Anthony Levandowski bets on off-road autonomy, Nuro plots a comeback and Applied Intuition gets more investor love

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Summer road trip season is upon us, so when Google announced some updates to Google Maps, we got excited. Surely this would include a feature that allows users to pause navigation so it doesn’t yell at you to get back on course every time you pull off the freeway. Sadly, it does not, according to TC senior reporter Sean O’Kane, who spends his days dreaming of a future where he will be able to easily pause navigation to make brief fuel and food pit stops. Here’s a rundown of what Google did announce and O’Kane’s plea for the pause button. 

Ah, and before I forget, who here is going to Monterey Car Week — aka holy week to some of us — this month? I won’t be there, but a couple of TC contributors will be searching for interesting tech, hybrids and EVs at the various events contained within the annual event. Reach out to Kirsten Korosec at [email protected] if you’ve got something to share or show us. 

Let’s go!!!

A little bird

A little bird reached out to let us know Rad Power Bikes, the buzzy e-bike startup that has raised more than $300 million from investors, laid off workers (again) in July. This is the fifth round of layoffs since April 2021, when it cut 100 workers. 

Rad Power has confirmed the layoffs but wouldn’t share numbers. Our sources tell us the company’s product development team was affected. Stay tuned as we dig around for more information. 

Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at [email protected], Sean O’Kane at [email protected] or Rebecca Bellan at [email protected]. Or check out these instructions to learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.

Deals!

Applied Intuition co-founder Qasar Younis told TechCrunch in March that he wants his company to be the “first call” when automakers or defense companies have a software or AI problem to solve. 

Automakers and AV companies are calling. And so are investors! 

The autonomous vehicle software startup has closed a $300 million secondary sale. That’s a notable number in these parts. But it’s even more interesting when you consider the company raised $250 million in a Series E round just four months ago. 

Fidelity Management & Research Company joined the secondary sale. Applied Intuition is also backed by Lux Capital’s Bilal Zuberi, Elad Gil, Andreessen Horowitz, and Mary Meeker’s growth fund Bond.

Applied Intuition is shaping up to be the “picks and shovels” AI darling of 2024. 

Other deals that got my attention …

Rapido, the Indian bike-taxi startup, raised $120 million in a Series E funding round led by WestBridge Capital. The startup is now a unicorn with a valuation over $1 billion. 

Sennder, the German freight forwarding unicorn, is acquiring the European ground transportation assets of logistics giant C.H. Robinson in an all-cash deal. It did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but a source close to the company told TechCrunch it is similar in value to Sennder’s 2020 acquisition of Uber’s European freight business, which was rumored to be worth around €900 million at the time.

Notable reads and other tidbits

ADAS

The WSJ analyzed Tesla’s crash data to better understand safety issues surrounding Tesla’s Autopilot.

Autonomous vehicles

I recently caught up with Anthony Levandowski — the pioneering and polarizing autonomous vehicle engineer and serial founder — about his startup Pronto. The company has started gaining a bit of traction lately, notably an extended pilot program with building materials and cement producer Heidelberg Materials. Read on to learn how (and why) Levandowski is betting on off-road AV technology.

Nuro is gearing up for a comeback after securing approval from California regulators to expand its driverless testing area. 

Electric vehicles, charging & batteries

Fisker’s bankruptcy proceedings took an unexpected turn when it reached an agreement with Heights Capital Management — its only secured lender — to try and hammer out a settlement on how to liquidate its assets. If that effort fails, it will convert to Chapter 7. Want the whole Fisker story? Check out this handy timeline. 

TechCrunch reporter Rebecca Bellan spent some time with two new products that Lime is testing in a few cities: the LimeBike and the LimeGlider.

Zapp Electric Vehicles, the London-based electric two-wheeler brand that is about to roll out its first product, has global ambitions. And India will be one of its launchpads, TechCrunch has exclusively learned.

Privacy and security

TC cybersecurity editor Zack Whittaker explains how to opt out of facial recognition at airports (if you’re American).

U.S. border agents must obtain a warrant before searching the electronic devices of Americans and international travelers crossing the U.S. border, a federal district court has ruled. 

Ride-hailing and the gig economy

Uber is rolling out concurrent rides in India, a feature that allows users to book up to three trips for any of their contacts. Uber even allows concurrent ride users in India to pay drivers directly with cash or via the app; that’s one way to attract more customers. 

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other gig economy companies can continue to classify workers as contractors in California, the state’s Supreme Court ruled. 

This week’s wheels

My neighbors are used to a steady stream of new EVs and hybrids pulling in and out of my driveway. So I always take note when they go out of their way to comment on one of my test cars. The 2024 Fiat 500e Inspired by Design was one of those omg-cute-what-is-that moments.

The 2024 Fiat 500e Inspired by Design, which is priced at $37,595, including the destination fee, is one of two new trims of the revived electric hatchback. The EV, with its rose-gold exterior and cream interior, is packed with all sorts of features that push it above the Fiat 500e Inspi(RED) edition, which came out early this year. The upgraded trim comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an expanded menu of driver-assistance features, including lane-departure warning, drowsy-driver detection, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot detection. It also looks more luxurious than the Inspi(RED) edition thanks to chrome accents and a vinyl-wrapped dashboard. The small back seats and diminutive storage space are still sufficient enough to hold groceries and a bit of luggage.  

And it is cute. But how does it actually function? The Fiat 500e isn’t exactly powerful, nor does it have a lot of range (about 141 miles from its 42 kilowatt-hour battery) compared with its larger EV counterparts. The Fiat 500e feels sporty in urban environments even though the single electric motor produces just 117 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. It has a stiff suspension, which not everyone will love, but it works in a car designed for the city. 

The front-wheel-drive EV offers three different drive modes: Normal, Range and Sherpa. These let the driver control the level of regenerative braking and preserve range. The Sherpa mode was a bit too much for me — even the AC is turned off — in the Arizona summer. 

In all, this well-appointed urban EV had more than enough range and tech features to accommodate all of my needs as I ran errands around town and into the mountains for the weekend. 

What is “This week’s wheels”? It’s a chance to learn about the different transportation products we’re testing, whether it’s an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle.