Heart Aerospace's Electric Aircraft Takes Flight: A Giant Leap for Sustainable Aviation | November 29th, 2024
Plus, Hyundai’s 2025 IONIQ 6 impresses with a sleek redesign and Rivian secures $6.6 billion in federal funding to build a state-of-the-art EV factory in Georgia.
Issue [#265] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!
Micromobility
Traffic deaths are declining but still higher than pre-2020 levels, with pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities peaking in 2022. NHTSA’s Sophie Shulman acknowledges progress but calls for more work. The DOT's 2022 national roadway safety strategy includes regulatory updates, funding for pedestrian safety, and vehicle design changes to reduce fatalities and injuries | Smart Cities Dive
Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt urged states to adopt proven safety countermeasures like bike lanes and flashing beacons. The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Act aims to incentivize this by allowing 100% federal funding. This bipartisan bill, named after a cyclist killed in an unprotected lane, could significantly improve road safety if passed | StreetBlog USA
Product Launches & Updates
Heart Aerospace's Heart X1, a fully electric aircraft, will soon take flight in New York. This marks a crucial step toward the ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric aircraft aiming to be the world's largest electric plane. The ES-30's propulsion system, combining electric engines and turboprops, will provide redundancy and flexibility. After the X1, the X2 will further refine this system. By establishing a pilot plant and rigorous testing, Heart Aerospace seeks to certify the ES-30 by the end of the decade | ZAGDaily
Hyundai’s 2025 IONIQ 6 updates include a sleeker design with revised front-end styling, new sensors, and enhanced ADAS features. A larger 84 kWh battery boosts range past 350 miles, keeping the price around $38,000. The model may also adopt a Tesla NACS port for Supercharger compatibility, following the IONIQ 5’s lead | Electrek
Chrysler plans an all-electric Pacifica minivan, expected a year after a design refresh incorporating Stellantis' Halcyon concept. CEO Christine Feuell confirmed the move at the LA Auto Show but didn't clarify whether the plug-in hybrid will remain. Modifications to the Stow ‘N Go seating system are required, including second-row seat adjustments | The Verge
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
Uber and Lyft race to deploy autonomous vehicles. Uber partners with Waymo to expand in Austin and Atlanta, eyeing global growth. Lyft teams up with Motional in Vegas, eyeing San Francisco. Regulatory hurdles and premium pricing challenge broad adoption | Smart Cities Dive
The FTC is investigating Uber for allegedly violating consumer protection laws by making its Uber One subscription difficult to cancel, following customer complaints. Uber insists its cancellation process complies with the law. Meanwhile, the FTC has been pushing subscription cancellation reforms, including the "click-to-cancel" rule, now challenged in court. After Trump's election, the FTC proposed a large monetary settlement to Uber, which was rejected | TechCrunch
Tesla's shifting gears. Once betting on full autonomy, it's now building a teleoperations team for its upcoming robotaxis and humanoid robots. The robotaxi prototype, slated for 2026-2027 production, aims for a 2025 California/Texas launch. This pivot, likely influenced by challenges in achieving full autonomy, highlights the growing importance of human intervention in autonomous vehicle technology | TechCrunch
Baidu’s Apollo Go launched the RT6, a Level 4 autonomous robotaxi priced under $30,000 with a battery-swapping solution, expanding across Chinese cities. Despite occasional traffic issues, it’s gaining traction with affordable fares and 20% growth in rides. Meanwhile, Waymo, profitable in San Francisco, faces high vehicle costs and major funding from Alphabet | The Verge
Uber's tapping its gig worker army for AI grunt work. The ride-hailing giant's new "Scaled Solutions" division is outsourcing data labeling and testing to workers in countries like India and the US. This move underscores the human cost of AI, as low-paid workers power the algorithms that drive tech's future. It's also a strategic play for Uber, diversifying its business model and capitalizing on its vast network of independent contractors | The Verge
Vulog launched a carsharing management service combining software and operational expertise to help mobility players, like OEMs and car rental companies, scale fleets across cities. It bridges the gap between technology and profitability, emphasizing market knowledge. Europe’s carsharing fleets grew 14% since 2023, with Germany leading in vehicle types | TechCrunch
Investment & Deals
Rivian secured a $6.6 billion loan from the US Department of Energy under the revived ATVM Loan Program to build an EV factory in Stanton Springs, Georgia. The plant, set to employ 7,500 by 2030, is critical for Rivian's growth. Additionally, Rivian closed a $5.8 billion funding deal with Volkswagen. Trump’s potential reversal of Biden’s EV policies adds urgency | The Verge
EV charging platform Ampeco raised $26M Series B led by Revaia. The company's flexible platform, with 120K+ charging stations across 60 markets, is gaining traction with OEMs and large-scale operators like EON Drive Infrastructure. Amidst market consolidation and competitors like Monta and EV Energy, Ampeco's API-first approach positions it for growth in the booming EV market | TechCrunch
ELM Mobility, a UK startup backed by Barclays, is developing its EVOLV electric quadricycle, a lightweight, robust vehicle designed for last-mile delivery. A joint venture with Prodrive and Astheimer Design, it offers a 4m³ capacity and Euro pallet compatibility. Barclays' investment supports testing ahead of 2028 production, with plans for 10,000 annual units | ZAGDaily
Pony AI, a Chinese self-driving car startup, IPO'd on Nasdaq Wednesday at $15/share, a 15% premium over its $13 offering price. The deal raised $260M from selling 20M ADS, plus $153M from private placements | TechCrunch
Cities & Policy
London’s Transport for London (TfL) is addressing the e-bike parking problem with a new enforcement policy targeting on-demand rental services like Lime, Human Forest, and Dott. Bikes must now be parked in designated areas on "red routes" and TfL land. TfL has allocated £1 million for more parking spaces, but long-term legislative solutions are sought | TechCrunch
California Governor Gavin Newsom vows to revive the state’s Clean Vehicle Program if President-elect Trump eliminates the federal $7,500 EV tax credit. This program, phased out in 2023, helped purchase 594,000 vehicles and saved 456 million gallons of gasoline. Newsom anticipates federal tensions and expects more auto industry support | The Verge
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