TechCrunch Mobility: How do you issue a ticket for a robotaxi?

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We’re going to do a little digging today, which might make this newsletter look a little different than usual. There is a reason!

This newsletter is not region-specific, but sometimes there are country-level policies that have broad implications for tech companies and startups alike. Which brings me to California and the new rules for testing and deploying autonomous vehicles released this week by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

There are two new sets of rules – combined 100 pages in length – that cover requirements a test and Publishing Of vehicles. I’ve spent the past few days talking to engineers and policy professionals working at autonomous vehicle companies, and I’ve discovered that they have strong opinions and Few want to talk publicly about it. But thanks Public comment period In these regulations, we have some ideas about what the industry supports and what it does not support.

The regulations include new and more robust requirements for data collection, sharing, training, and operations. Here are some of the items that have been put on hold and what insiders told me.

How do you book a robot taxi? Under these new rules, law enforcement authorities can prosecute autonomous vehicle companies for traffic violations committed by their vehicles. The rule, called “Notice of Autonomous Vehicle Noncompliance,” requires the manufacturer (i.e. the robotics company) to notify the DMV of the violation within 72 hours of receiving it from law enforcement.

I’ve heard a number of explanations for this rule and how it’s enforced, but there appears to be no fine associated with these violations. Instead, these violations are another piece of data that the DMV can use to identify problems and take action if necessary.

Insiders told me the data is actionable and more important than a fine. My question: Why not both?

Good news for the industry: The DMV will now allow heavy-duty vehicles equipped with autonomous vehicle technology to test and eventually deploy on public roads. Self-driving truck companies are happy with this result. Danielle GoughVice President for External Affairs at KodiakHe told me that the company is already preparing the documents required to apply for a permit.

Burden on industry: The word that came up in every conversation I had with someone in the AV industry was “stressed.” It has always been used as a response to new regulations for data collection and sharing.

Goodbye disengagement reports; Hello, crashes: Others were happy to see the annual disengagement reports disappear. Disengagement reports, which detail instances where human drivers have had to take over control due to technology failure or safety concerns, have been controversial because the companies use different standards. This has made it impossible to compare results or evaluate the efficiency of autonomous vehicle technology.

This section has been completely removed and replaced with a requirement to report “system failure related to performance of the dynamic driving task.” This may sound like semantics – replacing one phrase with another. While it’s not a perfect measure, it’s clearer than its predecessor, insiders told me. That doesn’t mean he’s likable either.

There’s a lot in these documents, including requirements to provide annual updates to first responder interaction plans, access to manual vehicle override systems, two-way communication links with 30-second response times, and updated training requirements to ensure safe and timely interactions with first responders.

My question to you, reader, is whether these rules go too far or are they appropriate and provide the kind of reporting and data collection needed to hold these companies accountable? Subscribe to the Mobility Newsletter To vote at our polls!

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We had a lot of little birds talking to us about California’s new car and vehicle rules, so there’s nothing new to add here. But remember, you can always send us tips. Here’s how.

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!

BMW i projects Launched new A $300 million fund With a timely thesis: AI will reshape how the auto industry operates. The fund will invest in early stage through Series B startups in North America and Europe working on agentic AI and physical AI as well as industrial software, advanced materials, manufacturing and supply chain technologies. This third fund brings the company’s total capital under management to $1.1 billion.

Other deals that caught my attention…

SirictA German startup company in the field of robotics, It raised $110 million In a Series B funding round led by VC Headline. Other investors include Bullhound Capital, Felix Capital, Daphne, AirStreet Capital, Creandom, and Point Nine.

Spirit Airlines It is preparing to close after failing to secure a lifeline worth $500 million from the government. The Wall Street Journal reports. The company is expected to cease operations at approximately 3 a.m. EST on Saturday.

Notable Readings and Other Stories

China Suspending the issuance of new licenses for autonomous vehicles after dozens of Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis suddenly stopped last month. Bloomberg reported.

GoogleGemini’s AI assistant is on the way Millions of vehicles.

Faraday future I pushed around $7.5 million to a company controlled by its founder, Jia Yueting, in 2025, as chief reporter Sean O’Kane discovered in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Rivian Earnings announced this week, one item that stood out to us – and many others – was… Reducing the size of the Ministry of Energy loan From $6.6 billion to $4.5 billion. The loan restructuring comes with changes at its plant in Georgia. Instead of constructing two 200,000-vehicle capacity buildings at the Georgia site, Rivian will now build a 300,000-vehicle capacity factory and leave the adjacent “platform” untouched and ready for future development. Analysts did not necessarily view this as a negative, but viewed it as a correction. BarclaysFor example, it sees the modification as Rivian’s adaptation to the current electric vehicle environment, according to a research note published Friday. Barclays also stated that it does not believe Rivian is currently planning to build a second factory in Georgia, “at least not until the early/mid next decade.”

Tesla launched a Semi-shipping for business Which includes a new product called the Basecharger designed for use in warehouses and at night.

Uber It was exploited Hertz to Clean, charge and repair that it Lucid Motors robotaxis. This announcement left us with a cheeky question: How many companies does it take to launch a robotaxi service?

Uber US customers can now Book hotels directly through the applicationwhich is one of many new features announced this week that go far beyond the company’s original goal of transporting passengers, and even delve deeper into the lives of its users. At launch, Uber customers will have access to more than 700,000 hotels around the world through a partnership with Expedia Group, the travel company that Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has led for 12 years.

Get a loana remote driving technology startup, says it has grown its fleet To 175 vehicles On the road and exceeded 60,000 trips.