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We knew at the present time was coming: Cruise is useless — no less than as a robotaxi firm. Normal Motors accomplished its acquisition of GM Cruise Holdings LLC; Cruise is now an entirely owned subsidiary of GM.
The upshot is a 50% discount in employees — that’s about 1,000 folks. The following step is to combine the remaining workers into the folds of GM, the place they’ll work on bettering the automaker’s superior driver-assistance system.
Amongst my many questions on that is whether or not GM will efficiently retain the remaining expertise, most of whom I’ve been advised are engineers. And can that contemporary expertise translate into an improved superior driver-assistance system, branded as Tremendous Cruise, and finally private autonomous autos?
I’m not satisfied that buying expertise — who have been impressed by and constant to Cruise’s now departed co-founder and CEO Kyle Vogt — is an effective match. However hey, I’ve been improper earlier than.
Through the years, I’ve spoken to numerous Cruise engineers, and each time I’d stroll away pondering, “Well, there’s a true believer.” I haven’t met each Cruise worker, however the ones I’ve exuded a perception within the autonomous car mission and appeared thrilled to be working lengthy hours to realize it.
For any present and former Cruisers on the market, attain out. I’d love to speak concerning the early days with you. Electronic mail me at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com.
Just a little hen
Just a few extra little birds got here to us from Cruise in latest days. A lot of the communication centered on the approaching layoffs, which I addressed above. However I believed this was an fascinating nugget from sources who shared how they thought — no less than for a time — Cruise may restart its robotaxi operations.
One indicator was this tidbit from sources who advised us that Cruise had been able to implement a retrofitted sensor resolution, internally known as Undertaking Rhino, that might have solved for the October 2 incident by creating extra visibility and consciousness beneath the automobile. The “incident” is in reference to an occasion in 2023 when a pedestrian, who had initially been hit by a human-driven automobile, obtained caught below after which dragged by one of many firm’s robotaxis.
Bought a tip for us? Electronic mail Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or try these directions to learn to contact us by way of encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.
Offers!
Only a bunch of offers this week!
Utilized Instinct acquired EpiSys Science Inc., an organization that developed autonomy software program for nationwide safety, together with uncrewed aerial methods, floor warfare, maritime monitoring, and battle administration command and management. Phrases weren’t disclosed. Utilized Instinct is maybe greatest referred to as an autonomous car software program firm; these days it has been pushing deeper into protection.
GenLogs, a startup that developed freight intelligence software program, raised $14.6 million in a Collection A funding spherical led by Venrock and HOF Capital. Metal Atlas, AutoTech Ventures, Enterprise 53, TitletownTech, Plug and Play Ventures, and Heartland Ventures additionally participated within the spherical.
Presto, a startup that claims it’s constructing the Stripe of EV charging, raised $15 million in a seed spherical led by Union Sq. Ventures, the corporate solely advised TechCrunch. The spherical additionally included investments from Congruent Ventures, Jetstream, and Powerhouse Ventures.
Notable reads and different tidbits
ADAS
We lined Tesla earnings in final week’s version however wished to flag this text by Sean O’Kane, which reminds us of all the guarantees Elon Musk has made round his Full Self-Driving software program and his latest admission that a few of its autos will, in reality, want a {hardware} improve.
Autonomous autos
The California Division of Motor Autos launched information that reveals a 50% drop in autonomous car check miles. Sure, the tip of Cruise is partially accountable. However there are different components at play. Right here’s what else is happening.
Waabi has partnered with Volvo Autonomous Options to collectively develop and deploy autonomous vans. Reminder: Volvo additionally has a take care of Aurora.
Waymo is now exhibiting up on the Uber app in Austin. For now, this doesn’t translate right into a Waymo selecting folks up. However it’s going to quickly.
Electrical autos, charging, & batteries
The Chicago Auto Present is below approach, and whereas most — just like the Subaru Forester Hybrid — are gentle hybrids or inner combustion engine-powered autos, there have been EVs, too. Stellantis revealed the all-electric 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Restricted trim that begins at $66,995 and has an estimated vary of 294 miles.
Ford reported earnings this week and, welp, its EV enterprise misplaced about $5 billion in 2024. However that wasn’t the one factor that caught my eye. As an alternative, it was CEO Jim Farley’s feedback on tariffs.
Scout Motors, the Volkswagen spinout that plans to supply all-electric and range-extended electrical vans and SUVs, was sued by a bunch of VW and Audi sellers in Florida over its plan to promote on to shoppers.
Trip-hailing and gig economic system
Lyft has partnered with AI startup Anthropic to construct an AI assistant that handles preliminary consumption for customer support inquiries for each riders and drivers.
Area and way forward for flight
That is an fascinating characteristic on a startup known as Circularity Fuels, which can make diamonds on its path to creating e-fuels to energy jet planes.
This week’s wheels
This week, we’ll hear from TechCrunch reporter Rebecca Bellan and her time driving a 2024 Kia Niro. (Please word that the photograph above is of a 2025 mannequin.)
I rented a 2024 Kia Niro over the weekend to drive a pair hours north of New York Metropolis.
It’s a cute, zippy SUV, however I struggled in two areas wanted for a street journey: battery life in winter and the placement of the quantity button/knob.
It solely took about an hour and a half of driving, or about 70 miles, for the battery to go from totally charged to half empty.
This kicked my anxiousness into gear, as I wasn’t positive the place within the sticks of Connecticut I’d have the ability to discover a charger. I discovered one, ultimately, a lone EVgo charger in a Planet Health car parking zone. “Marsha” was marketed to cost at 50 kW however ended up drip feeding my battery at a stunning tempo of 17 kW. Let’s simply say, I sat in that car parking zone for some time.
The amount button or knob was additionally conspicuously absent. That is my largest pet peeve with software-defined autos: the obsession with contact screens as a substitute of tactile knobs that you may manipulate whilst you’re driving so that you don’t should take your eyes off the street. Neither I, nor any one among my passengers, have been in a position to determine how you can regulate the quantity with out utilizing the button on the wheel.
I lastly simply googled “Kia Niro volume” and positive sufficient I discovered a Reddit submit that I might have written myself. Apparently, one should faucet the “button” above the orange fan to alter out of local weather management mode, after which one can use the left temperature knob to alter the quantity. Unbelievable.
What’s “This week’s wheels”? It’s an opportunity to be taught concerning the completely different transportation merchandise we’re testing, whether or not it’s an electrical or hybrid automobile, an e-bike or perhaps a journey in an autonomous car.
