New York Startup Infinite Machine Secures $9.3 Million for High-Performance Electric Scooter P1 | November 1st, 2024

Zoox will deploy autonomous robotaxis in San Francisco and Las Vegas, starting with employee rides, emphasizing safety and gradual expansion.

Nov 01, 2024

Issue [#263] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!

Excited to partner with @CoMotion again for this year’s conference! I’ve been attending for nearly 10 years.

CoMotion LA will be taking place in Los Angeles on Nov. 13-14 and the @OMF Summit will be the day before on Nov. 12, looking at advancements in mobility-focused data and digital tools like the Mobility Data Specification and Curb Data Specification.

This year’s edition brings together an unprecedented array of thought-leaders in mobility – mayors, innovative policymakers, technology founders, VC investors — along with international delegations with companies and startups from the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands.

Investment & Deals

Infinite Machine, a New York startup, raised $9.3 million in seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism fund, with contributions from Adjacent Capital and Nico Rosberg. The funds will launch P1, a modular, high-performance electric scooter for urban use, available for pre-order with deliveries slated for 2025 | Infinite Machine

Waymo has secured $5.6 billion in a Series C funding round led by Alphabet, with participation from top venture firms like a16z, Silver Lake, and Fidelity. The funding aims to expand Waymo's robotaxi services into new cities and enhance its autonomous technology for business applications. This investment follows a $2.25 billion Series B round in 2020. Currently, Waymo offers paid rides to over 100,000 customers weekly across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix | TechCrunch

Beyond Aero, a Toulouse-based startup, has raised $44 million to develop the first hydrogen-powered electric business aircraft. The Series A funding round was co-led by Giant Ventures and Bpifrance, with participation from Initialized Capital and notable investors like Airbnb and Dropbox founders. Beyond Aero aims to reduce emissions in business aviation and is investing $12 million in a Hydrogen Electric Powertrain Lab. Their aircraft is set to enter the market by 2030, having already secured $914 million in Letters of Intent | Tech.eu

Eve Air Mobility, part of Embraer, secured a $50 million loan from Citibank to advance its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, often referred to as a "flying car." This funding strengthens Eve's financial position, which includes a recent $95.6 million equity raise. The company plans to have its eVTOL certified and operational by 2026, with nearly 3,000 potential orders amounting to $14.5 billion in future revenue | Reuters

EIT Urban Mobility has invested €17.1 million in over 150 urban mobility startups, creating a robust platform called Startups Growth Lab to support entrepreneurs. With over 1,000 members, the lab offers funding, networking, and a one-stop resource for sustainable mobility. The 2024 launch of Growth Lab Premium further supports startups, providing targeted investor lists and streamlined EU funding access, positioning EIT Urban Mobility as a key player in advancing urban mobility innovation | ZAG Daily

Danish micromobility firm Donkey Republic raised €2 million through private investment after a strong Q3. This funding will support fleet expansion, new city contracts, and profitable growth goals for 2025. The capital boost, following a 25% year-on-year revenue increase, strengthens Donkey Republic’s financial position and future debt financing options. CFO Christian Dufft emphasized the funds will drive operational flexibility and reinforce the company’s long-term growth ambitions | ZAG Daily

Micromobility

Captur has partnered with Veo to launch its AI-powered parking assist in over 50 U.S. markets, reducing mis-parking by 80% as it has in Europe. The technology automatically captures only compliant parking images, saving time and allowing operators to scale efficiently. By improving parking compliance, Captur helps keep sidewalks clear and accessible, while offering cities data to enhance parking infrastructure. Veo’s CEO expects this to boost service quality and efficiency | ZAGDaily

Anadue’s AI-George, a new virtual assistant for micromobility data, helps cities quickly access insights on shared e-scooters and e-bikes. Developed to support communication between operators and city officials, AI-George answers complex queries, recommends improvements, and highlights operational trends. By streamlining data requests and enhancing real-time insights, AI-George promotes transparency and collaboration, allowing cities to better understand micromobility impacts and operators to respond efficiently to regulatory interests | ZAGDaily

EIT Urban Mobility’s Julienne Chen and Impact Market’s Erdem Ovacik argue that traditional procurement methods limit micromobility innovation, especially for bike-sharing. Fixed contracts discourage improvements, outdated technology, and flexibility in service. They propose new contractual models that reward innovation, set clear goals, and encourage private sector collaboration. With Europe’s cities facing urgent climate goals, they emphasize that evolving procurement can maximize cycling, reduce car use, and advance sustainable urban mobility | ZAGDaily

Denver is introducing 27 electric bikes to its police force, enhancing mobility in areas inaccessible to patrol cars and speeding up response times. Led by Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez and the Office of Climate Action, this initiative aligns with Denver’s commitment to sustainable transport, including a popular e-bike rebate program. E-bikes offer cost savings and flexibility, joining a growing trend as cities like Los Angeles already integrate them into police operations | Electrek

The Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) is addressing public fears about e-bike safety, driven by media coverage of fires linked to uncertified batteries. ACT director Jonathan Harrison notes that these incidents often involve aftermarket batteries from unapproved sellers, not e-bikes themselves. To counter misinformation, the ACT launched the E-Bike Positive campaign, promoting safe e-bike purchases and encouraging accurate media reporting to support e-bikes as a sustainable transport solution | eBiketips

Product Launches & Updates

Hyundai will unveil its Ioniq 9, a three-row electric SUV, in November. Built on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, also used for the Ioniq 5 and 6, the Ioniq 9 promises spacious design with “parametric pixels” headlamps and “Aerosthetic” styling that combines aerodynamics with visual appeal. Inspired by Korean hanbok lines and featuring multispoke wheels, the Ioniq 9 is set to appeal to U.S. buyers seeking larger, advanced electric vehicles | Arstechnica

Aurora Innovation delayed its commercial autonomous truck launch to April 2025, extending its timeline by a quarter to refine its self-driving tech. The company aims for 90% autonomous operation by launch, up from 80% currently. Aurora plans to start with 10 driverless trucks, scaling up later in 2025. Testing with clients like FedEx, Aurora has logged over 2.2 million miles, reinforcing its driver-as-a-service model for future scalabilit | TechCrunch

Cadillac is introducing its first performance electric vehicle, the 2026 Lyriq-V, marking the EV's entry into the V-Series lineup. Expected in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, the Lyriq-V will feature all-wheel drive and rapid acceleration, tapping into Cadillac’s legacy of luxury and performance. Specific details will be revealed in early 2025, with model availability anticipated by late 2025. This release builds on the success of the 2022 Lyriq EV | The Verge

Lucid Motors has unveiled pricing for its new Gravity SUV, with the high-end Grand Touring model starting at $94,900 and set for production in late 2024. The more affordable Touring model, starting at $79,900, will follow in 2025. Gravity promises up to 440 miles of range, 800 horsepower, and rapid acceleration, with orders opening on November 7. Lucid’s first SUV will also feature Tesla-compatible charging for greater convenience | The Verge

Ridehailing, Carsharing, & Delivery

Amazon-owned Zoox will soon deploy its autonomous robotaxis in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood and on the Las Vegas Strip, starting with employee rides. The company is prioritizing safety, working closely with regulators, and will expand its service gradually. Zoox plans an early rider program in 2025 before opening to the public. With in-house assembly facilities, Zoox aims to scale production and expand geographically over the coming years | TechCrunch

Jon McNeill, former Tesla and Lyft executive, discussed Tesla's automation goals and robotaxi plans at the World Business Forum. He expressed disappointment in Tesla's recent robotaxi reveal, noting only prototypes were shown without a clear roadmap for full autonomy. McNeill emphasized the challenges of building electric vehicles, stating that success requires strong leadership and innovation. He raised safety concerns about Tesla’s reliance solely on cameras for self-driving, suggesting lidar may be necessary for improved visibility | TechCrunch

Waymo is enhancing its robotaxi technology by developing a new training model called EMMA, built on Google’s Gemini. This model improves decision-making for autonomous vehicles by processing sensor data to predict future paths. EMMA aims to solve issues faced by traditional systems, such as limited communication between modules. While promising, it has limitations, like not handling 3D sensor data. This innovation highlights Waymo's lead in autonomous driving, offering insights into the future of transportation | The Verge

Avride, a robotics company spun off from Yandex, has unveiled a new four-wheeled sidewalk delivery robot aimed at improving efficiency. This design reduces energy consumption, allowing the robots to operate longer without recharging. The robots feature enhanced maneuverability for navigating tight spaces and are equipped with a modular cargo area for various package sizes. Expected to deploy over 100 units in Austin by January 2025, these advancements may enhance urban delivery services and improve customer interaction | The Verge

Cities & Policy

Denver’s e-bike rebate program has sparked widespread interest since 2022, distributing nearly 15,000 vouchers to reduce traffic, emissions, and promote eco-friendly travel. Originally uncertain of its impact, the city now sees a high demand for vouchers and the program has boosted local bike shops and inspired national adoption. However, critics point to limited emissions reduction and infrastructure challenges, highlighting the need for more secure bike lanes to support lasting adoption | Bloomberg

Louisville, Colorado, has launched the nation’s first all-electric garbage truck fleet, aiming to cut emissions and noise pollution while boosting safety with enhanced driver visibility. The new trucks, developed with Republic Services, feature 360-degree cameras, lane-departure sensors, and automated braking. Mayor Chris Leh praised the fleet’s benefits to the community, and Republic Services highlighted the fleet as a sustainable model for other cities aiming to reduce greenhouse gases and improve urban life | Electrek

The "Yes on K" campaign is rallying support to make San Francisco’s Great Highway Park a permanent feature. As the November 5 election nears, polls show a close race, with 46% in favor and 44% opposed. Campaign volunteers have engaged in extensive outreach, reaching over 10,000 voters. Supporters can help by volunteering or donating to boost efforts, ensuring the park’s future as a lasting green space for San Francisco | Streetsblog

News Products, Features, Data Points

Polestar’s access to Tesla Superchargers expands U.S. charging options for its EVs, but proposed U.S. restrictions on Chinese software and hardware could ban Polestar’s vehicles from the market by 2027. Polestar, headquartered in Sweden with a NASDAQ listing, argues the rules are overly broad and harm U.S.-based production. The company urges regulators to refine the rule, stressing that its manufacturing and leadership largely reside outside China | ArsTechnica

BANF, a Korea-based startup, has developed smart tires equipped with sensors to improve truck fuel efficiency and road safety. These sensors monitor tire pressure, temperature, tread wear, alignment, and lug nut stability, providing 90% accurate insights for fleet managers. This data, analyzed through machine learning, also helps detect cargo load and road conditions. BANF’s technology aims to complement existing road monitoring systems, supporting efficient road maintenance and safety for autonomous and conventional trucks | TechCrunch

Ford is launching a branded NACS-to-CCS adapter for its EV customers to access Tesla Superchargers, addressing recent charging issues with existing adapters. Produced by Lectron, Ford's adapter promises improved reliability following a design flaw fix. Ford is also the first automaker to offer these adapters for free, with shipments beginning today, while competitors like Rivian, Volvo, and GM charge for similar adapters | The Verge

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