Trucks | FoT: Iveco, Blade, OEConnection

Trucks | Future of Transportation for 2025.08.11
FoT is the intelligence arm of Trucks Venture Capital 

Notable:

How to regulate AV robotaxi liability, from the Brookings Institute (link). Via Phil K. 'If policymakers want to move the self-driving car industry to a level of performance exceeding the current level of safety provided by human drivers, this might be done more effectively through a regulatory requirement, rather than through standards for liability in litigation of individual accident cases. For instance, if there is an expectation that computer drivers can and should react to a suddenly appearing pedestrian faster than a human driver would, regulators can design a test and make a specified faster-than-human response time a performance requirement for self-driving cars.'

Security researcher's presentation at DEFCON shows how he accessed personal information on car owners through a dealer portal and took control over vehicle and accounts (link, link to PDF presentation).

A new take on shortest-path finding (link). Via Weans. 'Forty years ago, researchers designing shortest-paths algorithms ran up against this sorting barrier. Now, a team of researchers has devised a new algorithm that breaks it. It doesn’t sort, and it runs faster than any algorithm that does.'

Yes, but does Japan want American cars? (link). 'In exchange for a 15% across-the-board U.S. tariff on its goods — lower than the previously threatened 25% — Japan agreed to invest hundreds of billions....That means Japan would allow the import of American-made cars without the unique safety standards and testing it usually requires, the country’s chief trade negotiator said at a recent news conference.'

How to lose the drone war (link). 'To take advantage of the drone revolution, it will not be enough for the United States to focus on building capacity—more funding, more production, faster acquisition. The country’s civilian and defense leaders will have to more fundamentally question the ideas that have long shaped the U.S. military and its campaigns. It was no surprise that the United States’ use of drones closely replicated core airpower missions such as strategic bombing and reconnaissance. The army accepted the air force’s monopoly on drones, investing only sparingly in smaller systems, while the navy—which remained focused on big platforms such as aircraft carriers that were core to its identity—showed little interest in the unmanned revolution.'

Rivian to Ohio: why Tesla but not us? (link). After dealer groups changed a law in 2014, it closed the door on direct sales (other than Tesla).

Video: Ukrainian solder delivered ebike by drone (link). Via Carlos. Video: BMW's new all-in-one stick-on tire inflator (link). Via Diego.

Dale Earnhardt's widow and son Kerry battle over a $30 billion data center on his North Carolina land (link). Via Diego. 'The land is at the center of a battle over the future of Mooresville that has galvanized residents and pitted Earnhardt’s widow, who wants to develop the property into an enormous data center, against one of Earnhardt’s children, who has joined the fight to stop her.'

M&A / Deals / Changes:

Helicopter service Blade acquired by Joby Aviation for $125M (link). The deal is for Blade's consumer business only, while its medical transport business remains separate.

Singapore's Carro, SE Asia's largest online used car marketplace, targets US IPO with over $3 billion valuation (link).

Former Ohio car plant, once owned by GM and then Foxconn, reportedly purchased by Softbank for Stargate AI project (link).

Indian aerospace startup Jeh raises $11M (link). Led by Elevation Capital.

Truck maker Iveco Group acquired by Tata Motors for $4.4B (link).

GM and Hyundai announce plans for first five co-developed vehicles (link). 'The two companies will co-develop four vehicles for the Central and South American market, including a compact SUV, car and pick-up, as well as a mid-size pick-up, all with the flexibility to use either internal combustion or hybrid propulsion systems. Hyundai and GM also will co-develop an electric commercial van for North America.'

Joint venture parts distribution company OEConnection reportedly put up for sale by Genstar (link). 'Sources say Genstar has hired Evercore to advise and could begin a formal sale process later in 2025. Estimated valuation: $4B–$5B, implying a multiple of 20x+ EBITDA.'

Shell shuts down its Volta EV charging business (link).

Robot safety startup Fort Robotics raises $19M (link). Led by Tiger Global.

Tesla shuts down Dojo, the AI training supercomputer that Musk said would be key to full self-driving (link). Dojo leader Peter Bannon is departing the company.

Board & Executive Changes:

Harley Davidson: Arthur Starrs to join as CEO effective October 1 (link).

CH Robinson: Edward Feitzinger joins board (link).

Curated Jobs:

Environmental Planner at Joby Aviation in Santa Cruz, CA USA (link).

Machine Learning Engineer at Gatik in Mountain View, CA USA (link).

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

Hunting? View all 409 postings on the MobilityJobs job board (link).

New Stuff:

Baidu robotaxi with passenger falls into construction pit in China, raising safety concerns (link).

US issues exemption for self-driving Zoox vehicles, closes probe (link).

Tesla, Elon Musk sued by shareholders over Robotaxi claims (link).

Amazon Autos begins offering used and certified pre-owned vehicles (link).

Patents & Patent Applications:

Ford's patent application shows a rooftop shelter / work system for sleeping, Zoom calls (link). It sits on a new four-door pickup that appears different from a Maverick, possibly an upcoming vehicle on their new EV platform.

Statistics / Projections:

Harley-Davidson's electric brand is selling fewer than 1 motorcycle per day (link). Via Sherwood.

The average Waymo robotaxi completes more trips per day than 99% of Uber drivers, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says (link). Via Business Insider.

Thank you:

Thank you to Jon Rossi (link) and Kevin Starnes (link) for offers of introductions to new founders, investors and friends over the last week.

Trucks portfolio companies mentioned in this issue:

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

I build engines and attach wheels to them (Enzo Ferrari),

Reilly Brennan