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Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility, the same weekly newsletter you've been reading, but with a new name and a few changes.
Don't worry, this is still your hub for news and information on the future of transportation. This week, read about Amazonelectric vehicle starter fiskerelectric boats, a bunch of new financing deals and my time driving the new Let's EV9.
Come on!
a little bird
A little bird pointed us to a new website with some electric trucks that sure look familiar.
Remember Lordstown MotorsThe electric vehicle startup that went public via a SPAC and has since filed for bankruptcy? Steve Burnswho founded and was later ousted from Lordstown Motors, is back with a new electric vehicle startup called LandX engines.
LandX Motors' new website prominently displays the same Endurance electric pickup truck it once promised would beat Tesla, Ford and General Motors to market.
A person familiar with the company's plans told TechCrunch that it's not so much about the Endurance truck, but rather the underlying platform, software and engineering behind it. Still, with the former Lordstown trucks playing a starring role on the company's website and video, it's unclear how developed this plan is.
Do you want to send us a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at [email protected] or [email protected]. If you prefer to remain anonymous, Click here to contact uswhich includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging applications.
Offer of the week
Supply Chain Logistics Startup flexible port had a fairly tumultuous 2023 that included the founder Ryan Peterson ousting his hand-picked successor and regaining the CEO position and then acquiring the assets of the closed Convoy digital transport network.
The startup begins the year 2024 by propping up its business with an “unlimited convertible note” of $260 million. buya deal that was announced by Petersen in a series of posts on social media site X.
As a reminder, Shopify and Flexport are already attached. Flexport acquired Shopify's logistics division in 2023. The deal gave Shopify a 13% equity stake in Flexport and a seat on the board of directors.
Other offers that caught my attention…
electra, the Paris-based electric vehicle charging startup, raised $330 million in a Series B round led by Dutch pension fund services provider PGGM and Bpifrance's Large Venture fund. Eurazeo, RIVE Private Investment, the SNCF group through 574 Invest and Serena also participated.
Franziska Bossart, the new director of Amazon's Industrial Innovation Fund, spoke to me about how the billion-dollar fund is evolving. Tl;dr: You are expanding your geographic focus to Asia and Europe, and focusing on three areas, including ai.
International Battery Companya startup developing lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles, raised $35 million in a pre-Series A round led by RTP Global.
land motorcycleThe Cleveland-based electric motorcycle startup raised $3 million in a round led by a special venture vehicle called Nunc Coepi Ventures.
Lightship, an all-electric recreational vehicle startup, raised $34 million in a Series B round co-led by Obvious Ventures and Prelude Ventures. Other new investors include Allegis Capital and global recreational vehicle manufacturer THOR Industries and its investment partner TechNexus Venture Collaborative.
volt north, the Swedish battery startup, landed a $5 billion debt deal to help pay for the expansion of its first gigafactory. As TC+ journalist Tim de Chant writes: “Northvolt's $5 billion loan won't be enough to guarantee success, but it should be enough to help ramp up its output to the planned 60 gigawatt hours.”
Uber close alcohol delivery service Drizzle three years after the taxi company acquired it for $1.1 billion.
Notable readings and other tidbits
autonomous vehicles
YourSimple willpower withdraw from the Nasdaq stock exchange as it moves forward with its plan to exit the US market completely.
Electric vehicles, charging and batteries.
BMW'The future growth of the industry depends on electric vehicles, and all bets are finally being made, writes TC+ reporter Tim de Chants.
fisherman The Ocean electric SUV is being investigated by federal regulators over complaints of loss of braking.
GM recalled 66 electric delivery vans manufactured by its shiny drop subsidiary after the front-wheel drive units of at least two of them caught fire late last year. The cause appears to be related to a manufacturing defect.
Navierelectric boat startup, has launched a pilot program for its hydrofoil through a partnership with Stripe to carry passengers from the outskirts of San Francisco to the center of the city.
The future of flight
To thethe drone-powered delivery company operated by Alphabetintends to introduce a larger ship capable of delivering heavier packages to customers.
This week's wheels
Image credits: Kirsten Korosec
I headed to Napa Valley to try the Let's EV9 – an all-electric SUV with three rows that many believe will bring a whole new group of electric vehicle customers to the market.
Before I give some abbreviated thoughts on what I liked and didn't like, here are some specifics. The Kia EV9 comes in five versions; the cheapest, the rear-drive EV9 Light, starts at $54,900. I tested the GT-Line version, a top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive version that has a range of 270 miles and starts at $73,900 (for comparison, the Rivian R1S, which is AWD, comes standard with 260 miles). of range and starts at $78,000. The Kia EV9 Light RWD version equipped with the largest battery has the best range of 304 miles.
That I like? It stayed well planted on winding roads, even if I pushed the vehicle a bit. It's also quiet, has the kind of interior details one would expect from a premium-priced SUV, the seats are comfortable, and the advanced driver-assist system is easy to activate. The third row isn't exactly spacious, but it's certainly better than many three-row SUVs I've been in.
There were some glitches. I think Kia missed an opportunity by not giving the EV9 rear-wheel axle steering, and I'm not sure if the battery range, which ranges from 230 to 304 miles depending on model, is enough for buyers. Finally, the interior cabin layout is almost done, but I'm still not sure I like the location of the start button and shift lever (it's a stock hidden behind the steering wheel).
