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Before we move on to this week's news, there's a bunch of transportation technology at CES 2025. As I noted last week, Autonomous vehicle technology is everywhere. But there were other things too. Check it out here..
Now, Continue to the latest and greatest transportation technology news.
A little bird
No bird this week, But I think this is the best place to say goodbye. Hindenburg researchA short seller firm that investigates tips from whistleblowers and uses its own research to root out fraud in publicly traded companies. Nate Anderson, founder of Hindenburg Research Posted a note. The company is closed on Wednesdays.
In the world of transportation and weather technology, the Hindenburg is famous. Nikola Motors, Lordstown Motorsand billionaire Gautam Adani of The Adani Group. Charged with planning. For paying more than $250 million in bribes to Indian officials in exchange for contracts for a 12 Gigawatt solar power project.
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Transactions
Discounts only this week. This is the obvious thing.
CarmelA startup that helps car sellers and buyers complete the final steps of the transaction. is being acquired. by eBay. Terms were not disclosed.
EV launch Harbinger It raised $100 million. A new US fund co-founded by the former head of M&A for Volkswagen in a Series B round led by early Tesla investor Capricorn Investment Group and Leitmotif. Tiger Global and mobility venture firm Maniv also joined, both of which are existing investors.
Sarla Aviation It raised $10 million. Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal led the new funding round led by Accel. Angel investors like Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and Swiggy co-founder Sriharsha Majety participated.
Tesla There are winners and losers in the latest round of federal funding for electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. Department of Transportation Tesla was rejected. A $97 million application was filed for a massive charging corridor from California to Texas. But Tesla ended up being awarded separately, along with three other industry partners. $100 million in funding To build electric truck charging stations across Illinois.
ShippeoA startup that develops real-time tracking software across all modes of transportation has raised $30 million in a funding round led by Toyota's growth fund Woven Capital. Battery Ventures; Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture; LFX Venture Partners; Shift4Good and Yamaha Motor Ventures also participated.
Featured posts and other tips
Autonomous vehicles
Thrilling innovation is Taking federal safety regulators to court. The case centers on the common practice of placing physical warning triangles near parked semi-trucks along the highway. TL;DR: This could have broad implications for self-driving truck companies operating in a regulatory environment designed around humans.
Hi US Department of Commerce A final rule was issued that would ban the sale or import of connected vehicles from China and Russia due to national security concerns. Chinese car companies such as WeRide and Pony AI will also be banned under the regulation. Testing self-driving cars. On American roads
Hi National Highway Traffic Safety Administration His investigation was closed. into Cruise. Whether the company's robot exercises proper caution around pedestrians no The agency noted that Cruise had recalled its software and that GM's self-driving vehicle division had ceased operations.
electric cars, Charging and batteries
Arc boats Senior reporter arrives at CES 2025. Sean O'Kane He took his Arc Sport boat for a fun ride on Lake Mead. This is it What does he think? The startup's latest offering.
Tesla disclosed. New style Y Aimed at China and other Asia Pacific markets, it marks the first major update of the SUV, which went on sale in 2020.
Sean DuffyPresident-elect Donald Trump's nomination to head the US Department of Transportation should include owners of electric cars; They pay to use the roads.. As a reporter Rebecca Bellan He explains that achieving this goal is not easy.
This week's wheels
I got the production prototype right before the holidays. 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus. We plan to drive the production version for a longer drive soon, but for now, here are some ideas for the $69,595 electric minibus.
We've been waiting for this electric minibus since 2017, when Volkswagen presented it as a concept. This reimagined microbus has a nearly impossible mission. It's instantly recognizable and must nod to its iconic past while paving a new EV path to the future. Id in many ways. Buzz does. eye catching People stop me constantly. It's practical and fun. Although more expensive than other minivans on the market, It's not outrageous at all.
The version I tested was all-wheel drive. Metro Silver Metallic paint and “copper” interior with leather seats. There's plenty of space — really deep — and fine detailing throughout gives it an elevated feel. Despite its length of 195.4 inches, it is easy to drive on tight city streets. yes,
It met a lot of my expectations. But I wonder about his future. This car is great around town as a kid and grocery hauler. It has also seen use in commercial vessels in urban environments. But with a 91-kilowatt-hour battery that gets an estimated 234 miles of range. I wonder if it will live up to its past as a road trip machine.
Side note: In the last newsletter; I posted some tips on my Zoox robot ride. Here is mine Complete writing. on me Zoox Experience in Las Vegas.
What is “Wheels of the Week”? electric or hybrid car; Whether it's riding in an e-bike or an autonomous vehicle, it's a chance to learn about the different transportation products we're testing.