{"id":3491605,"date":"2026-08-09T16:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/09\/techcrunch-mobility-zoox-gets-ready-for-debut-and-ubers-autonomous-vehicle-empire\/"},"modified":"2026-08-09T16:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T16:05:00","slug":"techcrunch-mobility-zoox-gets-ready-for-debut-and-ubers-autonomous-vehicle-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/09\/techcrunch-mobility-zoox-gets-ready-for-debut-and-ubers-autonomous-vehicle-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"TechCrunch Mobility: Zoox gets ready for debut and Uber\u2019s autonomous vehicle empire"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Glad to have you back at TechCrunch Mobility<\/strong>, your destination for advancements in transportation and the increasingly significant role of AI within it. To receive updates directly to your inbox, sign up here for free \u2014 simply click TechCrunch Mobility!<\/em><\/p>\n

In a few days, the Amazon-owned Zoox<\/strong> will commence charging for robotaxi services. While this may not appear significant since the firm\u2019s custom-designed robotaxis are currently transporting passengers in Las Vegas and San Francisco, it is also launching an early rider initiative in Miami and Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, none of this is economically relevant until the company achieves commercial operation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As of August 10, it can do so, thanks to an exemption granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/strong> (NHTSA). Because Zoox vehicles do not have several conventional controls required by federal law, such as a steering wheel and pedals, it required an exemption from federal motor vehicle standards for operation. An existing exemption permitted technology demonstrations; the new one enables Zoox to operate a commercial fleet of up to 2,500 vehicles for two years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This exemption signifies a victory for Zoox, but it also opens avenues for other autonomous vehicle developers aiming to introduce robotaxis that don’t conform to traditional requirements like steering wheels, pedals, or other features deemed unnecessary when there’s no human driver. For example, a robotaxi effectively utilizes sensors on its exterior to provide visibility rather than needing a rearview mirror.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tesla<\/strong> stands to gain significantly as it develops its two-seater Cybercab, but there will certainly be others benefiting as well.<\/p>\n

\n

In other updates, you might have missed my thorough evaluation of Uber\u2019s autonomous vehicle enterprise. Take a look; it provides an exhaustive overview of every company Uber has partnered with (and invested in at times). More partnerships are anticipated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You might remember that the Financial Times conducted its own analysis of Uber’s investments in AVs, concluding it was around $10 billion. Interestingly, Uber CEO Dara\u00a0Khosrowshahi <\/strong>confirmed this figure during the company\u2019s earnings call, stating that the company plans to invest $10 billion \u201cover the coming years\u201d to roll out 120,000 driverless vehicles.<\/p>\n

Deals!<\/h2>\n
\"money
Image Credits:<\/strong>Bryce Durbin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moove<\/strong> began as an African fintech company that provided vehicle financing solutions for app-based drivers. While Moove still operates within the mobility sector, it has transformed into a major ride-hail fleet operator (42,000 vehicles and expanding) across 13 countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It has also established a new division concentrating on autonomous vehicles. Moove achieved an early victory by becoming the fleet operator for Waymo in Phoenix, Miami, Las Vegas, and, in the future, London. However, co-CEO Ladi Delano<\/strong> clearly has larger aspirations for Moove \u2014 and he now possesses the fresh investment to pursue those goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now based in Dubai, the startup secured $250 million in a Series C funding round led by Mubadala Investment Company with Woven Capital and Ion Pacific acting as co-leads. Moove, valued at $2.1 billion, intends to use the funds to enhance its management of autonomous vehicle fleets, which includes hiring around 350 employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Notably, Moove plans to acquire Waymo robotaxis while already owning robotaxi assets from another undisclosed entity.<\/p>\n

Other deals that caught my attention this week \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Accell Group Holding<\/strong>, the Dutch bicycle manufacturer behind brands like Lapierre, Raleigh, and Sparta, received a suspension of payments, initiating an insolvency process. In 2022, a consortium headed by KKR purchased the firm for 1.56 billion euros ($1.77 billion at the time).<\/p>\n

Advanced Electric Machines Group<\/strong>, a U.K. manufacturer of rare earth and magnet-free electric motors, secured \u00a316 million ($21.5 million) in a funding round led by Barclays Climate Ventures, PXN Ventures, Northstar Ventures, and the Low Carbon Innovation Fund. The financing round was supplemented by loan assistance from Innovate UK.<\/p>\n

Chargepoly<\/strong>, a French enterprise focusing on electrifying heavy-duty and commercial vehicle fleets, raised \u20ac23 million ($26 million) in a funding round spearheaded by Meridiam.<\/p>\n

Hadrian<\/strong>, a defense technology firm developing automated manufacturing facilities, amassed $1.37 billion in a funding round that valued the company at $7.87 billion. Leading investors include WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, and Baillie Gifford.<\/p>\n

Matel Motion & Energy Solutions<\/strong>, an Indian firm designing energy-efficient motors, motor controllers, and integrated powertrains, raised INR 130 crore ($13.6 million) in a Series B funding round led by UC Impower.\u00a0<\/p>\n

River<\/strong>, the Indian electric vehicle startup, secured $120 million in a Series C funding round led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital, with participation from Singularity AMC, Anicut Capital, 360 ONE Asset, JIF Capital, HDFC AMC, and existing investors Yamaha Motors, Al-Futtaim Group, and Mitsui.<\/p>\n

Notable reads and other tidbits<\/h2>\n
Image Credits:<\/strong>Bryce Durbin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ford<\/strong> has unveiled a name and price for its upcoming midsize EV, which will be named Fathom<\/strong> and priced starting at $28,350 when it launches in 2027. TechCrunch climate tech reporter and longtime EV user Tim De Chant suggests that Ford needs to revitalize its lineup, and the Fathom might not meet that need. What\u2019s your opinion?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Joby Aviation<\/strong>, the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft company, announced its earnings this week, showing an increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year, driven by its acquisition of Blade Air Mobility. Net losses decreased slightly to $245 million. However, one intriguing announcement was Joby\u2019s partnership with Atoms<\/strong>, Travis Kalanick\u2019s AI and industrial automation venture. This alliance aims to develop and fund a network of transportation hubs for air taxis and autonomous land vehicles, initially focusing on Florida, New York, Texas, and California.<\/p>\n

Lucid Motors\u2019<\/strong> second-quarter earnings conveyed a serious and business-oriented message, which comes with a hefty price tag. New CEO Silvio Napoli outlined four essential priorities that include a $1.4 billion cost reduction strategy and a reliance on a successful robotaxi initiative with Uber and Nuro while launching the midsize Cosmos EV, now pushed back to the latter half of 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nvidia <\/strong>has introduced its Alpamayo 2 Super for commercial applications \u2014 an AI model intended for autonomous vehicle use. The model is accessible on Hugging Face, with the open license permitting commercial redistribution and adaptations that allow AV developers and automakers to tailor Alpamayo to their unique data, driving methods, and deployment plans, as stated by the company.<\/p>\n

Teamsters California<\/strong> filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming the agency failed to properly evaluate and disclose the economic implications of permitting self-driving heavy-duty trucks on state highways. I contacted a few AV developers, but they declined to comment. However, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association did release a statement: \u201cThis lawsuit from the Teamsters sets a new precedent in abusive and trivial litigation and should not be taken seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

TechCrunch<\/strong> has once again partnered with New York-based financial research firm Hudson Labs<\/strong> to analyze the topics discussed by Elon Musk<\/strong> and Tesla executives over the past seven years during quarterly earnings calls. Check out the detailed report for graphs and complete insights. Here\u2019s a snippet: Musk now dedicates nearly 50% of his discourse to artificial intelligence, alongside robotaxis and Full Self-Driving software.<\/p>\n

In the same vein, Elon Musk<\/strong> and his companies have had a busy week. SpaceX<\/strong> released its first earnings report as a publicly traded company. The gist? The firm doubled its revenue from last year, primarily fueled by the expansion of its Starlink satellite internet service and agreements made to lease computing resources to Anthropic and Google. During the earnings call, Musk made several ambitious claims regarding the company’s operations and future plans, while his colleagues attempted to ground his statements in reality.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Tesla<\/strong> and SpaceX announced that their jointly developed advanced chip factory, named \u201cTerafab<\/strong>,\u201d will be situated in Grimes County, Texas, near Houston, with an initial investment of $16.8 billion for the project.<\/p>\n

The New York Times released an investigation into Uber’s defense against over 4,000 lawsuits from passengers claiming the company failed to protect them from sexual violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Waymo<\/strong> has lifted the waitlist for its robotaxi services in Dallas, now making it available to all residents and visitors.<\/p>\n

One more thing \u2026<\/h2>\n

Travis Kalanick<\/strong> and his AI and industrial automation company Atoms<\/strong> have been making headlines recently (refer to the Joby partnership above). Kalanick is not just securing deals \u2014 note that he has raised $1.7 billion recently. The former Uber CEO is also bringing together former engineers and executives he previously collaborated with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For example, Gautam Gupta<\/strong>, Kalanick’s former finance chief, has joined Atoms as its chief financial officer. Gupta spent over four years at Uber before departing in July 2017, shortly after Kalanick resigned from his position as CEO.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n

Glad to have you back at TechCrunch Mobility<\/strong>, your destination for advancements in transportation and the increasingly significant role of AI within it. To receive updates directly to your inbox, sign up here for free \u2014 simply click TechCrunch Mobility!<\/em><\/p>\n

In a few days, the Amazon-owned Zoox<\/strong> will commence charging for robotaxi services. While this may not appear significant since the firm\u2019s custom-designed robotaxis are currently transporting passengers in Las Vegas and San Francisco, it is also launching an early rider initiative in Miami and Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, none of this is economically relevant until the company achieves commercial operation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As of August 10, it can do so, thanks to an exemption granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/strong> (NHTSA). Because Zoox vehicles do not have several conventional controls required by federal law, such as a steering wheel and pedals, it required an exemption from federal motor vehicle standards for operation. An existing exemption permitted technology demonstrations; the new one enables Zoox to operate a commercial fleet of up to 2,500 vehicles for two years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This exemption signifies a victory for Zoox, but it also opens avenues for other autonomous vehicle developers aiming to introduce robotaxis that don’t conform to traditional requirements like steering wheels, pedals, or other features deemed unnecessary when there’s no human driver. For example, a robotaxi effectively utilizes sensors on its exterior to provide visibility rather than needing a rearview mirror.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tesla<\/strong> stands to gain significantly as it develops its two-seater Cybercab, but there will certainly be others benefiting as well.<\/p>\n

\n

In other updates, you might have missed my thorough evaluation of Uber\u2019s autonomous vehicle enterprise. Take a look; it provides an exhaustive overview of every company Uber has partnered with (and invested in at times). More partnerships are anticipated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You might remember that the Financial Times conducted its own analysis of Uber’s investments in AVs, concluding it was around $10 billion. Interestingly, Uber CEO Dara\u00a0Khosrowshahi <\/strong>confirmed this figure during the company\u2019s earnings call, stating that the company plans to invest $10 billion \u201cover the coming years\u201d to roll out 120,000 driverless vehicles.<\/p>\n

Deals!<\/h2>\n
\"money
Image Credits:<\/strong>Bryce Durbin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moove<\/strong> began as an African fintech company that provided vehicle financing solutions for app-based drivers. While Moove still operates within the mobility sector, it has transformed into a major ride-hail fleet operator (42,000 vehicles and expanding) across 13 countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It has also established a new division concentrating on autonomous vehicles. Moove achieved an early victory by becoming the fleet operator for Waymo in Phoenix, Miami, Las Vegas, and, in the future, London. However, co-CEO Ladi Delano<\/strong> clearly has larger aspirations for Moove \u2014 and he now possesses the fresh investment to pursue those goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now based in Dubai, the startup secured $250 million in a Series C funding round led by Mubadala Investment Company with Woven Capital and Ion Pacific acting as co-leads. Moove, valued at $2.1 billion, intends to use the funds to enhance its management of autonomous vehicle fleets, which includes hiring around 350 employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Notably, Moove plans to acquire Waymo robotaxis while already owning robotaxi assets from another undisclosed entity.<\/p>\n

Other deals that caught my attention this week \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Accell Group Holding<\/strong>, the Dutch bicycle manufacturer behind brands like Lapierre, Raleigh, and Sparta, received a suspension of payments, initiating an insolvency process. In 2022, a consortium headed by KKR purchased the firm for 1.56 billion euros ($1.77 billion at the time).<\/p>\n

Advanced Electric Machines Group<\/strong>, a U.K. manufacturer of rare earth and magnet-free electric motors, secured \u00a316 million ($21.5 million) in a funding round led by Barclays Climate Ventures, PXN Ventures, Northstar Ventures, and the Low Carbon Innovation Fund. The financing round was supplemented by loan assistance from Innovate UK.<\/p>\n

Chargepoly<\/strong>, a French enterprise focusing on electrifying heavy-duty and commercial vehicle fleets, raised \u20ac23 million ($26 million) in a funding round spearheaded by Meridiam.<\/p>\n

Hadrian<\/strong>, a defense technology firm developing automated manufacturing facilities, amassed $1.37 billion in a funding round that valued the company at $7.87 billion. Leading investors include WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, and Baillie Gifford.<\/p>\n

Matel Motion & Energy Solutions<\/strong>, an Indian firm designing energy-efficient motors, motor controllers, and integrated powertrains, raised INR 130 crore ($13.6 million) in a Series B funding round led by UC Impower.\u00a0<\/p>\n

River<\/strong>, the Indian electric vehicle startup, secured $120 million in a Series C funding round led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital, with participation from Singularity AMC, Anicut Capital, 360 ONE Asset, JIF Capital, HDFC AMC, and existing investors Yamaha Motors, Al-Futtaim Group, and Mitsui.<\/p>\n

Notable reads and other tidbits<\/h2>\n
Image Credits:<\/strong>Bryce Durbin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ford<\/strong> has unveiled a name and price for its upcoming midsize EV, which will be named Fathom<\/strong> and priced starting at $28,350 when it launches in 2027. TechCrunch climate tech reporter and longtime EV user Tim De Chant suggests that Ford needs to revitalize its lineup, and the Fathom might not meet that need. What\u2019s your opinion?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Joby Aviation<\/strong>, the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft company, announced its earnings this week, showing an increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year, driven by its acquisition of Blade Air Mobility. Net losses decreased slightly to $245 million. However, one intriguing announcement was Joby\u2019s partnership with Atoms<\/strong>, Travis Kalanick\u2019s AI and industrial automation venture. This alliance aims to develop and fund a network of transportation hubs for air taxis and autonomous land vehicles, initially focusing on Florida, New York, Texas, and California.<\/p>\n

Lucid Motors\u2019<\/strong> second-quarter earnings conveyed a serious and business-oriented message, which comes with a hefty price tag. New CEO Silvio Napoli outlined four essential priorities that include a $1.4 billion cost reduction strategy and a reliance on a successful robotaxi initiative with Uber and Nuro while launching the midsize Cosmos EV, now pushed back to the latter half of 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nvidia <\/strong>has introduced its Alpamayo 2 Super for commercial applications \u2014 an AI model intended for autonomous vehicle use. The model is accessible on Hugging Face, with the open license permitting commercial redistribution and adaptations that allow AV developers and automakers to tailor Alpamayo to their unique data, driving methods, and deployment plans, as stated by the company.<\/p>\n

Teamsters California<\/strong> filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming the agency failed to properly evaluate and disclose the economic implications of permitting self-driving heavy-duty trucks on state highways. I contacted a few AV developers, but they declined to comment. However, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association did release a statement: \u201cThis lawsuit from the Teamsters sets a new precedent in abusive and trivial litigation and should not be taken seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

TechCrunch<\/strong> has once again partnered with New York-based financial research firm Hudson Labs<\/strong> to analyze the topics discussed by Elon Musk<\/strong> and Tesla executives over the past seven years during quarterly earnings calls. Check out the detailed report for graphs and complete insights. Here\u2019s a snippet: Musk now dedicates nearly 50% of his discourse to artificial intelligence, alongside robotaxis and Full Self-Driving software.<\/p>\n

In the same vein, Elon Musk<\/strong> and his companies have had a busy week. SpaceX<\/strong> released its first earnings report as a publicly traded company. The gist? The firm doubled its revenue from last year, primarily fueled by the expansion of its Starlink satellite internet service and agreements made to lease computing resources to Anthropic and Google. During the earnings call, Musk made several ambitious claims regarding the company’s operations and future plans, while his colleagues attempted to ground his statements in reality.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Tesla<\/strong> and SpaceX announced that their jointly developed advanced chip factory, named \u201cTerafab<\/strong>,\u201d will be situated in Grimes County, Texas, near Houston, with an initial investment of $16.8 billion for the project.<\/p>\n

The New York Times released an investigation into Uber’s defense against over 4,000 lawsuits from passengers claiming the company failed to protect them from sexual violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Waymo<\/strong> has lifted the waitlist for its robotaxi services in Dallas, now making it available to all residents and visitors.<\/p>\n

One more thing \u2026<\/h2>\n

Travis Kalanick<\/strong> and his AI and industrial automation company Atoms<\/strong> have been making headlines recently (refer to the Joby partnership above). Kalanick is not just securing deals \u2014 note that he has raised $1.7 billion recently. The former Uber CEO is also bringing together former engineers and executives he previously collaborated with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For example, Gautam Gupta<\/strong>, Kalanick’s former finance chief, has joined Atoms as its chief financial officer. Gupta spent over four years at Uber before departing in July 2017, shortly after Kalanick resigned from his position as CEO.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3491606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3491605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3491605"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3491605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3491605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3491606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3491605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3491605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techingeek.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3491605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}