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We knew today was coming: Cruise is useless — a minimum of as a robotaxi firm. Common Motors accomplished its acquisition of GM Cruise Holdings LLC; Cruise is now a completely owned subsidiary of GM.
The upshot is a 50% discount in employees — that’s about 1,000 individuals. The following step is to combine the remaining staff 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 informed are engineers. And can that contemporary expertise translate into an improved superior driver-assistance system, branded as Tremendous Cruise, and ultimately private autonomous autos?
I’m not satisfied that buying expertise — who have been impressed by and dependable to Cruise’s now departed co-founder and CEO Kyle Vogt — is an efficient match. However hey, I’ve been unsuitable earlier than.
Through the years, I’ve spoken to numerous Cruise engineers, and each time I might stroll away considering, “Well, there’s a true believer.” I haven’t met each Cruise worker, however the ones I’ve exuded a perception within the autonomous automobile mission and appeared thrilled to be working lengthy hours to attain it.
For any present and former Cruisers on the market, attain out. I might love to speak concerning the early days with you. E-mail me at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com.
A bit of fowl
A couple of 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 assumed this was an fascinating nugget from sources who shared how they thought — a minimum of for a time — Cruise would possibly restart its robotaxi operations.
One indicator was this tidbit from sources who informed us that Cruise had been able to implement a retrofitted sensor answer, internally known as Mission Rhino, that might have solved for the October 2 incident by creating further visibility and consciousness beneath the automotive. The “incident” is in reference to an occasion in 2023 when a pedestrian, who had initially been hit by a human-driven automotive, bought caught beneath after which dragged by one of many firm’s robotaxis.
Obtained a tip for us? E-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 techniques, floor warfare, maritime monitoring, and battle administration command and management. Phrases weren’t disclosed. Utilized Instinct is maybe greatest referred to as an autonomous automobile software program firm; recently 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 informed 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, the truth is, want a {hardware} improve.
Autonomous autos
The California Division of Motor Automobiles launched knowledge that exhibits a 50% drop in autonomous automobile take a look at miles. Sure, the top of Cruise is partially accountable. However there are different elements at play. Right here’s what else is happening.
Waabi has partnered with Volvo Autonomous Options to collectively develop and deploy autonomous vehicles. Reminder: Volvo additionally has a cope with Aurora.
Waymo is now displaying up on the Uber app in Austin. For now, this doesn’t translate right into a Waymo choosing individuals up. However it is going to quickly.
Electrical autos, charging, & batteries
The Chicago Auto Present is beneath method, 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 vehicles and SUVs, was sued by a gaggle of VW and Audi sellers in Florida over its plan to promote on to shoppers.
Experience-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.
House and way forward for flight
That is an fascinating characteristic on a startup referred to as Circularity Fuels, which is able to 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 be aware that the picture 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 situation of the amount 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 nervousness into gear, as I wasn’t positive the place within the sticks of Connecticut I’d be capable to discover a charger. I discovered one, in the long run, a lone EVgo charger in a Planet Health 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 parking zone for some time.
The quantity button or knob was additionally conspicuously absent. That is my largest pet peeve with software-defined autos: the obsession with contact screens as an alternative of tactile knobs that you could manipulate whilst you’re driving so that you don’t need to take your eyes off the street. Neither I, nor any one among my passengers, have been ready to determine methods to regulate the amount with out utilizing the button on the wheel.
I lastly simply googled “Kia Niro volume” and positive sufficient I discovered a Reddit put up 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 amount. 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 automotive, an e-bike or perhaps a trip in an autonomous automobile.
