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A quick note to readers: I will not be publishing any issues next week due to the July 4th holiday. I’ll see you all next week.
A series of stories this week shed light on the ongoing – and apparently growing – investigation into Tesla’s automated driving system known as ‘full self-driving’ (supervised). A fatal crash involving a Tesla that struck a home in Texas and killed a 76-year-old woman received national attention after the driver told police that Autopilot — the company’s basic driver-assistance system, which has since been discontinued — was engaged at the time of the crash.
Ashok Eluswamy, the vice president of AI software at Tesla shared a different description of the accident, claiming on
Their comments suggest that the vehicle was equipped with FSD (supervised), not autopilot, but without an independent investigation we cannot know for sure. But eventually we can do it.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have now begun an investigation into the accident.
Meanwhile, Tesla settled a lawsuit related to a fatal 2023 crash involving a vehicle using FSD (supervised). The crash is part of a separate NHTSA investigation into the Tesla FSD that focuses on whether the system could “detect and respond appropriately to low-visibility conditions on the roadway”, such as “sun glare, fog, or wind-blown dust”.
All this attention comes as Tesla positions itself as an AI and robotics company. FSD (Supervised) is currently the most visible, revenue-generating product associated with that branding.
a little bird
A reader who has previously shared tips with us alerted me to a research report on Waymo and its growing fleet of Ojai robotaxis. For a refresher, Waymo made a supplier deal with the Chinese-owned brand Geely Holding Group to provide an electric vehicle designed to operate as a robotaxi.
The minivan-like robotaxi was designed in Sweden and manufactured in China. (These vehicles have no vehicle communications modules; current US policy bans Chinese-connected vehicle technology.) Once it reaches the US, Waymo takes over and adds its self-driving systems. Ojai is equipped with Waymo’s sixth-generation system – consisting of 13 cameras, four lidar sensors, six radar units and an array of external audio receivers.
New York-based research firm MoffettNathanson found that Waymo’s Ojai programme is more serious than it had first appeared. The firm examined bill of lading documents, which are detailed receipts for shipped goods filed with the U.S. government. The company countered the CM1e label for Zeeker vehicles, which is the company’s designation for Waymo-bound vehicles.
MoffettNathanson, who shared his report with TechCrunch, found that Waymo is on track to import 3,156 vehicles into the US this year, or about 300 vehicles a month.
Deals!
Accion Labs, a Silicon Valley startup that is developing mobile pods that can autonomously inspect, clean and charge robotaxis, raised $10 million in a seed round led by Crane Venture Partners. Other participants included Y Combinator, Expa, the venture firm founded by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp, Robin Hood Ventures, and Founders Capital.
Cacao and Increased Mobility, an autonomous vehicle technology startup, are jointly exploring the commercialisation of robotaxi services in international markets, starting with Europe.
Elroy Air, an autonomous heavy-cargo drone startup, plans to go public through a merger with blank-check firm Columbus Circle Capital Corp. II. The value of this deal is approximately $1 billion.
In part, a company that builds AI tools for the automotive repair supply chain raised a 50 million dollar Series B round led by DST Global Partners.
Spiro, an African electric vehicle and clean energy infrastructure platform, has finalised a $55 million investment from Neutrals Capital, a Chinese growth-stage fund.
Terawatt Infrastructure, a company that provides EV charging for fleets, including Waymo and other autonomous and electric fleets, has set up a five-year senior secured credit facility that will allow it to borrow as much as it can afford. $300 million From banks. The company said that this amount will help in the acquisition and development of charging depots.
Notable readings and other news
Companies like Tesla and Zoox can get a boost from the US Department of Transportation, which has proposed changes to federal vehicle regulations that would allow them to avoid including brake pedals in “vehicles that are specifically operated by automated driving systems.”
Lucid Motors is laying off 18% of its workforce, or about 1,500 employees, and cutting the second shift of EV production at its factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. Reminder: These layoffs come just four months after the EV maker cut 12% of its workforce. CEO Silvio Napoli said the cuts are part of an effort to “simplify the company, accelerate execution and make Lucid more competitive over time”. In this quest for simplification, what will Lucid sacrifice?
Lift CEO David Risher posted a blog that got my attention. In it he outlined the company’s multi-sensor safety standard for autonomous rides. The result: Autonomous vehicles using one type of sensor can’t go on the Lyft network. I contacted the company and they confirmed what the rule means – vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck and Tesla Robotaxi that use FSD (Unsupervised) will not qualify because they only use cameras. By the way, the rules do not apply to advanced driver-assistance systems. So all humans who drive Tesla vehicles on the Lyft app will not be affected.
OpenAI, hired by Uber India Chairman Prabhjit Singh, will be its first managing director.
Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle maker, owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely, can no longer sell its new cars in the US market. US government legislation restricts imported vehicles by banning Chinese connected car technology.
WorldFleet Management Company is introducing sticky tracking labels the size of business cards to help prevent cargo theft.
Slate auto-pricing for the Absolutely A simple electric truck starts at $24,950. Would you pay $25K for a two-seat truck with a 205-mile range, hand-crank windows, no infotainment system, and a grey composite material finish (owners can order customisable wraps for the vehicle)? And climate tech reporter and in-house battery expert Tim De Chant explains why Slate replaced the battery in its cheap EV truck.
Uber: The company is facing a lawsuit from shareholders who accuse the board and management of prioritising profits over compliance and safety, saying their decisions have put the company and its shareholders at risk.
Waymo has set up a unit in Germany, which a German news outlet, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, first reported. The company registration filing makes it clear that it is preparing to launch robotaxi services in the country. However, that doesn’t mean it’s imminent, insiders tell me. Meanwhile, Waymo has removed its waiting list in Nashville, a move that opens its service to the public.
Zox gave its custom-built robotaxis a facelift as it prepares for commercial service and mass production at its Hayward, California facility.
