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Seven or eight years ago, anyone who consumes business technology news may have come across the phrase “race to build self-driving cars.” In private conversations, as a company executive and a startup founder, I sometimes referred to the commercialization of self-driving car technology as “racial.” This phrase, including some of my articles, was pervasive in the reports at the time.
What we’ve learned is that this is not a race to develop and prove technology and make it a profitable business, like a long, curved, fragmented road that looks more like a fan of the alluvial plains than a racetrack. It’s not as much a competition with others as an internal contest with existential interests.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no real battlefield, especially using Robotaxis, among those working on technology. Many may point out how many cities the company has started as one indicator. It’s useful, but I think it’s a bit vague and easy to use.
Two recent news items have made me think about smaller, concrete battlefields within the city, airports and public transport.
The airport was important to the success of the ride company. The same goes for Robotaxis. Today, Waymo offers rides with Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. And it’s obviously trying to unlock more.
This week, Waymo was given permission to begin testing self-driving cars at San Francisco International Airport prior to the launch of commercial services. This will take place just two weeks after Waymo is cleared to begin testing at nearby San Josemineta International Airport. Tesla is also trying to put on her elbows to provide ride service at these airports.
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Meanwhile, they attacked transactions that could have widespread impacts on cities through Waymo and Transit Software Company. Government agencies used for VIA public transport can fold Waymo’s Robotaxis directly into the public transport network. The first city is Chandler, outside Phoenix, through a shared fleet of Chandler Flex on demand.
In terms of reach, this makes sense, but in the short term it may not be a cash cow for Waymo. As a Waymo spokesperson explained to me, riders may have the option to book a trip with Waymo when traditional Chandler Flex vehicles are not available. If a person chooses to ride with Waymo, Chandler Flex welcomes a completely autonomous ride towards the Waymo app at a discount of under $2. At such a low price, it’s hard to see how this pushes Waymo’s balance sheet into black.
Still, it’s an important volume play. And via CEO Daniel Lamott showed in one interview that he hopes this will spread to hundreds of cities.
Little bird
Last week I gave you three little birds. Don’t worry – there are more in the future.
Any tips for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at Kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com (kkorosec.07) or sean o’kane (sean.okane@techcrunch.com).
Great deal!
UK startup Wave has gained buzz for locking trades and capital due to its generalized end-to-end approach to automated driving technology. You may remember a year ago, Wayve raised $1.05 billion in the Series C round, featuring SoftBank Group, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
Wayve is currently working on a Series D round, and it appears Nvidia is ready to drop more capital. In a letter of intent recently signed by the two companies, Nvidia said it would value a $500 million strategic investment in Wayve’s next round. I spoke to Wayve CEO Alex Kendall, and he wouldn’t have said exactly when this round was expected to close. But he said, “We’re working towards it right away.”
Other deals that caught my attention…
Divergent Technologies was once solid in the automotive sector. Recently, Advanced Manufacturing Company has placed itself in a defense company, banning transactions with Lockheed Martin, RTX and General Dynamics. It currently raises $290 million, including $40 million in debt, to expand production of missile parts and other special military components.
EV Realty, a startup focused on providing Semitrucks billing, has raised $75 million in a round led by Private Equity Investor NGP. Startups will use the funds to build additional charging hubs across California.
Bloomberg cites an anonymous source, Uber-backed African vehicle funding startup Move is trying to raise more than $300 million in the round, Bloomberg reported.
XL Batteries, a Marlboro, Massachusetts-based startup, developed a flow battery for energy storage and raised $7.5 million from Mellin investors.
Notable readings and other information
The Hyundai Motor Group is aimed at growth, and North America is the heart of its plan. Investors’ Day, the South Korean automaker said it hopes to increase annual sales from 4.17 million in 2025 to 5.55 million by 2030.
Hyundai invests capital to get there. This includes investing $2.7 billion over three years to expand the total production capacity of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia. The company expects “electrified vehicles” (including 18 new hybrid models by 2030) to account for 60% of total sales, reaching 3.3 million units, with significant growth expected in North America, Europe and South Korea.
Libian officially smashed the ground at a longtime factory near Atlanta.
Stellantis has ended its plans to produce a 1500 Rev Pickup Truck with all-electric RAM, as demand for full-size EV trucks is low. However, it retains an extended range of ram charger and is now changed to RAM 1500 Rev.
Tesla said it would be less likely to catch people inside the car as it redesigns the door handle. The decision comes a day after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating allegations that Tesla’s door handles would become inoperable under certain circumstances in a Model Y SUV. It also follows an investigation by Bloomberg that exposed the issue.
Meanwhile, in Australia, Tesla was reminded of the home battery of the domestic Powerwall 2 after receiving reports of a fire that led to “minor property damage.”
Uber will be testing with drones for Uber Eats delivery in several US markets by the end of this year, part of a new partnership with Israeli startup FlyTrex.
Waymo launched its commercial Robotaxi service in Nashville in 2026 and is partnering with Lyft to expand its reach.
One more…
Speaking of Wayve, I thought it was worth reminding me that startup co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall will be on stage at TechCrunch Strupt 2025. The event will take place in San Francisco’s western Moscone from October 27th to October 29th. Sign up here to join over 10,000 startups and VC leaders.
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