Waymo’s Next Robotaxi is Chosen, Joby Gains Further Funding from Toyota, Cybertruck Records Fifth Recall

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility—your go-to source for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free—just click TechCrunch Mobility!

I kicked off my week at UP.Summit, an exclusive event held this year in Bentonville, Arkansas, where founders and investors gathered to discuss the future of transportation. This year's UP.Summit highlighted U.S. innovation, infused with a sense of urgency and an existential undertone, particularly around dual-use technology—tech like software, autonomous vehicles, and aviation utilized for both civilian and military purposes. The rising interest in defense tech was palpable in discussions both on and off the stage. If you prefer listening over reading, check out my appearances on the Equity Podcast and The Autonocast! This week, I also joined TechCrunch’s Found Podcast to chat with the co-founder of Motorway, a startup connecting car owners with dealers interested in buying and reselling vehicles.

Do you remember the buzz around electric semitrucks a few years ago? Major corporations like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola bottlers were eager to integrate electric semitrucks from Tesla, Daimler’s Freightliner eCascadia, Nikola, and Kenworth into their fleets. However, recent reports suggest that real-world performance has been disappointing, with electric tractors achieving only 50% to 75% of their claimed range. While this might not lead to the cancellation of these programs, it could slow down their rollout.

In more positive news, Joby Aviation secured an additional $500 million from Toyota, bringing the automaker's total investment to $894 million. This investment signals either a strong belief in Joby's ability to achieve its goal of commercial passenger flights by 2025 or a case of Toyota falling into the sunk-cost fallacy. Joby aims to use the funds to complete its FAA certification process and increase eVTOL production. Toyota engineers are collaborating closely with Joby to develop manufacturing methods.

EVgo has also made headlines, securing a $1.05 billion conditional loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the growth of its fast-charging network, planning to add around 7,500 new chargers. Meanwhile, J.B. Hunt is partnering with UP.Labs to launch a logistics and freight venture lab that will create up to six startups over the next three years, emphasizing the importance of innovation in solving future freight challenges. Numa, a startup focused on automating customer interactions for auto dealerships, raised $32 million in a Series B funding round co-led by Touring Capital and Mitsui & Co. with participation from existing investors like Costanoa Ventures, Threshold, and Google’s Gradient Ventures.

In the realm of advanced driver-assistance, Ford has cut the cost of its BlueCruise feature to $49.99 per month or $495 annually, down from $75 per month after the feature came under federal scrutiny due to fatal crashes. Tesla has begun rolling out its Supervised FSD software to select Cybertruck owners. The autonomous vehicle sector is heating up, with Bot Auto, a new trucking startup from TuSimple co-founder Xiaodi Hou, aiming to leverage recent AI advancements for rapid growth. Cruise has been fined $1.5 million by the NHTSA for failing to disclose critical details about a pedestrian crash involving one of its robotaxis.

Uber continues to pursue autonomous partnerships, recently teaming up with Avride, a Yandex spinout. Waymo is now offering free robotaxi rides in Austin as it prepares for a commercial launch with Uber in 2025. However, it has faced scrutiny following incidents involving its robotaxis, including one that stalled in front of Vice President Kamala Harris's motorcade. On a more positive note, Waymo plans to use all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles in its robotaxi fleet, raising questions about its impact on Hyundai-backed Motional.

Canoo is facing two new lawsuits from suppliers claiming unpaid debts, following a major reorganization that included the departure of its CTO. Tesla has initiated its fifth Cybertruck recall, this time due to issues with the rearview camera, affecting approximately 27,000 vehicles. Interestingly, a Russian warlord has expressed interest in taking Cybertrucks into Ukraine, though experts advise against it for strategic reasons.

In aviation news, Beta Technologies  has unveiled a new electric aircraft designed for passengers, expanding its lineup that includes eVTOLs and eCTOLs for various applications. Matternet has launched its first home drone delivery service in Silicon Valley, utilizing M2 Drones equipped with a tether drop system for package delivery. Pivotal, formerly known as Opener, announced the delivery of 13 BlackFly aircraft to private owners and the U.S. Air Force. Regent, known for its all-electric seagliders, shared significant progress on its Viceroy prototype at UP.Summit, with plans for sea trials later this year.

Wing CEO Adam Woodworth revealed new developments, including a robot-to-drone delivery pilot in partnership with Serve Robotics, which will facilitate food delivery via a combination of sidewalk robots and drones. In This week’s wheels, I had the opportunity to test the Denali Edition 1 truck, which offers a spacious cabin and luxurious features, including a 16.8-inch center touchscreen and the hands-free advanced driver-assistance system, Super Cruise. I experienced both the technology and the hands-free trailering feature, which significantly eased the process of hauling a trailer.