Trucks | FoT: Ford platform, Via, GM + AVs

Trucks | Future of Transportation for 2025.08.18
FoT is the intelligence arm of Trucks Venture Capital 

Notable:

Ford's announcement of a new low-cost/reduced-part EV platform sets up a range of affordable vehicles over the next few years (link). The giga/uni-casting approach, coupled with 'sentence diagram' assembly line design, is the main cost reducer. Plus, 400-volt architecture, LFP batteries and reduction of components by 20%, fasteners by 25%, wiring by 4000 feet. We used to think of EV innovation happening at the top and then trickling down; it's how most of the evolution has gone across the major OEMs. But this changes things as it starts at the low end first.

GM flips back to AVs with a push to re-hire ex Cruise exployees (link). 'The project would be focused on autonomous cars for personal use, with the first step being development of hands-free, eyes-free driving with a human in the vehicle, and the ultimate goal being a car that can drive with no one at the wheel.' All OEMs, suppliers and ridehailing companies who dropped their AV groups will re-engage and build them back up again, particularly given the ascendancy of Waymo over the last 12 months. The value is too great and the absence of an L4 strategy is now too much for executives to bear, whether it is Wall Street analyst pressure or their own boards. This is why 2026 will feel like 2016 all over again.

AV startup Tensor claims to offer AVs for sale as personal vehicles (link). This is probably AutoX, as the trademark for Tensor is affilated with the Chinese company, but the company hasn't confirmed and instead said it is based in San Jose, CA. It would be hard for any startup to sell an L4 vehicle but especially one with no consumer trust or history such as a brand nobody's heard of before this announcement.

Like drug fiend high on the worst ideas from a consultant's bag of dope, Volkswagen introduces engine horsepower access behind a paid subscription (link). Via Weans.

How Helsinki cut its traffic deaths to zero (link). Reduced speed limits (19mph), automatic traffic cameras with fines, better public transportation and bike infrastructure.

Ships carrying Chinese cars are using the Red Sea and Suez Canal, even as other vessels still sail around Africa in fear of attacks by the Houthis (link).

Video: Electra shows its very short take-off and landing plane (link). Video: basejumping the Eiffel Tower (link). Via Diego.

A running set of stories, concepts and photos from the week at Monterey / Pebble Beach (link).

M&A / Deals / Changes:

Transit tech firm Via files for IPO (link). S-1 document here (link). 'The company had a net loss of $37.5 million on revenue of $205.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, according to its filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.'

UK buy now pay later repair startup Bumper raises $11M (link). Led by Autotech VC.

Indian EV motorcycle startup Ultraviolette raises $21M (link). Led by TDK Ventures.

Optical supplier Coherent sells its aerospace and defense business for $400M to Advent International (link).

Porsche SE eyes defense investments as tough auto market prompts guidance cut (link). 'With regard to portfolio investments, our aim is to increase our involvement in the defense and defense-related sectors while maintaining our core focus on mobility and industrial technology.'

GM will import EV batteries from China's CATL despite tariffs (link). 'GM will buy the batteries from China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology, one of the world’s largest battery makers, for about 2 years until the Detroit automaker and its Korean partner LG Energy Solution can stand up their own manufacturing of the lower-cost batteries in the U.S., according to people familiar with the plan.'

Board & Executive Changes:

Lyft co-founders Logan Green and John Zimmer depart board; Sean Aggarwal promoted to chair (link).

Waabi: Former Uber Freight CEO Lior Ron joins as COO (link). Related: 'Uber Freight is stuck in a no-win situation' (link).

Assurant: Mike Campbell promoted to COO (link).

American Axle & Mfg: David Walker joins board (link).

Curated Jobs:

Systems Engineer, Mechanical Systems at Joby Aviation in Santa Cruz, CA USA (link).

EVSE Reliability Electrician at ChargerHelp in Baltimore, Maryland, USA (link).

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

Hunting? View all 479 postings on the MobilityJobs job board (link).

New Stuff:

AV trucking startup Bot Auto partners with Steves & Sons for AV routes (link).

Patents & Patent Applications:

GM's patent application for a vehicle testing protocol for AVs (link).

Statistics / Projections:

Researchers estimate that urban residents who switched from driving to cycling for just 1 trip per day reduced their carbon footprint by about half a tonne of CO₂ over the course of a year (link). Via The Conversation. 'If just 1 in 5 urban residents permanently changed their travel behaviour in this way over the next few years, we estimate it would cut emissions from all car travel in Europe by about 8%.'

The average 3-year old used car in the US is now greater than $30,000 (link). Via WSJ / Edmunds.

Canadian car visits to U.S. fall 37% in July (link). Via Forbes / Statistics Canada.

America's mobility decline: 47% decline among people moving within the same county over the past three decades (link). Via WSJ / US census data.

Overall tariff impact on automakers likely around $12B in losses (link). Via WSJ.

Thank you:

Thank you to Allegra Kowalewski-Ferreira (link), Alex Roy (link) and Jason Townsend (link) for offers of introductions to new founders, investors and friends over the last week.

Trucks portfolio companies mentioned in this issue:

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

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games (Hemingway),

Reilly Brennan