Lyft and China’s Baidu look to bring robotaxis to Europe next year
The companies want to launch the robotaxi services in Germany and the U.K. first, pending regulatory approval.
Transportation
Joby Aviation to buy Blade Air Mobility’s ride-share business
Joby is buying the Blade brand and the company’s passenger business, which includes operations in the United States and Europe, for as much as $125 million.
Tesla asks shareholders to approve $29B comp package for Elon Musk amid ‘AI talent war’
The plan would be voided if the Delaware Supreme Court overturns the decision to spike Musk’s $56B comp plan from 2018. A judge ruled in 2024 that plan was unfairly negotiated.
Tesla partly liable in Florida Autopilot trial, jury awards $200M punitive damages
It’s one of the first major legal decisions about driver assistance technology that has gone against Tesla.
Joby Aviation and defense contractor L3Harris to test autonomous hybrid aircraft
Joby’s years of R&D with the DoD may be paying off. The company has signed an agreement with defense contractor L3Harris to develop a gas-turbine hybrid VTOL that can fly autonomously — for defense applications.
Ford to reveal more about its new low-cost electric vehicles on August 11
Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO, has touted this as a “Model T moment” — but the first of these new EVs won’t come out until 2027.
Waymo’s Tekedra Mawakana on Scaling Self-Driving Beyond the Hype
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana takes the Disrupt Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 (Oct 27–29, SF) to share the realities of scaling autonomous vehicles — from safety to regulation to the road ahead.
Aurora’s autonomous trucks are now driving at night. Its next big challenge is rain.
The company has also opened another facility in Phoenix as it scales driverless operations.
AIR lands $23M to bring its eVTOLs to the US
Israel-based eVTOL startup AIR has raised $23 million to scale production of both its piloted and uncrewed cargo aircraft, and enter the U.S.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company to build Tesla tunnels under Nashville
Construction could start fast — but that speed has edangered Boring Company workers in the past.