Beyond Minivans: Chrysler's Halcyon Ushers in a New Era of Driving | February 16th, 2024
Beyond Minivans: Chrysler's Halcyon Ushers in a New Era of Driving | February 16th, 2024
Plus, ArcBest rolled out a range of fully automated electric forklifts, HopSkipDrive surpassed California ridesharing emissions targets, and Lyft is launching Women Plus Connect across the U.S.
Issue [#226] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!
Curbivore 2024 Is Just A Few Weeks Away!
The worlds of delivery, mobility, curbside commerce and civic tech come together at Curbivore 2024! Join us March 28th & 29th in Downtown LA, discounted tickets still available. Meet with and hear from the top minds at amazing organizations like Walmart, Wonder, Lyft, LADOT, Bloomberg, SFMTA, Nash, GM Brightdrop, Motional, Serve, Coco, Kiwibot, Seattle DOT, California Transportation Commission, Upfront Ventures and more.
Micromobility
As young adults embrace electric bikes for urban travel, major companies like Google and Amazon adapt, offering micromobility options to support sustainability goals. E-bikes provide efficiency, health benefits, and community bonding | Electrek
New Jersey Senate considers bill S2292 mandating micromobility insurance, sparking controversy among advocates fearing detrimental impacts on human-powered modes. Progressive lawsuits influence the bill's direction. 'It's just really unfair,' says Matt Moore | StreetsBlog USA
From towering SUVs to electric behemoths, the car industry's shift towards bigger vehicles brings complex challenges. As cities struggle with parking and safety, the environmental toll of larger cars looms large. Can innovative policies and a reimagining of urban spaces pave the way for a safer, greener future? | BBC
Paris is taking bold steps to fight pollution and climate change by hiking parking fees for SUVs, signaling a shift toward greener urban spaces. As cities embrace car-free streets and prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, the movement for cleaner, more livable communities gains momentum globally | Bicycling
Discover the pulse of the autonomy economy in the latest issue of "This Week in The Autonomy Economy." From Apple's accelerating autonomous vehicle program to Uber's stellar Q4 performance and the ominous trend of rising auto loan delinquencies, this newsletter unpacks the financial implications of autonomy like never before. Don't miss out – subscribe now for your weekly dose of autonomy insights! | The Road to Autonomy
Product Launches & Updates
California-based Scarbo Vintage unveils the SV Rover, the "world’s first street-legal hypertruck," boasting over 1,000 hp. CEO Joe Scarbo touts it as "a new extreme in off-road power, maneuverability, and capability," blending classic British design with modern American muscle | Electrek
Chrysler introduces the Halcyon, a futuristic electric roadster with full autonomy and cutting-edge features, signaling the brand's move beyond minivans. Packed with AI, augmented reality, and sustainable design, the concept offers a sneak peek into Chrysler's bold vision for upcoming electric vehicles and the future of driving | The Verge
Discover Navee's S1 and C1 e-bikes with in-built sensors and customizable battery options showcased at Paris' Autonomy Mobility World Expo in March, promising a greener future with convenient, lightweight designs | ZAGDaily
ArcBest has launched Vaux Smart Autonomy, a range of fully automated electric forklifts and reach trucks, aiming to revolutionize material handling in warehouses and distribution centers. Leveraging advanced software and remote operation capabilities, these forklifts offer increased efficiency and safety | Electrek
Shimizu unveils the Arma scooter, hailed as the world's smallest e-scooter, on Indiegogo, aiming to revolutionize urban commuting. With its laptop-sized foldable design and impressive payload capacity, the Arma promises convenience and accessibility, making micromobility truly portable and theft-proof | ZAGDaily
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
Lyft experienced a rollercoaster ride in the stock market after a typo in its earnings report led to a surge of nearly 70%, caused by an extra zero suggesting a significant margin expansion. CEO David Risher admitted responsibility, calling it a “bad error.” | Engadget
On Valentine's Day, thousands of ride-hailing drivers and food delivery riders in the US and UK, represented by campaign groups like Justice for App Workers and Delivery Job UK, are set to strike over pay and working conditions. The groups emphasize: "We want fair compensation for the work we do. We are tired of being exploited." | CNN
Instacart's revenue hit $3.042 billion in 2023, but its fourth-quarter performance left stock watchers unimpressed. With concerns over a sluggish ads business and rising losses, the company's strategy includes $500 million in share buybacks and a 7% cut in headcount, affecting top executives but not delivery workers | Modern Delivery
San Francisco's Chinatown witnessed chaos as a Waymo driverless car was vandalized and set ablaze by an agitated crowd, captured vividly on social media. This clash reflects growing tensions between autonomous technology and public acceptance, highlighting challenges faced by companies like Waymo navigating city streets | TechCrunch
A recent survey by Forbes Legal reveals widespread skepticism and distrust among Americans regarding self-driving car technology. Concerns about safety, malfunctioning, and recent scandals involving companies like Tesla and Cruise have eroded public confidence, with 93% expressing safety worries and 61% stating they wouldn't trust autonomous vehicles with their loved ones | The Drive
HopSkipDrive's breakthrough in surpassing California's emissions standards showcases its dedication to eco-friendly transportation, with electric vehicles driving 8% of all miles in 2023. Beyond ridesharing, the company's innovative route-planning software tackles school transportation challenges, offering a cleaner, more efficient alternative while addressing evolving student needs | TechCrunch
Waymo initiated its first voluntary recall of the software powering its robotaxi fleet after two vehicles collided with the same towed pickup truck in Phoenix, Arizona. Despite characterizing the crashes as "minor" and affirming that no passengers were present during the incidents, Waymo prioritizes safety and transparency, swiftly deploying a fix to its entire fleet by mid-January | TechCrunch
Lyft is rolling out Women Plus Connect across the U.S., a feature designed to boost safety by connecting women and nonbinary riders with drivers of the same gender. With over 2.4 million users already embracing the initiative, Lyft aims to create a more secure and inclusive rideshare experience, addressing concerns raised by a 2022 investigation into harassment faced by female and nonbinary drivers | The Verge
Investment & Deals
$1.5 Billion Funding from USDOT to Enhance and Implement Clean Transit Buses Across America | Intelligent Transport
Roam secured $24 million to advance electric transport in Africa, with Equator Africa leading the funding round alongside At One Ventures, TES Ventures, among others. Additionally, the U.S. Government, through the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), promised to give Roam a loan of up to $10 million.. This boost aims to expand production, improve R&D, and offer sustainable transport solutions | The Pack
Vapaus Raises €15 Million to Expand Employee Benefit Bike Program, Promoting Sustainable Transportation and Well-being in Finland and Sweden | Tech.eu
Cities & Policy
FTA aids electric transit bus buyers during tough times for manufacturers. The White House hosts clean bus manufacturing roundtable as transit agencies face price hikes and delays | Smart Cities Dive
The NTSB has expressed disapproval towards the controversial Super Bowl ad targeting Tesla | TechCrunch
An industry consultation led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sparked a call for enhanced regulation in the micromobility sector | ZAGDaily
In a post-pandemic world, cities are shifting from car-centric, segregated spaces to human-centric communities. The crisis has accelerated sustainable urban development, promoting active mobility and reconfiguring public spaces. Future cities hold promise for enhancing life quality across all communities | @Scott S. via LinkedIn
California may introduce an electric bike license for riders without a car driver’s license, aimed at enhancing safety for young e-bike users. The bill requires riders aged 12 and above to complete a safety course and test. This move responds to the growing number of young e-bike riders and aims to ensure road safety | Electrek
Cyclists and horse carriages are conflicting in Hudson Yards' bike lanes, raising safety issues. City Councilman Bottcher proposes NYPD enforcement to secure bike lanes exclusively for cyclists, suggesting clear signage and creating specific routes for carriages to ensure safety and smooth coexistence | New York Post
If you liked this post from Movements, why not share it? Forward it to a friend and we'll send you some sweet karma!