One pour out for cruises and why independent vehicle test miles decreased 50 %

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We knew that this day was coming: cruise Dead – at least as a robotics company. General Motors She completed her acquisition of GM Cruise Holdings LLC; Cruise is now a subsidiary fully owned by General Motors.

The result is a 50 % reduction in employees – This is about 1000 people. The next step is to integrate the remaining employees into the folds of General Motors, as they will improve the system of advanced driver for the auto industry.

Among my many questions about this is whether General Motors will successfully retain the remaining talent, most of whom were told are engineers. Will this new talent translate into an improved aid system to help the driver, and it is issued as superior freedom, and eventually independent personal vehicles?

I am not convinced that the acquisition of talents-which were inspired by the co-founder and CEO of Cruise who has now left is a good match. But hey, I was wrong before.

Over the years, I spoke to many cruise engineers, and every time I walk away from thinking, “Well, there is a real believer.” I did not meet every cruises employee, but those in which I exhausted the mission of self -government vehicles and it seems that they are pleased to make long hours to achieve this.

For any current and precedents there, communicate. I would like to talk about the first days with you. Send me an email in Kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com.

birdie

Some small birds came to us cruise In recent days. A lot of communications focus on imminent workers, which I took above. But I thought this was an interesting charging block from sources who participated in how they believed – at least for a while – Cruise may reinforce Robotaxi operations.

One of the indicators was one of the sources that told us that Cruz was ready to implement a updated sensor solution, referred to internally called “Renault”, which would have resolved for the October 2 accident by creating additional awareness under the car. The “accident”, referring to an event in 2023 when a pedestrian, who was initially subjected to a human -dependent car, was then dragged by one of the company’s robots.

Do you have advice to us? Email Kirsten Korosec in Kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.comSean Okan in SEAN.OKANE@techcrunch.comOr Rebecca Billan in ribecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or achieve These instructions To learn how to contact us via encryptive correspondence applications or secretrop.

Deals!

Just a handful of deals this week!

Applied intuition I got Episodes Inc.It is a company that has developed the autonomy programs for national security, including non -transferred air systems, surface war, marine tracking, and battle management. The conditions have not been revealed. Applied intuition is likely known as the name Independent vehicle program a company; Recently, deeper defense has been pushed.

GenlogAn young company that developed the shipping intelligence program, Collection of 14.6 million dollars In the Venrock and Hof Capital series, the financing chain. Atlas Steel, Autotech Ventures, Venture 53, Titletowntech, Plug and Play Ventures and Heartland Ventures in the tour.

PrestoAn young company that says it is building an EV charging bar, 15 million dollars raised On a seed tour led by Union Square Ventures, the company exclusively told Techcrunch. The tour also included investments from Conneensentures, Jetstream and Powerhouse Ventures.

Promise readings and other tales

Adas

We covered us Timing The profits in last week’s edition, but they wanted to do so Determine this article by Sean OkanWho reminds us of all the promises that Elon Musk made about his full program to drive for the self and his recent confession that some of its cars will actually need to upgrade the devices.

Independent vehicles

the California Car Department Data that shows a 50 % decrease in independent vehicle test miles. Yes, the end of the trip is partially responsible. But there are other factors in playing. Here is what is happening.

Bay A partnership has been held with the independent Volvo solutions to develop Spreading independent trucks. Remembering: Volvo also has a deal with Ura.

And emo now It appears on the Uber app In Austin. Currently, this is not translated into icmo picking people. But it will soon.

Electric cars, shipping and batteries

the Chicago Motor Show Current, and while most – like Subaru Forster Hybrid It is a moderate hybrid or interior vehicles with the combustion engine, there was also EVS. Stelantis All electricity was revealed 2025 Jeep Wagoneer s limited This starts from $ 66,995 and has an estimated range of 294 miles.

Ford The profits were reported this week, and the Welp, EV lost about $ 5 billion in 2024. But this was not the only thing that caught my attention. Instead, it was CEO Jim Farley’s comments on definitions.

Scout enginesVolkswagen Spinot was planning to produce electric trucks and running electric cars Prosecut by a group of VW and Audi merchants In Florida about her plan for sale directly to consumers.

Horse riding and anxiety economy

Lift I made a partnership with AI’s startup man to Building Amnesty International Assistant Which deals with the initial income for customer service inquiries for both cyclists and drivers.

The space and future of the trip

This is it An interesting feature In the start starting it is called Periodic fuelWhich will make diamonds on its way to creating electronic periods of jet aircraft.

Hurrications this week

This week, we will hear from the Teccrunch Rebecca Billan and her time in the leadership 2024 to be Nuri. (Please note that the above image is 2025.)

2024 Kia ​​Niro rented during the weekend to lead a few hours north of New York City.

It is a gentle and wonderful four -wheel drive vehicle, but I fought in two required areas for a wild trip: the battery life in the winter and the location of the sound/handle.

It took only about an hour and a half of driving, or about 70 miles, until the battery is transferred from shipping completely to half an empty.

This kicked my anxiety at the gear, because I was not sure where in the disobedience of Contect, I will be able to find a charger. I found one, in the end, the only EVGO charger in a parking lot on the fitness planet. Marsha was announced to ship it at 50 kW, but it ended in drip with my battery at a horrific pace of 17 kW. We just say, I sat in this car park for a period of time.

The sound button or the handle was clearly absent. This is the largest pet that urinates with compounds known by programs: obsession with touch screens instead of the touch handles that you can treat while driving so that you do not have to keep your eyes away from the road. I, and none of my passengers, could not know how to adjust the sound level without using the button on the steering wheel.

Finally, Goglit “Kia Nero Volume” and certainly found a Redit Post I can write myself. Apparently, one must click on the “button” on the orange fan to change the climate control mode, then one can use the left temperature handle to change the sound level. incredible.

What are the “wheels this week”? It is an opportunity to learn about the various transport products that we test, whether it is an electric car, hybrid, cyclical, or even an independent vehicle trip.