Trucks | FoT: CATL, Aurora, CarPlay

FoT is the intelligence arm of Trucks Venture Capital 

Notable:

Apple's next-generation CarPlay, named Ultra, launches with Aston Martin (link, link to video). The big leap here is that CarPlay can be multi-screen and Siri controls can manage things like climate. In effect CarPlay is becoming closer to 'car control' rather than just a better projection for your phone. This is going to accelerate two opposing trends we have seen with CarPlay: nervous automakers will like it even less (because of its deeper integration) and consumers will like it even more -- for the same reasons. I can't believe there are still manufacturers who think they can design better car interfaces than Apple.

AV startup Aurora says it is putting humans back behind the wheel of its trucks after its vehicle partner Paccar objected (link). 'Aurora had some human passengers aboard its trucks since its April 27 launch along Interstate 45 in Texas.' What is unclear in all this is if the 'driverless launch' a few weeks ago had no humans in the Paccar truck, or if there were humans sitting somewhere in the back seats? And if they were in the rear seats, were they CDL drivers? See also this short-seller report on Aurora by Bleecker Street (link).

Customers opting for AVs in search of 'solitude and safety' over human-piloted taxis (link). 'One constant among the women USA TODAY spoke with who routinely ride in Waymos is the notion of safety and the lack of real or potential harassment.'

US NHTSA asks Tesla to answer questions on Texas robotaxi plan (link). 'On Monday, NHTSA said it wants to know how many vehicles will be used as robotaxis and the expected timetable for availability of robotaxi technology for vehicles controlled by people other than Tesla.' Related: a month or so from launch, the company is still testing using fleet attendants in vehicle (link).

Video: what happened to Alta Motors, and how it was almost acquired by BRP (link to Part 1, link to Part 2). Video: Anduril CEO unveils Fury unmanned jet (link). Video: Marques Brownlee on the new Slate EV truck (link).

M&A / Deals / Changes:

After US blacklisting, Chinese battery giant raises $4.6B in Hong Kong IPO (link).

Automated ship company Saildrone raises $60M (link). Led by EIFO.

Uber offering $1B sale of exchangeable senior notes in its Aurora Innovation position (link).

Manufacturing design startup Infinitform raises $12.7M (link). Led by Up Partners.

Turo vehicles are now available on Uber's Rent platform (link).

Board & Executive Changes:

Joby Aviation: Rodrigo Brumana named CFO (link).

Harley-Davidson leaders survive proxy fight (link). 'Preliminary vote shows shareholders back Chairman Jochen Zeitz, two other board members despite activist’s attempt to remove them.'

Tesla: Jack Hartung joins board (link).

Auto Trader: Megan Quinn, Adam Jay join board (link).

Goodyear Tire & Rubber: Jason Winkler joins board (link).

Luminar Technologies: Austin Russell departs as CEO and as board chair (link); Jun Hong Heng resigns from board (link).

Qualcomm: Chris Young joins board (link).

Curated Jobs:

Plasma Physicist at Maritime Fusion in San Francisco, CA USA (link).

Senior Robotics Engineer at GM in Warren, MI USA (link).

Hiring? Post a job (link). If you're a startup, use code 'Trucks' for free standard listings.

Hunting? View all 373 postings on the MobilityJobs job board (link).

New Stuff:

China shows fleet of Huawei driverless mining trucks (link). 'The trucks are designed to autonomously load and unload mining material, as well as operate in harsh weather at the Yimin coal mine in Hulunbuir, a large city in northeastern Inner Mongolia. The vehicles could improve “overall transport efficiency” by 20% compared to manned trucks, Li said.'

China has built the largest car carrier ship: the Anji Ansheng can hold 9500 vehicles (link). Via Mike D.

LG shows new stretchable automotive interior display (link). Via Weans.

Tesla is reportedly selling off lease cars that were originally planned to be used for its robotaxi fleet (link).

Photoshopping out cars in real life, by Russian art collective Stenograffia (link).

Patents & Patent Applications:

GM's patent application shows a number of systems on a vehicle interior that can estimate the severity of a crash on an individual basis (link).

Ford's patent shows child assistance reinforcment messaging (link). For example, horsey stickers.

Statistics / Projections:

More than 1 in 4 new cars sold globally in 2025 will be electric (link, link to PDF report). Via CBC / IEA.

US EV registrations rose 20% in March vs the same period last year (link). Via Automotive News / S&P Global Mobility.

Thank you:

Thank you to Kaity Fischer (link) and Stefan Nürnberger (link) for offers of introductions to new founders, investors and friends over the last week.

Trucks portfolio companies mentioned in this issue:

Joby Aviation (link), Maritime Fusion (link). View the full portfolio of Trucks companies (link).

You should never, never doubt something that no one is sure of (R. Dahl),

Reilly Brennan