detail from sources is that the company needs to secure more funding. That will mean either Hyundai footing the entire bill for the joint venture company it once shared with Aptiv or finding another partner.<\/p>\n Xiaomi<\/strong> showed off its first electric car<\/a>, the SU7, at Mobile World Congress.<\/p>\n Amazon<\/strong> stopped selling<\/a> the Ring Car Cam<\/strong>.<\/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
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<\/a><\/h3>\nAutonomous vehicles<\/h3>\n
Electric vehicles, batteries & charging<\/h3>\n
In-car tech<\/h3>\n
This week\u2019s wheels<\/h2>\n
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