Rivian's E-Bike Design and Uber's Autonomous Future

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This week's top stories include Rivian's foray into micromobility and Uber's strategic shift towards autonomous vehicles. Beyond these headlines, we'll also cover Tesla's robotaxi ambitions and other notable developments in the mobility sector.

Rivian and LoveFrom Partner on E-Bike Design

Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, recently spun out a micromobility startup called Also. Surprisingly, Jony Ive's design firm, LoveFrom, collaborated with Rivian on the design of their first electric bike. Learn more about this exciting partnership.

Uber's Executive Shuffle Signals Autonomous Focus

Uber's recent executive appointments and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's comments highlight the company's focus on autonomous vehicles. Andrew Macdonald, Uber's new president and COO, has a history with the company's autonomous strategy. Khosrowshahi emphasized Uber's support for the autonomous vehicle ecosystem, citing investments in companies like Aurora and Waabi. Uber also introduced a simplified app for older users.

Other Mobility News and Investments

Funding and Acquisitions

  • Obvio, a startup using AI-powered cameras to monitor stop sign safety, raised $22 million in Series A funding.
  • Portless, an e-commerce fulfillment startup, secured $18 million in funding.
  • Toma, an AI voice startup focused on car dealerships, raised $17 million.

Tesla's Robotaxi Trademark

Tesla has filed new trademark applications for "Tesla Robotaxi" after previous attempts encountered obstacles. This move underscores Tesla's continued pursuit of a self-driving taxi service.

Redwood Materials Declines DOE Loan

Redwood Materials, a battery recycling company, withdrew from a Department of Energy loan after receiving conditional approval. The company cited the high costs and constraints associated with the loan as reasons for the decision.

Drone Delivery Expansion

Walmart and Wing are expanding their drone delivery service to five more U.S. cities, adding over 100 stores to their network.

Nikola Founder's Legal Battles

Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola, is contesting a subpoena from creditors of the bankrupt electric trucking company.

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