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Sufficient with my typical small speak. Let’s leap into the information straight away this week. And there’s loads of it, together with Lyft’s entry into Europe, AV startup Nuro heading to Japan, the primary drive of the Lucid Gravity SUV, a couple of New York Worldwide Auto Present highlights, and a SPAC. 

Sure, the SPAC is again. Or did this monetary instrument actually ever fade away? 

Let’s go. 

A little bit hen

A little bit hen advised us that some individuals are hoping to get forward of the various, many hurdles eVTOLs want to leap earlier than there could be “highways within the skies.” This consists of working with actual property house owners in rural areas to arrange vertiports and charging infrastructure. The pitch? Including that infrastructure has the potential to extend your property worth sooner or later.

We’re digging into this to search out out extra!

Obtained a tip for us? Electronic mail Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Sign at kkorosec.07, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or try these instructions to discover ways to contact us by way of encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.

Offers!

I anticipated a couple of extra IPOs in 2025 than the prior yr, however SPACs? Say it ain’t so. And but, right here we’re with a fresh merger between autonomous automobile expertise startup Kodiak Robotics and particular goal acquisition firm Ares Acquisition Company II.

The transaction values Kodiak, which has raised round $243 million thus far, at about $2.5 billion pre-money. New and present Kodiak institutional traders, like Soros Fund Administration, ARK Investments, and Ares, have funded or dedicated over $110 million in financing to assist the transaction, in addition to about $551 million of money held in belief.

I spoke to Kodiak founder and CEO Don Burnette and requested the plain query: A SPAC? Now? Why? 

“Kodiak, now that we’ve launched driverless, we’ve our autos on the street, we’ve driverless income coming in,” Burnette advised me. “We predict now could be the time for development. We need to make the most of the tailwinds we’re seeing within the markets.”

Tailwinds? I requested him to elucidate, and Burnette meant tailwinds within the autonomy sector versus the broader financial markets.

“Clearly, we’re seeing short-term volatility — that’s an understatement,” he stated. “However we’re actually fascinated about this as a long-term thesis of reworking the transportation markets, utilizing AI, utilizing expertise, and thru automation. It’s one thing I’ve at all times believed in.”

Different offers that obtained my consideration …

Conifer, a startup creating electrical hub motors which can be freed from uncommon earth components, raised a $20 million seed round from traders, together with True Ventures, MaC Ventures, MFV Companions, and others. True Ventures’ Rohit Sharma has joined Conifer’s board.

Kavak, a Mexico-based on-line used automobile supplier, raised $127 million in an fairness spherical, reducing its valuation to $2.2 billion from $6.5 billion. The spherical was co-led by SoftBank Group Corp and Normal Atlantic. The corporate additionally secured $400 million in new debt.

Lyft agreed to acquire FreeNow, a German multi-mobility app with ride-hail at its core, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility for about $197 million in money. The acquisition opens up the European market to Lyft for the primary time.

Nyobolt, a British EV charging startup, raised $30 million in funding, led by IQ Capital and Latitude. Strategic companions, together with Scania Make investments and Takasago Trade, additionally participated.

Notable reads and different tidbits

ADAS

China is cracking down on how automakers promote driver-assistance options, banning terms like “autonomous driving,” “self-driving,” and “good driving.” In case you instantly considered Tesla and its “Full Self-Driving” software program, it’s price noting the automaker has modified the branding. However Tesla and others will likely be affected by guidelines round over-the-air software program updates for ADAS, which requires testing and authorities approval. 

Autonomous autos

Nuro will start mapping and accumulating knowledge in Japan utilizing autonomous autos (retrofitted Prius automobiles) from its U.S. fleet. 

Waymo and Uber are making ready to launch their joint robotaxi service in Atlanta this summer time. Uber opened up an “interest list” this week to prospects in Atlanta. The 2 corporations launched the “Waymo on Uber” service in Austin in March. Knowledge from market analytics agency YipitData reveals Waymo robotaxis made up about 20% of rides supplied by Uber in Austin within the final week of March.

Zoox has partnered with Stingray Music, which is able to supply a curated collection of 16 stations by way of the touchscreen contained in the robotaxis. One more signal Zoox is on the point of launch commercially.

Electrical autos, charging, & batteries

Lime will send batteries utilized in its scooters and e-bikes to Redwood Supplies, which is able to extract and recycle crucial minerals equivalent to lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper.

Kia debuted its 2026 EV4 sedan on the New York Worldwide Auto Present. That is the corporate’s first international electrical sedan and one designed for purchasers on the lookout for an inexpensive EV. Will People purchase it?

TechCrunch contributor Abigail Bassett spent a day driving the brand new all-electric Lucid Gravity SUV. Learn the total overview and discover out why she wrote that the Gravity is  “over-engineering at its best.”

Rivian’s first non-Amazon van buyer is HelloFresh.

Subaru unveiled its second EV, a wagon-like SUV called the Trailseeker that, like its predecessor the Solterra, features a little bit of Toyota handiwork.

Way forward for flight

Archer Aviation unveiled its proposed air taxi network for New York City in partnership with United Airways, which might permit passengers to tack on an Archer journey to their conventional airline tickets. 

Experience-hailing 

India’s market regulator launched an investigation into Gensol Engineering after discovering alleged misuse of electric vehicle loans. BluSmart, a ride-hailing startup linked to Gensol that was as soon as seen as an rising Uber rival within the South Asian market, has additionally been swept up into the investigation. And now it appears BluSmart has suspended services in some Indian cities. 

Safety

Hertz prospects have been notified of a data breach that included their private data and driver’s licenses. Hertz attributed the breach to a vendor, software program maker Cleo, which final yr was at the center of a mass-hacking campaign by a prolific Russia-linked ransomware gang.