Revolutionizing Mobility: From Inclusive Bike-Sharing to Game-Changing EVs and Remote-Driving Tech | January 10th, 2025
Plus, Denver’s E-Bike Voucher Success and Serve Robotics Expands Its Delivery Fleet to 2,000 Units
Issue [#271] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!
Micromobility
Bike-sharing has failed to achieve inclusive urban transport. While some cities focus on income, women, people of color, and other groups remain underrepresented. Community bike shops, through initiatives like free repairs and inclusive training programs, successfully engage marginalized communities. By partnering with these shops, the bike-sharing industry can address these shortcomings, improve ridership diversity, and train a more diverse workforce | ZAGDaily
Urban Sharing, Cycling Industries Europe, and Pashley drive micromobility innovation through the 2024 European Declaration on Cycling, bike refurbishments, flexible operational models, and Urban Crew v2.0. Challenges addressed include disorganized parking, outdated processes, unpredictable rentals, and vandalism, shaping future urban mobility ecosystems | ZAGDaily
Denver's successful e-bike voucher program, spearheaded by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, incentivizes residents to purchase electric bicycles. Over 9,000 vouchers have been redeemed, reducing car usage and improving air quality. The program targets low-income residents, addressing transportation inequities. While challenges like safety and infrastructure remain, e-bikes offer a promising path towards sustainable urban mobility | Mother Jones
Swiss company Micro introduces the Microlino Spider, an all-electric, open-door “anti-pickup truck” designed for U.S. golf cart communities, resorts, and walkable villages. Targeting solo trips, it counters America’s oversized SUVs, posing rising risks to pedestrians and cyclists | The Verge
Product Launches & Updates
Tesla’s refreshed Model Y, the "Juniper," debuts in Asia Pacific with sleeker styling, Cybertruck-inspired lighting, ventilated seats, a rear-seat display, and a steering stalk. Offering up to 342 miles WLTP range, it ships to China in March 2025, U.S. later. | Engadget
Hyundai's Inster EV, its cheapest, launched in Japan. Priced at $18,000, it competes with BYD's Dolphin and Nissan's Sakura. Previously, Hyundai re-entered the Japanese market in early 2022, introducing models like IONIQ 5 and Kona Electric. The Inster, successful in Korea as the Casper Electric, aims to boost Hyundai's market share in Japan | Electrek
Heybike, known for entry-level e-bikes, unveiled the ALPHA mid-drive e-bike at CES. Powered by a MiVice X700 motor with a torque sensor, the ALPHA offers improved hill-climbing and a more natural ride than hub-motor models. Despite a claimed 60-mile range, the ALPHA includes practical features like a rear rack and fenders. Proper shifting technique is crucial for mid-drives. Competitive pricing will be key for market success | Electrek
Segway launched two e-bikes at CES 2025: the off-road Xyber ($2,999.99) with powerful specs and a road-legal version arriving later, and the versatile Xafari ($2,399.99), featuring adjustable suspension, removable battery, and practical storage. Both include Segway’s Intelligent Ride System | TechCrunch
Pebble, founded by Bingrui Yang, unveiled the 25-foot all-electric Pebble Flow RV at CES 2025, starting at $109,500. Built in Fremont, California, it features customization options, automation with Nvidia’s Drive Orin, and a remote-controlled hitch. Production begins in early 2025 | TechCrunch
Honda's 0 Series EVs, including the 0 SUV and 0 Saloon, launch in 2026. Powered by the in-house Asimo OS, they feature unique designs, Level 3 autonomy, and a single, powerful ECU. | The Verge
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
Waymo and Zeekr, partnered since 2021, developed the Zeekr RT robotaxi, revealed in 2022. Testing began in 2024, with prototypes equipped with 13 cameras, 4 lidar, 6 radar, and sensor-cleaning systems. At CES 2025, Zeekr announced mass production, with testing in San Francisco and Phoenix | TechCrunch
Uber partners with Nvidia, using Cosmos and DGX Cloud to accelerate AV development. Cosmos simulates realistic environments for AI training. 2 Uber previously pursued in-house AV development, including with Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Center, facing challenges. Now, Uber focuses on partnerships with companies like Waymo and Aurora Innovation, deploying AVs cautiously, as seen in the limited initial rollout in Austin and Atlanta | TechCrunch
Lyft offers a $1.50 ride credit for January rides within NYC's Central Business District. This credit applies to both Lyft and Citi Bike rides. Riders already pay multiple fees, including the $2.50 Airport Fee, $2.75 MTA Congestion Fee, 8.875% Sales Tax, and 2.75% Black Car Fund Fee. Lyft aims to ease the impact of the new $1.50 congestion fee | Lyft Newsroom
Vay, a Berlin-based remote-driving tech company, plans to expand its Las Vegas fleet to 100 vehicles by 2025. It has secured an 8,500-square-foot production facility, offering affordable remote driving services for cars, trucks, and autonomous vehicles. Since launch, Vay has completed 6,000 trips and is hiring remote drivers, training them at its Vay Remote Driving Academy | Tech.eu
Investment & Deals
A Delaware judge approved a settlement requiring Tesla directors—Robyn Denholm, Larry Ellison, Kimbal Musk, and James Murdoch—to return up to $919 million following a 2020 lawsuit by the Police and Fire Retirement System of Detroit. The directors must repay $735 million in stock and options and forgo $184 million in pay. Three law firms will receive $176 million in fees, although Tesla sought a $64 million cap. Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, who previously ruled against Elon Musk’s pay package, oversaw the case | TechCrunch
Trucks Venture Capital, a San Francisco-based firm specializing in transportation investments, launched a $70 million fund. With support from strategic partners like automotive suppliers and airlines, Trucks VC plans to invest in 30 early-stage companies, focusing on founders rather than specific technologies. Their portfolio includes companies like Treehouse, JetZero, and Carvis | TechCrunch
Serve Robotics raised $80 million to expand its robot delivery fleet to 2,000 units by 2025. This funding will improve cash flow by eliminating equipment financing. Serve currently operates 100 robots in Los Angeles with Uber Eats and 7-Eleven. They partnered with Wing for a drone-robot delivery trial in Dallas. The company expects to achieve operational profitability upon full fleet utilization | TechCrunch
Hyundai Motor Group will invest over $16.6 billion in 2025 to advance EVs, technology, and R&D, focusing on electrification, SDVs, and next-gen products. This includes new EV plants in Ulsan and Georgia, the IONIQ 9 production, and selling vehicles on Amazon | Electrek
NXP Semiconductors is acquiring TTTech Auto for $625 million in cash. Based in Vienna, TTTech Auto develops systems for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). NXP's CoreRide platform, launched in March 2024, enhances SDV transformation. Pending approvals, TTTech Auto’s assets, team, and IP will integrate into NXP's automotive division | Tech.eu
Mayten, a Brussels-based mobility tech company founded in 2018, acquired a majority stake in US-based Micromobility Industries, known for its EV conferences, podcast, and YouTube. CEO Prabin Joel Jones takes charge, with co-founders Horace Dediu and James Gross remaining involved | ZAGDaily
New Products, Features, and Data Points
Yadea, the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturer, launched an electric motorbike with HuaYu sodium-ion batteries. These batteries offer 15-minute 80% charging and enhanced safety. Although currently lower in energy density than lithium-ion, advancements are rapidly closing the gap. Yadea's adoption of this technology could significantly impact the electric vehicle industry, promoting the use of safer, more sustainable sodium-ion batteries | Electrek
Bosch eBike Systems is set to unveil new technology at CES 2025, possibly focusing on enhanced e-bike battery safety, such as potted batteries for durability in tough conditions, or theft-prevention features like GPS tracking and tamper-proof locks | Electrek
BMW's new iDrive system, debuting in the X-class SUV on the Neue Klasse platform, features a 3D heads-up display replacing the traditional gauge cluster. It integrates navigation and driver-assistance, offering a personalized experience through edge AI and large language models. The system includes a customizable infotainment screen with an app store | The Verge
Goodyear’s SightLine smart tire technology will enhance Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) in low-friction conditions like rain, snow, and ice, with capabilities up to 50mph. Designed to meet 2029 U.S. AEB regulations, SightLine will integrate friction and tire wear detection, aiding automakers | The Verge
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