TechCrunch Mobility: Travis Kalanick’s return proves it really is 2016 again
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation.
Transportation
Rivian’s RJ Scaringe thinks we’re doing robots all wrong
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe shares his thoughts and plans for his newest startup, Mind Robotics.
Honda is killing its EVs — and any chance of competing in the future
Honda’s decision to kill its three EVs for the U.S. market will reverberate far beyond North America.
Travis Kalanick launches a new company called Atoms focused on robotics
Kalanick’s existing ghost kitchen company CloudKitchens will be rolled into Atoms, which also wants to get into mining and transport.
The R2 is nearly here — can Rivian stick the landing?
On Thursday, Rivian revealed its most important vehicle to date: the R2, a midsize SUV that eventually will start at under $50,000. As a distinctive EV with an attractive sticker price, the R2 is designed to take Rivian to the next level. In fact, the company is banking on it. If they succeed, then Rivian […]
Motional robotaxis join the Uber app in Vegas two years after major reset
The launch comes just two years after a major reboot at Hyundai-owned Motional. The service will start with a safety monitor, which Motional hopes to remove by year’s end.
Why Rivian is holding the $45,000 base model R2 until ‘late 2027’
Rivian spent the last two years promoting the R2 as a $45,000 SUV. But buyers won’t be able to pay that price until late next year — if at all.
Lucid Motors shows off robotaxi concept called ‘Lunar’
The concept was a highlight of Lucid’s investor day, in which the company detailed its ambitions to push deeper into autonomy while pumping out new, affordable EVs.
Tesla becomes a utility in the UK, setting up showdown with Octopus Energy
The new Tesla Energy Ventures division was approved by Ofgem to sell electricity directly to customers.
Rivian R2 launch: Here’s what $57,990 gets you
Two years after revealing what its affordable next-generation EV would look like, Rivian has shared all of the pricing, colors, and performance specs for its upcoming R2 SUV. And like so many new car releases, it’s complicated. The bottom line: Rivian’s bid to sell a more affordable EV that is accessible to a broader market […]