TechCrunch Mobility has announced its latest updates in the transportation sector, detailing key developments and significant moves in the industry. This week’s highlights include Lyft’s market expansion into Europe, Nuro’s new operations in Japan, the debut drive of the Lucid Gravity SUV, as well as notable occurrences at the New York International Auto Show, and discussions surrounding SPACs.
The resurgence of SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) was notably observed with the merger of autonomous vehicle startup Kodiak Robotics and Ares Acquisition Corporation II. This transaction evaluates Kodiak at approximately $2.5 billion pre-money. Kodiak founder and CEO, Don Burnette, cited the launch of driverless vehicles and the current momentum in the autonomy sector as key factors for opting for a SPAC.
Additionally, the article highlights several investment and acquisition deals: Conifer secured $20 million in funding; Kavak raised $127 million at a lowered valuation; Lyft is acquiring the German app FreeNow for $197 million; and Nyobolt raised $30 million with backing from IQ Capital and other investors.
In a shift within autonomous vehicles, Nuro is set to map and gather data in Japan using its U.S. fleet cars, and Waymo, alongside Uber, plans to launch a robotaxi service in Atlanta. Zoox is also preparing for a commercial launch, indicated by its partnership with Stingray Music.
China has tightened regulations on the promotion of driver-assistance technologies, prohibiting terms like “autonomous driving” in advertisements, impacting companies such as Tesla, which has adjusted its marketing strategies.
Developments in electric vehicles include Lime’s new recycling initiative for scooter batteries and Kia’s unveiling of the 2026 EV4 sedan. Meanwhile, Lucid Gravity and Subaru’s Trailseeker were also introduced, and Rivian began delivering vans to HelloFresh.
Archer Aviation and United Airlines proposed an air taxi network in New York, offering rides in addition to traditional airline tickets.
In the ride-hailing sector, Gensol Engineering is under investigation for potential misuse of electric vehicle loans, affecting its affiliate, BluSmart, which has suspended services in certain Indian cities.
Lastly, Hertz faced a data breach that compromised customer information, attributed to a vendor’s security vulnerability from a prior mass-hacking incident.
