Techcrunch Mobility: Ford’s Great bet

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Ford Make it EV Announcement Early this week – a billion dollar investment plan to convert the assembly factory in Luisville into a factory capable of making a new generation of EVS at reasonable prices, starting from a medium -sized pick -up truck at a basic price of $ 30,000 to be launched in 2027.

Amid presentations from various executives, union leaders and employees, CEO Jim Farley He said something that I could not get rid of:

“There are no guarantees in this project. We are doing a lot of new things, I cannot tell you 100 % certainty that all of this will go well; it’s a bet. There is a danger.”

Bet? The company put SkunkWorks team,, Which has succeeded for two years to find a way to build a group of affordable electric cars that can be made in the United States faster and more efficient, and with less parts, while maintaining profit margins. To do this, the company canceled the system that dates back to a century that made Ford a familiar name and developed a new three -sided assembly line that uses more automation and the gun.

Ford, like many other car manufacturers, is pressed by definitions, the slowdown in the demand for EV, and the threat that is looming on the horizon of competition from China. The company must act if it wants to remain relevant. But is this the step?

Ford can not really use this manufacturing technology in other factories, since it is installed on how to design the car and then divide it into three deportations – a great exit from the method used to assemble its other cars. What this means is that we are witnessing an experience of $ 5 billion ($ 3 billion for a LFP battery and $ 2 billion for Louisville) to maintain jobs in the United States.

birdie

Some small birds told us that the car rental is starting KateWho described himself as “the best alternative to Qurtz”, he is It is no longer working.

The emerging company was already in trouble in late last year after lowering employees and reducing only two markets. But in July, the company sold its customer list to the car sharing company from analog Toro. (Turro has rejected more comment on the conditions.) Since then, Kyte has been fully gone under, and has entered a form of judicial guard in California in late July.

This seems to have left a number of customers in Lurch who have already booked rents through Kyte; Turo Techcrunch was told that he is only responsible for the assets she purchased-and not any financial claims against Kyte that has now ended.

Do you have advice to us? Email Kirsten Korosec in [email protected] Or a sign at Kkorosec.07, or Sean Okan in [email protected].

Deals!

BumperBuy its UK -headquarters now, and pay a later platform for car service and repair, A collection of 10.8 million dollars In financing the series extension B led by Autotech Ventures. Inmotion Ventures, Suzuki Global Ventures, Porsche Ventures and Shell Ventures also.

ChodecAnd it is a start -up company to connect the food based on Lagos, A collection of 9 million dollars In the financing of the series A led by Novastar Ventures, with the participation of Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, Hoaq and others.

Eve air mobility – The air mobility company announced in urban areas Capital raised $ 230 million And a double list in the United States and Brazil. The company raised one billion dollars so far.

UltravioletteStarting the Indian electric motorcycles, Rapid 21 million dollars In a tour of all shares led by the company’s project arm for the Giant TDK Corporation, Japanese Electronics. Zoho Corporation and Lingoto (Exor Capital) also participated in Ultraviolette.

via He has S-1 papers presented to her On A road to public subscription. The Transit Program Company has not determined after the number of shares to be offered or the price range. This fell exactly as I was sending this newsletter, so I haven’t read the entire document yet. Although the company’s revenues grew by 35 % to $ 337 million from 2023 to 2024, its net loss narrowed to 90 million dollars during the same time period. The Daniel Ramot Compensation package for 2024, which includes granting shares, is $ 9.5 million. For all footnotes, the company issues an additional grant package for 2025 and a cash bonus program.

FireIndependent Chinese Vehicle Company, it has He got an investment from Hold. Companies did not reveal the investment amount. Ferid said that the money will help spread the speed and marketing of the 4 -level robots in Southeast Asia.

Promise readings and other tales

Foxconn will It is no longer the construction of electric tractors To start young people in California The monarch After the Taiwanese technology giant recently sold the Ohio factory to SoftBank. Date lesson: Foxconn had planned to create the process of manufacturing electric car contracts in the factory and Munark was one of the four companies that were working with it. The other three (Lordstown Motors, Fisker, and Indeav) are all bankrupt.

some High -level executive mixture ongoing. Self -driving truck maker Dad The CEO of Uber’s CEO rental Lior Ron (Who has a long and interesting history in the AV world) as head of operations. Rebecca TenucciThe previous six years have spent the construction of the Tesla shipping network, acquired the head of Uber shipment. Ron will remain as a unique Uber president.

Freezing spending on Infrastructure for national electric cars program Melting After months of uncertainty. The Trump administration has recently issued new guidelines that the states can use to exceed $ 5 billion of financing for infrastructure for charging electric cars, after spending months Blind money.

RabdoA famous platform for riding in India, it is an experimental test Food delivery service In Bangaluru, in a challenge to market leaders Swiggy and Zomato.

How many axes can one company make in its life? Twistto He tests the limits of this question. The company, which started as an electric scooter rental service, has Close horseback service In New York City. Instead, Revel will focus on emerging EV charging work.

A little more about the news “Tesla Dojo Dead” that I wrote about last week. Elon Musk This is confirmed Timing He has The team’s solution By working on the Dojo Ai Training SuperCant, a few weeks after the announcement is expected to have the second Tesla group that works “widely” in 2026. Tesla focuses on AI5 and AI6 chips, which are manufactured by TSMC and Samsung, respectively. Note: Tesla factory in Boufalo, New York was home to the Dojo computers, and the company has committed to investing $ 500 million in the factory for five years to bring Dogo there.

Ride in a And emo Robotaxi is a modern, even future experience, for customers. Except for one: music. Correspondent Max Zev wrote about Why is it important to upgrade music in Waymo.

Another thing …

And autonocastThe other podcast that participated in hosting (I am also in Techcrunch Equity) that focuses on the future of transportation, he had Another episode I think you will be keen to listen to it. This time, we meet Noro Participant founder and president Dave Ferguson.