Special Edition YDX-MORO 07: Yamaha celebrates 30th anniversary with a bang! | May 19, 2023

Plus, Hyundai N Vision 74 production model is coming, Mercedes-Benz is debuting VAN.EA platform, Lyft is halting its ridesharing service, and TuSimple is laying off 30% of its workforce.

Issue [#189] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!

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Micromobility

A 2014 report by the company Inrix declared Brussels as one of the two most congested cities in Europe or North America, but times have changed. The city is revamping its transportation network. People are shifting from cars towards bikes, transit, or walking, becoming an example for other cities. The Belgian capital can serve as an inspiration for those who seek to loosen the automobile's grip on urban America / Bloomberg

In an effort to decrease the use of cars and increase cycling, the French government wants to invest two billion euros ($2.2 billion) through 2027 to upgrade the infrastructure for bicycles and provide financial aid for bike purchases. From 2023 to 2027, the government will invest 250 million euros per year in additional bike lanes with the goal of doubling the network of bike lanes / Reuters

In order to encourage more Americans to use electric scooters and bikes instead of their cars for transportation, micromobility companies argue that cities must implement rules that encourage the usage of these vehicles / StreetsBlog USA

You'll immediately realize that scooters and motorbikes much outnumber vehicles in Asia's developing megacities. Within a short period, these fleets of two-wheelers will develop into battery-powered, always-connected, semi-autonomous vehicles that provide a more formidable alternative to their four-wheeled competitors. The reason might be the sustainability, affordability, recreational capacity, and health benefits they provide to their riders / The Register

Product Launches & Updates

The 30th Anniversary Special Edition YDX-MORO 07 electric bicycle, which Yamaha has just debuted, is a brand-new, limited edition model. As the first business to introduce a production e-bike to the market, Yamaha is celebrating 30 years of e-bike construction with its launch. This special edition features remarkable range efficiency, higher torque, Yamaha’s most advanced drive technology yet in the PW-X3 motor, and more! / Electrek

The Lectric XP 3.0 is getting an upgrade but with no cost whatsoever! The Phoenix-based e-bike manufacturer Lectric eBikes recently declared that the model will now offer hydraulic disc brakes instead of mechanical ones at the same price of $999. The more exciting thing about the update is that the customers who already bought their Lectric XP 3.0s before the announcement will also get a free hydraulic disc brake upgrade kit! / Electrek

A production model of Hyundai N Vision 74 is likely to debut on May 27 this year, according to Korean news outlet Money Today. Based on the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept, this model will apparently boast 670 horsepower from two electric motors on the rear axle, with other details still under wraps. Meanwhile, some outlets like Wikitree refuted these reports / The Drive

Get ready for a luxury #vanlife, all thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s recently released modular platform, VAN.EA! The German automaker’s upcoming lineup of electric vans will be based on the platform, delivering “high range with an optimal battery capacity.” The company claims that the latest platform can differentiate between commercial and personally owned vehicles and will allow building vans of varying sizes. / The Verge

Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB Model is finally coming to North America! Debuting on June 2, the model is expected to stretch an extra 10.6 inches over stock and boast a larger battery of 111-kWh producing 300 hp. But North American buyers will have to wait until the next year to have one in their garages / InsideEVs

Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery

David Risher, the new CEO of Lyft, is reorganizing the ridehailing platform, and one of the recent changes is to halt the ridesharing service. While the San Francisco-based ridehailing operator was the first to offer shared rides, Risher deemed this step necessary to better compete with its rival Uber. He further claimed that the decision is better aligned with what customers actually want / Fortune

The term “sharing” or, as called nowadays, the “gig economy” conveyed different meanings in different phases of its evolution. Originating from the true sharing of assets like houses or cars, it expanded to sharing of time, i.e., the hire of labor. Some even argued the sector is portraying “crowd-based capitalism.” In reality, the modern sharing platforms offer both house rentals and ride rentals but under a system of liability, providing risk management services to their drivers and homeowners. / Oversharing

According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, in December 2022, about 1 in 6 ride-hailing cars, including those run by Uber and Lyft, had an open safety recall initiated in August 2022. While, except for rental car firms, owners of vehicles are not required by federal law to finish open safety recalls, GAO reports that ride-hailing companies may need their drivers to complete open safety recalls and take appropriate action / SmartCities Dive

Soon you’ll be able to book an Uber without the app! This new ridehailing option was announced at the company’s annual Go-GET event in New York City on May 17. The latest upgrade includes hailing an Uber by dialing the toll-free number 1-833-USE-UBER (1-833-873-8237) in the U.S., making it effortless for people not comfortable using a smartphone yet / TechCrunch

Investment & Deals

Driveco, a Paris-based EV charging business, has raised €250 million in a fresh round of financing. The sum invested is the biggest thus far / Tech.eu

Figorr, a cold-chain startup, raises $1.5 million to support the introduction of data-driven insurance / TechCrunch

VinFast declares a $27 billion SPAC deal and wants to launch in the United States, very soon / Telematics News

Cities & Policy

An earlier ruling that prohibited Tesla from operating a store in the state where its electric vehicles were sold was officially overturned by the Delaware Supreme Court. Now Tesla may operate its own "dealership" and advance / InsideEVs

The special representative for road safety for the UN secretary general travels the globe to convey to governments that 1.3 million road fatalities per year are intolerable / Washington Post

Instead of aiding state and local governments obtain less polluting transit buses, the Federal Transit Administration's Low or No Emission Vehicle Plan, is artificially limiting the transition to zero-emission vehicles / SmartCities Dive

New Products, Features, and Data Points

A camera-like device created by Belgian firm Telraam allows anyone to point out a window and count the number of vehicles on the road using onboard technology. 50 traffic-counting sensors are being installed throughout San Francisco / TechCrunch

Async, a pioneer in the field of electric mobility, has added the Async A1 E-Bike as a thrilling new model to their line-up. This state-of-the-art electric moped blends svelte design with powerful performance and sophisticated functionality / StupidDope

In order to preserve funds and continue operating, TuSimple, the previously high-flying autonomous truck firm that went public in 2021, is downsizing and letting go of around 30% of its global personnel / TechCrunch

Apple Maps’ EV Routing feature has been adopted by the Porsche Taycan, making it the second car to do so. This feature helps drivers plan their trips by providing real-time traffic information and monitoring the vehicle’s battery levels to identify charging stations along the way / The Verge

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