TechCrunch Mobility: Lyft buys its journey in Europe, Kodiak Spacs and how the new Adas rules in China can affect Tesla

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Enough with my typical little stories. Let’s jump into the news right this week. And there are many of it, including Lyftenters Europe, AV Launch Simply targeting to Japan, the first driving of Lucid Gravity SUVseveral New York International Motor Show Accents and spac.

Yes, Spac is back. Or is this financial instrument really ever faded?

Let’s go.

Ladder

A small bird told us that some people hope to outstrip the many, many obstacles that Evtols must jump before there are “highways in the sky”. This includes working with real estate owners in rural areas to create Vertiports and load infrastructure. The pitch? Adding that the infrastructure has the potential to increase the value of your property in the future.

We excavate this to understand more!

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Deals!

I expected a few more IPOs in 2025 from the previous year, but Spacs? Say it not. And yet, here we are with a firing Between the start of autonomous vehicle technology Kodiak Robotics and the ARES Accistision Corporation II.

The Kodiak transaction values, which has raised about $ 243 million so far, at about $ 2.5 billion before money. New and existing institutional investors in Kodiak, such as Soros Fund Management, Ark Investments and Ares, have funded or made over $ 110 million in support for transaction, as well as about $ 551 million in confidence.

I talked to the founder and CEO of Kodiak Don Burneta And you asked the obvious question: Spac? Now? Why?

“Kodiak, now that we started without a driver, we have our vehicles on the road, we have revenue without a driver,” Burnet told me. “We think now is the time to grow. We want to take advantage of the queues we see in the markets.”

Tails? I asked him to explain and Burnett meant the queues in the autonomy sector, unlike the wider economic markets.

“Obviously, we see the short-term instability-this is an underestimation,” he said. “But we really think about it as a long -term thesis of transforming transport markets, using AI, using technology and through automation. This is something I have always believed in.”

Other deals that caught my attention …

Coniferbootable, developing hub electric motors that are without rare earth elements raised a 20 million dollars of seeds circle From investors, including True Ventures, Mac Ventures, MFV Partners and others. True Ventures Rohit Sharma joined the Conifer board.

PoplarAn online car dealer based in Mexico, raised $ 127 million In a round of equity, reducing its estimate to $ 2.2 billion from $ 6.5 billion. The circle is led by SoftBank Group Corp and General Atlantic. The company also provided $ 400 million new debt.

Lyft agreed to acquire Freenow, a German multi-mobility app with Ride Hail at its core, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility for about $ 197 million in cash. The acquisition opens the European market for the first time.

NicheBritish startup to load EV, raised $ 30 million In the funding led by IQ Capital and Latitude. Strategic partners, including Scania Invest and Takasago Industry, also participated.

Remarkable readings and other treats

Adas

China break up how car manufacturers advertise driver support features, Prohibit conditions Like “autonomous driving”, “self -government” and “smart driving.” If you immediately thought Tesla And his “complete self -driving software” is worth noting that the car manufacturer has changed the brand. But Tesla and others will be affected by rules surrounding the ADAS software updates, which requires government testing and approval.

Autonomous vehicles

Simply will start mapping and collecting data in Japan The use of autonomous vehicles (retrofitted Prius cars) from its US Navy.

Waymo and Uber prepare to start their joint service Robotaxi in Atlanta this summer. Uber Open “Interest List” This week for clients in Atlanta. The two companies launched the Waymo on Uber service in Austin in March. Data from the Yipitdata Market Analysis Company show Waymo Robotaxis, composed About 20% of the vehicles Available from Uber in Austin in the last week of March.

Zamx have its partner with Stingray Musicwhich will offer a cure selection of 16 stations through the touch screen inside the robotaxis. Another Zoox sign is preparing to launch on the commercial network.

Electric vehicles, charging and batteries

Lime will Send batteries It is used in its scooters and electronic bicycles for red wood materials that will extract and recycle critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper.

Always debut his Before 2026 EV4 At the International Motor Show in New York. This is the first global electric sedan of the company and the one designed for customers looking for an affordable EV. Will the Americans buy it?

TechCrunch an associate Abigail Basset spent day driving the new all -electric Lucid Gravity SUVS Read the full review and find out why she wrote that gravity is “Over-engineering at best.”

Rivians first unahazon The client is Hellofresh.

Subaru revealed its second EV, SUV similar to a wagon called Trailseeker This, like its predecessor The Solterra, includes a little Toyota manual work.

Flight

Aviation Sagittarius revealed his proposed Air Taxi Network for New York In partnership with United Airlines, which would allow passengers to get on shooting with Sagittarius to their traditional airline tickets.

Ride

The Indian Market Regulator has launched investigation Gensol Engineering After finding a statement An abuse of loans for electric vehiclesS BlusmartStarting Gensol, which is once regarded as Uber’s new rival in South Asia, has also been included in the investigation. And now it looks like Blusmart has stopped services In some Indian cities.

Security

Hertz Customers have been notified of a violation of data This includes their personal information and driving licenses. Hertz attributes the violation of a supplier, a software manufacturer Cleowhich last year was In the center of a mass -biting campaign from a fruitful band for ransom Russia.