Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for all things “the future of transportation.” To get this in your inbox, sign up for free here – just click on TechCrunch Mobility!
The year in transport started with a couple of bankruptcies – Canoo and Nikola – and now it ends with two more. Rad Power Bikes is coming to an end – or at least a bankruptcy. The electric bike company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, weeks after it warned employees it could shut down without new financing. A spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company will continue to operate while the bankruptcy case continues, and it looks to sell the business within 45-60 days.
And then there is the troubled lidar maker Luminairewhich also filed for bankruptcy this week. The Luminar bankruptcy doesn’t seem like a situation, let’s help it live another day.
The Luminar filing, which came after months of layoffs, executive departures and a legal battle with its biggest customer, Volvo, notes that the company plans to sell the business. It has already entered into an agreement to sell its semiconductor subsidiary. While the company will continue to operate during the bankruptcy process to “minimize disruption” to its suppliers and customers, Luminar will ultimately cease to exist once it is wound up, senior reporter Sean O’Kane reported. Do you want to know more? I recommend reading O’Kane’s piece looking at how Luminar’s doomed Volvo deal helped drag the company out of bankruptcy.
Although the year was marked by some failures, that does not mean that 2025 was not filled with innovation and growth. Indeed, the emerging robotaxi industry has done just that appeared. With that, I’ve noticed new types of companies adjacent to autonomous vehicles emerging, and I expect that to be a trend in 2026.
The scale of robotic axis was largely driven by Waymo’s but rapid growth Zoox and Tesla has also started to set up shop. This next year may be when we see these companies really square off in the same markets; it will also be the year when companies will face even greater scrutiny over security and how robotics fit into everyday life.
Meanwhile, electric cars have had their struggles this year, and automakers have struggled to adapt.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
|
13.-15. October 2026
e.g. Ford swings again. The company said this week it is ending production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning as part of a broader company-wide shakeup that will put more emphasis on hybrids and gas-powered vehicles. As part of its shift, Ford is turning to the increasingly popular “extended range electric vehicle” version of the truck, which adds a gas generator that can recharge the battery pack to power the engines for over 700 miles. It’s also getting into the energy storage business — gotta do something with all those batteries — and says it’s still committed to producing a midsize electric truck that goes on sale in 2027.
But hey, the electric car isn’t dead. And the promise of smaller, more affordable models looms in the near future with the imminent launch of Rivian’s R2 and Slate Auto’s electric truck.
Household slip: This is the last newsletter of the year. The next time you hear from me, I’ll be in Las Vegas for the annual tech trade show known as CES. Are you going? Reach out.
To everyone, thanks for reading, participating in the polls, and sending me emails (yes, even the critical ones). Your voice matters and I love hearing from you. See you in 2026!
A little bird
Reporter Jagmeet Singh, who is based in India, always seems to have birds chirping in his ear about startup deals. The latest is Spinnythe Indian online used car marketplace.
Spinny is raising about $160 million, funds that will be used to acquire car service startup GoMechanic. TechCrunch learned that the Series G round includes a mix of primary and secondary transactions and will value the 10-year-old startup at about $1.8 billion after money.
Do you have a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Signal at kkorosec.07, or email Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.
Offer!
Boat sitter and GetMyBoattwo companies operating Airbnb-like business models for boats agreed to merge.
Cowboy is back – sort of. The Brussels e-bike startup has been acquired by ReBirth Group Holding, a company that owns Gitane, Peugeot and Solex. The e-bike startup had its busy moments, but ultimately ran into problems, including a frame recall. Terms were not disclosed, but apparently it includes €15 million ($17.6 million) from existing shareholders.
Nirvana insurancean insurance technology startup focused on trucking, raised $100 million in a Series D funding round led by Valor Equity Partners. Lightspeed and General Catalyst also came along. Former TC reporter Mary Ann Azevedo had the scoop on the new valuation, which is now $1.5 billion.
Notable reads and other goodies
Redwood launched a newly patented Battery Collection Bin designed to encourage consumers to recycle batteries. Launched in San Francisco, the system securely stores, packages and monitors hundreds of batteries and battery-containing devices.
Rivian has added its trademark “Universal Hands-Free” driving via a software update to its second-generation R1 EVs (not sure I’m a fan of that term “universal hands-free,” btw). This upgrade will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel on 3.5 million miles of roads in the US and Canada (as long as painted lines are visible). Also, if you missed it over the weekend, Senior Reporter Sean O’Kane took us inside Rivian’s venture into AI-powered self-driving.
Securing America’s Future Energy has got a new managing director. Avery AshSAFE’s Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Special Initiatives, will be the organization’s next CEO.
Slate AutoThe electric truck startup, backed by Jeff Bezos, said it has collected more than 150,000 refundable reservations for its low-cost electric car, which expires at the end of 2026.
Sterling Andersen has been at work at GM for six months, and there is already talk that he has once taken over as managing director Mary Barra retires. My take: Anderson has big jobs ahead of him, so let’s all take a shot before assuming he gets the top job. GM president Mark Reuss is also in the background.
Tesla has pulled its human security monitors out of its robot axis in Austin. The Robotaxi service is limited with a fleet size numbering in the tens. Still, it’s a milestone. And for those wondering, the California Department of Motor Vehicles told me this week that Tesla has not applied for a driverless testing permit. The company is only allowed to test autonomous vehicle technology with a human safety operator placed behind the wheel.
Meanwhile, Tesla faces a difficult situation in California. Here’s the gist: An administrative law judge agreed with the case brought by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, finding that Tesla engaged in misleading marketing that misled customers about the capabilities of its Autopilot and fully self-driving driver assistance software. The DMV wanted to suspend Tesla’s sales and manufacturing licenses in the state for 30 days as punishment for its action, and a judge agreed.
Ah, but wait. The DMV stayed the order and gives Tesla 60 days to comply. That gives Tesla two options if it wants to keep those licenses: drop the Autopilot name or send software to its cars that makes them autonomous.
One more thing…
Some of you may not know that I also co-host Equitya TechCrunch podcast about startups. I generally co-host our Friday show, which offers commentary and analysis on the week’s news.
Every now and then I interview a founder or VC for the Wednesday show. My latest interview is with Jiten Behl, partner at Eclipse Ventures and former head of growth at Rivian, who believes we are entering an era of major reindustrialization in the US—an era where factories run on AI-powered robots, not cheap overseas labor. Watch the episode here.