TechCrunch Mobility: Inside the Rivian skunkworks program, and Trump’s gift to Tesla

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Before we jump to transportation news from the week, it is worth noting you of several articles that you focus on Elon MuskCEO, largest contributor to Tesla and founder of many other companies, including Spacex and Neuralink.

You may remember an investigation into the team here at Techcrunch published in February on people in Ulon Musk’s Doge Universe. The article, which is still updated, focuses on those who work Ministry of Governmental efficiencyEntity created through President Trump’s executive order. A new report, by another team here in Techcrunch, focuses on founders and VCS who work with DOGE. check it out!

He talks about musk, his close ally Trump 25 % of the customs tariff was placed on all the cars imported to the United States, including those in Mexico and Canada. It also put a 25 % tariff on certain parts used to build cars. As the correspondent Sean Okan notes, it is a decision that is likely to charge the cost of new and used cars, but it is also a gift to Tesla, the company run by Musk, the greatest financial supporter in the presidential elections.

Finally, in other AM-I-A-S-Simulation News, Trefor MiltonTrump confirmed to Techcrunch that the founder of Nikola, who led to fraud, founder of Nikola condemned by Trump. Teit: We waited for hours and hours before the White House confirmed.

Well, upward with the rest of the week.

birdie

A small bird recently told us that clear Partnerships aspire as a way to reach higher levels of autonomy, especially with new gravitational cars. Can we see a partnership with Mobileye or some other unlikely automatic driving technology?

Do you have advice to us? Email Kirsten Korosec in Kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com Or my signal in Kkorosec.07, Sean Okan on sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Billan in Ribecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or achieve These instructions To learn how to contact us via encryptive correspondence applications or secretrop.

Deals!

Welp, here is a deal that is not related to transportation, but it deserves some attention a lot.

Techcrunch It was obtained by the private investment company Regista. No financial conditions have been revealed, but our previous owner who will retain Yahoo Holdings soon maintains a small share of ownership. The acquisition, which has not yet been closed, comes a few days after purchasing Regent Foundry, Pubsher Home for Technology Publications such as PCWorld, MacWorld, Infoworld and CIO.

Other deals caught my attention …

betterThe Michigan -based company, Michigan, which developed the EV Fleet Management Program, raised $ 15 million in a “A” financing round led by climate capital alignment, the Ecological System Safety Fund (EIF), and the wonderful Ventures climate (RVC).

Robot CompanyRobotics Startup, founded by a former founder and executive head of Cruise Kyle VogueReuters raised $ 150 million in a tour led by Greenoaks.

DechargeEV raised the infrastructure operation, $ 2.5 million in a tour led by LeMnisCAP. Among other investors are Colosseum, Daedalus Angels, Ev3 Labs, Echo Fundrainer Chainyoda Jedis and Levitate Labs.

FleetioThe Vehicle Fleet Management Company raised $ 450 million on a tour of the Elephant VC and Goldman Sachs alternatives. Money will be used to finance the purchase of automatic allocation platform for maintenance.

ManaDublin -based drone delivery company raised $ 30 million on a tour led by Tapestry VC and Molten Ventures. Coca-Cola and Dynama Venture also participated.

Promise readings and other tales

Independent vehicles

And emo Robotaxi ride will start in Washington, DC, via the Waymo One application in 2026. There is an important fishing: before Waymo can launch a commercial launch, the company will have to raise the pressure game in the capital, where self -ruling vehicle permits still require a person behind the wheel, according to the correspondent Rebecca Bellan.

Electric cars, shipping and batteries

BydLast week, the EV-Breakthrough shipment pushed the correspondent Tim de Hart to learn more.

Cadillac He appeared for the first time EV: OPTIQ Suv. Emme Hall’s shareholder has a chance to lead OPTIQ and IQ New Escalade.

revelBROKLYN Electric Bustructure Startup launched the first fast shipping station in San Francisco.

Rural SkunkWorks is running for years, focusing on Micromobility, electric, founder, and CEO RJ Scaringe He said Techcrunch. Now, Rivian takes out startup – known as – with $ 105 million in funding from Eclipse Ventures. Rivian has a minority stake in Scaringe and Scaring will work on its board of directors. Chris Yu, Vice President of Future Programs in Rivian, will be her president.

IN-Car Tech

Waze removed Google’s assistant from iOS due to the ongoing problems. The company plans to provide a “improvement solution solution” at some point in the near future as a substitute.