TechCrunch Mobility: All eyes on Tesla FSD

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation, and now, more than ever, how AI plays a role. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free – just click Navigation TechCrunch!

Quick heads up for readers: I won’t be publishing next week’s issue due to the Fourth of July holiday. I’ll see you all next week.

A series of stories this week highlight the ongoing – and seemingly increasing – scrutiny of… Tesla Automated driving system known as full self-driving (supervised). A fatal crash involving a Tesla, which struck a Texas home and killed a 76-year-old woman, gained national attention after the driver told police that Autopilot — the company’s primary driver-assistance system, which has since been discontinued — was engaged at the time of the crash.

Ashok AlwasamiVice President of Artificial Intelligence Programs at Tesla, shared a different account of the incident, claim On the

His comments suggest that the car was equipped with an FSD (supervised) system, not autopilot, but without an independent investigation we don’t know for sure. But we might eventually do it.

the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) now has it Open investigations In the accident.

Meanwhile, Tesla Resolve a lawsuit Connected to a fatal accident in 2023 involving a vehicle using FSD (supervised). This incident is part of a different NHTSA investigation into Tesla FSD that focuses on whether the system is able to “detect and respond appropriately to low-visibility conditions on the road,” such as “sun glare, fog, or airborne dust.”

All this attention comes as Tesla positions itself as a company that specializes in artificial intelligence and robotics. FSD (Stewardship) is currently the most visible and revenue generating product associated with this brand.

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A reader who previously shared tips alerted me to a research report on Waymo And its growing fleet of Oh, Robotaxi. As a refresher, Waymo has a supplier deal with them Remembera Chinese owned brand Geely Holding GroupTo provide it with an electric vehicle designed to operate as a robotaxi.

The minivan-like robotaxis were designed in Sweden and are manufactured in China. (These vehicles do not have any vehicle connectivity modules; current US policy prohibits connected vehicle technology from China.) Once it arrives in the US, Waymo will take over and add its own self-driving system. Ojai is equipped with Waymo’s sixth generation system – including 13 cameras, four lidar sensors, six radar units and an array of external audio receivers.

New York-based research firm Moffett Nathanson I did some guessing as to how serious Waymo’s Ojai program is. The company examined bill of lading documents, which are detailed receipts for shipped goods deposited with the U.S. government. The company counted Zeekr vehicle labels CM1e, or CME, the company’s marking for vehicles associated with Waymo.

MoffettNathanson, who shared her report with TechCrunch, discovered that Waymo is on track to import 3,156 vehicles into the United States this year, or about 300 vehicles per month.

Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosek at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com Or my Signal at kkorosec.07, or email Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.

Offers!

Asean Laboratoriesa Silicon Valley startup developing mobile pods that can autonomously inspect, clean, and charge robots. It raised $10 million In a seed round led by Crane Venture Partners. Other participants include Y Combinator, Uber co-founder Expa, Garrett Camp, Robin Hood Ventures, and Founders Capital.

cocoa and May navigationa startup technology company for self-driving vehicles, a partner To jointly explore the commercialization of robotics services in international markets, starting with Europe.

Elroy eran independent start-up company for unmanned heavy cargo transport, Planning to go public Through a merger with blank check firm Columbus Circle Capital Corp. II. The value of the deal is estimated at about one billion dollars.

partiallya company that creates artificial intelligence tools for the auto repair supply chain, Raised $50 million In a Series B round led by DST Global Partners.

Spiroan African platform for electric vehicles and clean energy infrastructure, has finalized a Investment of 55 million dollars From NewTrails Capital, a Chinese growth stage fund.

Terawatt infrastructurea company that provides electric vehicle charging to fleets, including Waymo and other self-driving and electric fleets, has established a five-year secured credit facility that could allow it to borrow up to 300 million dollars From banks. The company said that the proceeds will support the acquisition and development of shipping warehouses.

Notable Readings and Other Stories

Companies like Tesla and Zoox You can get a boost from US Department of Transportationwhich proposed changes to federal vehicle regulations that would allow businesses to skip Insert brake pads In “Vehicles designed to be driven exclusively by automated driving systems.”

Lucid Motors He is being laid off 18% of its workforceor about 1,500 employees, cut the second shift of electric vehicle production at its plant in Casa Grande, Arizona. Reminder: The layoffs come just four months after the electric vehicle manufacturer cut 12% of its staff. CEO Silvio Napoli said the cuts are part of an effort “to simplify the company, improve execution, and position Lucid to become more competitive over time.” In its quest for simplicity, what would Lucid give up?

Lyft CEO David Risher Published a blog This is what caught my attention. It sets the company’s multi-sensor safety standard for self-driving flights. The result: Self-driving vehicles that use only one type of sensor can’t enter Lyft’s network. I reached out to the company and they confirmed what this apparently means – vehicles like the Tesla Cybercab and Tesla robotaxis that use FSD (Unsupervised) will not qualify because they only use cameras. By the way, the rules do not apply to advanced driver assistance systems. So all people driving Tesla cars on the Lyft app are not affected.

OpenAI rented away Uber India President Prabhjit Singh to be the first General Manager.

PolestarThe Swedish electric car manufacturer, owned by Chinese auto giant Geely, could It no longer sells Its new cars in the American market. Imported cars are restricted by a US government law that bans Chinese connected car technology.

Samsaraa fleet management company, is introducing business card-sized adhesive tracking stickers to solve this problem Theft of goods.

Slate AutoGetting started is a very simple electric truck Priced at $24,950. Would you pay $25,000 for a two-seat truck with 205 miles of range, manual windows, no infotainment system, and a gray composite finish (owners can order customizable vehicle wraps)? Climate technology reporter and in-house battery expert Tim De Chant explains why to use Slate Changed the battery In its cheap electric truck.

Uber faces a Lawsuit by shareholders Which accuses the Board of Directors and management of putting profits before commitment and safety, decisions that put the company and its shareholders at risk.

Waymo I set up an entity in Germany which is a German news outlet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Reported for the first time. The company’s registration filing shows that it is preparing to launch a robotaxi service in the country. However, that doesn’t mean it’s imminent, insiders tell me. Meanwhile, Waymo has dropped its waiting list nashvilleThis is a step that opens its service to the public.

Zoox She gave robots specially designed for her transformation As it prepares for commercial services and large-scale production at its facility in Hayward, California.