It’s great to see you again at TechCrunch Mobility — your go-to source for updates and analysis on the next generation of transportation. To receive this directly in your inbox, subscribe for free by clicking TechCrunch Mobility!

I know you’re eager to find out the results from last week’s survey. (Quick reminder: Subscribe to the Mobility newsletter to take part in our surveys!) Here’s the question I posed: “What do you think is the most effective business model for autonomous vehicle technology? (Consider profitability.)”

Overwhelmingly, participants believe that longer-distance delivery is the best option, with 40% of responses favoring it. Robotaxis followed at 25.5%, while tech licensing to automakers garnered 19.1% and last-mile delivery received 14.9%. One reader reached out to mention that I missed including warehouse uses like autonomous forklifts. The longer-distance delivery category could be analyzed further, which we’ll address in this week’s newsletter.

Among the many justifications for a $1 trillion compensation scheme, controlling a fleet of robots certainly wasn’t what crossed my mind. However, this was precisely the case Elon Musk presented during Tesla’s third-quarter earnings call. 

Here’s the summary: On November 6, shareholders will decide whether to sanction a compensation plan proposed by the board that would allow Musk to acquire up to 12% of Tesla’s shares. If the company’s market value reaches $8.6 trillion, that package would equate to roughly $1 trillion. 

The board and Musk have dedicated weeks to convince shareholders to endorse this plan, despite recommendations from proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis urging investors to reject it. Musk is currently adopting an aggressive stance, evident at the close of the earnings call when he branded those firms corporate terrorists and made his concluding appeal. His argument concerning the robot army revolves more around influence and authority than purely financial gain. Although, it must be said, financial resources can provide both.

“My main worry line: If we develop this robot army, do I wield strong influence over that robot army? I wouldn’t feel secure about creating a robot army without having that strong influence,” Musk articulated during the earnings call. He referred to Tesla’s Optimus robot initiative, using it to illustrate the products he desires to control fully. 

This argument is unlikely to sway Musk’s detractors, especially in light of his position heading the Department of Government Efficiency. However, Musk may not feel compelled to persuade his increasing number of critics, unless they happen to be Tesla shareholders.

A little bird

This week, General Motors made the decision to terminate the BrightDrop electric van initiative after just four years. It wasn’t entirely unexpected; after all, numerous unsold vans have been left dormant in yards across Michigan and Canada for quite some time. (One little bird informed us that many are parked in a lot in Flint, Michigan.) GM pointed to a slower-than-anticipated market for commercial electric vans, but didn’t elaborate on why BrightDrop struggled so significantly.

Another little bird has provided some insight, however. The vans are expensive yet well-regarded and are expected to save money for fleet owners over time. Electric drivetrains fit perfectly with last-mile delivery. However, according to one insider, it seems GM overlooked the infrastructure aspect. The company heavily relied on external partnerships to establish depot charging instead of including it as part of fleet purchases, which turned away several potential clients and led to various complications.

Have a tip for us? Reach out to Kirsten Korosec at [email protected] or connect via Signal at kkorosec.07, or email Sean O’Kane at [email protected].

Deals!

The major highlight this week revolves around EVs and AI data centers. Yes, there’s a link. 

Redwood Materials successfully raised $350 million in a Series E funding round led by venture capital firm Eclipse, which also saw a new strategic investment from Nvidia’s venture arm, NVentures. Although the company’s valuation wasn’t disclosed, a knowledgeable source indicated to TechCrunch that it has reached approximately $6 billion, a billion higher than its last valuation.

A portion of this investment will be allocated to Redwood’s new energy storage sector, repurposing retired EV batteries that still have significant life remaining, bypassing the recycling phase. The company connects these decommissioned EV batteries with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, or the grid, to supply power to AI data centers or industrial facilities.

Other deals that caught my attention this week …

Avride attracted strategic investments and commitments totaling up to $375 million, with backing from Uber and Nebius. When I inquired whether it was purely equity, none of these firms provided details. However, one insider suggested paying attention to the “other commitments” component, indicating it may not represent a straightforward cash inflow.

Spiro, based in Dubai and focused on electric motorcycle production in Africa, secured $100 million in funding led by the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development branch of Afreximbank. This marks the most substantial funding round for African e-mobility to date.

Notable reads and other tidbits

General Motors made several announcements at a recent event in NYC, showcasing its intended direction. Of course, AI is a central aspect. Before AI could take center stage, GM declared it will revamp the electrical and computational frameworks of its forthcoming vehicles. The automaker will introduce a new electric architecture and centralized computing system in its new offerings, beginning with the Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028. This foundation will permit faster software delivery, more advanced automated driving features, including hands-free driving, and a bespoke conversational AI assistant.

Earnings season is here, and this quarter I’m closely observing data and executive commentary to gauge how tariffs and the expiring EV tax credit are impacting the automotive industry. I don’t have any solid insights yet — and likely won’t until the next quarter. 

Tariffs are affecting profits, as indicated by Q3 reports from GM and Ford. For example, GM anticipates that tariffs will diminish its profits by $2.3 billion in 2025, while Ford has projected a $2 billion hit to its finances. However, both forecasts are significantly better than what the automakers had predicted earlier this year, and they are optimistic about mitigating those costs. CEOs from both companies expressed gratitude to President Trump for extending a tariff relief measure concerning auto parts sourced from Canada and Mexico. 

In other GM and Ford updates: Ford will continue to halt production of its F-150 Lightning trucks as it focuses on its gas and hybrid F-Series models to recover from a fire at its main aluminum supplier Nevolis. Meanwhile, GM CEO Mary Barra informed the Verge’s Decoder podcast that the company will phase out support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all its vehicle lines. Additionally, it’s worth noting that GM has laid off 200 salaried employees from its Warren Tech Center.

Tesla achieved a record vehicle delivery count in the third quarter of 2025, driven by U.S. customers who capitalized on the approaching expiration of the federal EV tax credit. Unfortunately, this didn’t translate into higher earnings. Tesla’s profit for the third quarter was $1.4 billion, reflecting a 37% decrease from the same quarter last year. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated an investigation following footage from early October showing a Waymo autonomous vehicle navigating around a stopped school bus that was discharging children in Atlanta. 

Rivian is experiencing a shake-up that includes letting go of 600 employees (marking its third layoffs this year), while its founder and CEO is also assuming the role of chief marketing officer. This week, Rivian agreed to pay $250 million to resolve a class-action shareholder lawsuit that emerged after the company unexpectedly raised prices for its R1 pickup truck and SUV in 2022.

In the meantime, I spent time in the Bay Area with executives from Rivian’s micromobility spinoff company Also. They unveiled three new products, and if Also president Chris Yu and Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe (who is also on the Also board) are to be believed, there’s much more on the horizon. For now, they offer a stylish modular pedal-assist e-bike and two pedal-assist quad vehicles — including the delivery van version that Amazon has already committed to purchase. The key narrative here centers on vertical integration and software.