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Fifteen years in the past, I began writing about slightly EV startup that was attempting to outlive whilst others failed within the clear tech boom-and-bust cycle. Again then Tesla had captured the curiosity of some celebrities and EV fans — however it was a small circle.
Quite a bit has modified since then, together with the profile of its largest shareholder and CEO, Elon Musk. His corporations, which embody SpaceX, Tesla, X, xAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Firm, have multiplied. And he’s utilizing it to search out expertise to assist the Division of Authorities Effectivity, an entity established by way of President Trump’s government order.
I lately put my institutional data to work — overlaying Musk over all these years, you study just a few issues — and teamed up with a number of TechCrunch editors and reporters. Our job was not simply to determine the individuals working at DOGE, but in addition to assist readers perceive their connection to Musk’s universe.
This can be a dwelling doc — and one we are going to often replace as we proceed our reporting. Have a tip about DOGE, its employees, or different associated matters? Attain out to me at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Sign at kkorosec.07.
Slightly hen
Acquired a tip for us? E mail Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or take a look at these directions to discover ways to contact us by way of encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.
Offers!
This week’s offers have been dimmed by a partnership that ended earlier than it ever actually began, a shutdown, a chapter, and one lifeless IPO.
First up, beleaguered hydrogen-electric truck maker Nikola has lastly filed for chapter after failing to boost sufficient funds to proceed operations or discover a purchaser. It’s been a yearslong battle for the corporate after it suffered a collection of scandals surrounding its founder and former CEO Trevor Milton, who was convicted of securities and wire fraud after making exaggerated claims in regards to the firm’s electrical truck know-how. All of us do not forget that notorious advertising video, proper?
In the meantime, peer-to-peer car-sharing startups had a chaotic week.
Getaround, a San Francisco startup and VC darling turned publicly traded SPAC, shut down its U.S. operations one yr after slicing 30% of its North American workforce as a part of a restructuring. Getaround stated it’s now targeted on its European enterprise the place it operates in six nations, together with Norway, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Austria.
The craziest a part of this shutdown was how the corporate managed it. The board made the choice on February 7 however didn’t alert house owners and renters in regards to the closure till February 12. Oh, and their insurance coverage protection would expire by the tip of the day.
Then there was Turo, which has known as off its long-awaited IPO. The corporate publicly filed in January 2022 for an preliminary public providing, however IPO situations modified quickly afterward. Nonetheless, it appeared like Turo may lastly IPO in 2025 — till it didn’t.
Different offers that received my consideration …
Aurora final week entered into an settlement to sell up to $500 million in inventory at an “at-the-market” providing. Aurora stated in its This fall 2024 earnings report that it has sufficient money to get by preliminary commercialization in April, however this settlement units it as much as increase money shortly sooner or later ought to it want the funds to scale and get to cash-flow constructive.
Fetii, a gaggle ride-share app based mostly in Austin, raised a $7.35 million seed spherical led by Mark Cuban, with participation from Y Combinator, Goodwater Capital, and others.
The $60 billion mega-merger between Honda and Nissan died. And per Reuters’ sources, satisfaction is partially responsible.
One Fairness Companions, a non-public fairness agency, is acquiring Wheeler Fleet Options, an aftermarket components distribution firm. Phrases weren’t disclosed.
Saronic, a army drone-boat maker, has raised $600 million in funding at a $4 billion valuation. Common Catalyst led the spherical into the lower than three-year-old firm.
Notable reads and different tidbits
Autonomous automobiles
Avride’s autonomous sidewalk supply robots at the moment are delivering orders for Uber Eats prospects in Jersey Metropolis.
Waymo appears prefer it may launch a membership program. Some Los Angeles prospects received a survey invite that requested them which sorts of memberships they’d be almost certainly to decide on. When requested, Waymo stated it often conducts analysis and experiments to determine what options, promotions, and experiences riders may like however didn’t share the rest.
Serve Robotics has launched its delivery bots in Miami. The corporate additionally expanded its current partnership with Shake Shack and added one other with Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza, so prospects in Miami ordering from these eating places on Uber Eats might need their meals delivered by a bot.
Electrical automobiles, charging, & batteries
Elon Musk’s political actions — specifically his involvement within the Division of Authorities Effectivity — have turned some shoppers towards Tesla. Senior reporter Sean O’Kane linked with two individuals who organized the Tesla Takeover motion, which led to protests at Tesla showrooms in dozens of U.S. cities.
Blue Whale Supplies, a lithium-ion battery recycling firm, has partnered with Call2Recycle to advance home battery recycling and meet the necessity for domestically sourced battery supplies.
Way forward for flight
Beta Applied sciences has flown considerably extra underneath the radar than its competitors within the electrical aviation business, however the startup has been quietly rising the enterprise and accumulating extra piloted flight hours than anybody else underneath the management of its tattooed, enigmatic founder and CEO, Kyle Clark, writes senior reporter Rebecca Bellan.
The Trump administration fired a whole bunch of Federal Aviation Administration workers who keep essential air site visitors management infrastructure. The firings come as Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been tapped to assist create a brand new air site visitors management system.
Micromobility
Lime reported its second consecutive yr of being free money circulate constructive. The scooter and bike-share firm additionally stated its adjusted EBITDA exceeded $140 million for 2024, up from $94 million in 2023. These outcomes are unaudited, so take them with a grain of salt.
Experience-hailing and gig economic system
Uber filed a lawsuit towards DoorDash, accusing the supply outfit of stifling competitors by intimidating restaurant house owners into unique offers.
This week’s wheels
We’re again with one other version of This Week’s Wheels, this time with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5, which ranges in value between $43,975 and $59,575, relying on the trim.
Contributor Emme Corridor spent a while behind the wheel of this refreshed all-electric compact SUV and located lots to like. However there’s one literal shortfall, a minimum of in the intervening time. This EV is provided with Tesla’s North American Charging Commonplace port, however Corridor found that the charging port location didn’t match up with the Tesla Supercharger twine. It merely didn’t attain.
That meant she would want to attend for one more Tesla to vacate its house and use that charging cable, basically taking on two areas, or use the in-car navigation to discover a CCS-equipped charging station and use the adapter that comes with the automotive.
Not nice. However here’s what was nice — the 2025 mannequin yr is available in a brand new XRT trim that features a one-inch elevate and 29-inch Continental CrossContact ATR tires for higher efficiency within the filth and over gravel. And this 2025 mannequin yr, which additionally acquired just a few tech upgrades, continues to be poised on the pavement with well-balanced dealing with and a snug trip.
What’s “This week’s wheels”? It’s an opportunity to study in regards to the completely different transportation merchandise we’re testing, whether or not it’s an electrical or hybrid automotive, an e-bike, or perhaps a trip in an autonomous car.