A rising electric vehicle star earns $100 million, and the moment Tesla wins federal funding

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Before we get to this week’s news, we have another report on transportation technology at CES 2025. As I noted last week, self-driving vehicle technology has been everywhere. But there were other topics too. Check it here.

Now, on to the latest and greatest future of transportation technology news.

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There was no baby bird this week, but I thought this was the best place to say goodbye Hindenburg Researcha short-selling firm that investigated whistleblower tips and used its own research to eliminate fraud in publicly traded companies. Hindenburg Research founder Nate Anderson Posted a note Wednesday that the company will close.

In the world of transportation and climate technology, the Hindenburg is known for its revelations Nikola Motors, Lordstown MotorsAnd billionaire Gautam Adani of the Adani Group, who was Charged in connection with an alleged scheme for paying more than $250 million in bribes to Indian officials in exchange for contracts for a 12-gigawatt solar project.

Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosek at [email protected]Sean O’Kane in [email protected]or Rebecca Bellan in [email protected]. Or check These instructions To learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.

Offers!

Just a bunch of this week’s deals! Here’s what stood out.

Caramela startup that helps car buyers and sellers complete the final steps of the transaction Being acquired by eBay. The terms were not disclosed.

Starting the electric car Harbinger It raised $100 million In a Series B round co-led by Capricorn Investment Group and Leitmotif, a new US fund co-founded by the former Volkswagen M&A head. Tiger Global and mobility venture firm Maniv, both existing investors, also joined the round.

Sarla Aviation It raised $10 million In a new funding round led by Accel and including angel investors such as Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, and Swiggy co-founder Sriharsha Majety.

Tesla It was the winner and loser in the latest round of federal funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Ministry of Transportation Tesla disdain Based on its request for $97 million to fund a major shipping corridor from California to Texas. But Tesla, along with three other industry partners, ended up receiving a separate award Financing worth $100 million To build electric truck charging stations throughout Illinois.

Shipioa startup that has developed real-time tracking software across all modes of transportation, has raised $30 million in a funding round led by Toyota’s Woven Capital growth fund. Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good and Yamaha Motor Ventures also participated.

Notable Readings and Other Stories

Self-driving vehicles

Aurora Innovation He is Taking federal safety regulators to court In a case centered around the fairly common practice of placing physical warning triangles around semi-trucks parked along highways. TL;DR: This could have far-reaching implications for self-driving truck companies that operate in a regulatory environment designed around humans.

the US Department of Commerce Announced a final rule banning the sale or import of connected vehicles from China and Russia due to national security concerns. The rule would also prevent Chinese car companies, such as WeRide and Pony AI, from doing so Testing self-driving cars On American roads.

the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration The investigation was closed inside cruise And whether the company’s robotaxis exercised appropriate caution around pedestrians. The agency noted that Cruise issued a recall of its software and that General Motors’ self-driving vehicle company has since ceased its commercial operations.

Electric cars, charging and batteries

Bow boats He came to CES 2025, as chief correspondent Sean O’Kane She took her Arc Sport boat for a fun ride on Lake Mead. here What he thought One of the latest offers from the startup company.

Tesla Reveal a The new form of the Y model Dedicated to the Chinese and other Asia-Pacific markets, marking the SUV’s first major update since its launch in 2020.

Sean DuffyPresident-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the US Department of Transportation believes that electric car owners should… Pay to use the roads. As a reporter Rebecca Bellan He explains that achieving this goal is not easy.

Wheels this week

Just before the holiday, I had the opportunity to get into a production prototype of 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus. I plan to spend more time driving the production version soon, but for now, here are some thoughts on this $69,595 all-electric minivan.

I’ve been waiting for this electric minivan since 2017 when VW introduced it as a concept. This reimagined microbus had an almost impossible task. It was to be instantly recognizable and give a nod to its distinguished past while paving a new future and electric way forward. And in many ways, identity. Buzz does that. It’s eye-catching. People stop me constantly. It’s fun while being practical. And while it’s more expensive than other minivans on the market, it’s not exactly expensive.

The version I tested was all-wheel drive, with Metro Silver Metallic paint and a “copper” interior with leather seats. There’s plenty of space – cavernous, really – and beautiful details throughout, giving it an upscale feel. It was easy to maneuver on tight city streets, despite its 195.4-inch length. Yes, that’s long!

It met a lot of my expectations. But I wonder about her future. This car would be great for kids and grocery drivers around town. I can see it being used in commercial fleets in urban environments as well. But with a 91 kWh battery and an estimated range of 234 miles, I wonder if it will still live up to its past as a road-going machine?

Side note: In the last newsletter, I offered some tidbits about my Zoox robotaxi travels. Here’s mine Complete writing On my country Zoox Experience in Las Vegas.

What are “This Week’s Wheels”? It’s an opportunity to learn about the different transportation products we’re testing, whether it’s an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike, or even a ride in a self-driving vehicle.