TechCrunch Mobility: The Truth Behind Robotaxis

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Robotaxis are officially on the scene! Yet, they still contend with significant hurdles.

This irony defines Waymo’s present reality. Anyone wandering in San Francisco might confidently proclaim that robotaxis are among us. However, mere existence doesn’t ensure dependability. This persistent uncertainty weighs heavily on every enterprise trying to commercialize autonomous vehicles.

Waymo has paused operations in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio due to challenges with its robotaxis navigating heavy rainfall and flooded roadways — particularly struggling with when to steer clear of such conditions altogether. While compiling this newsletter, we discovered that operations also ceased in Austin and Nashville. This recurring complication prompted a recall from Waymo just last week.

In the same week, Waymo halted robotaxi services on freeways in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami as it seeks to improve performance in construction zones.

Currently, the rollout of robotaxis is cautious. While this situation might not persist indefinitely, it serves as a reminder that just because something is launched commercially does not mean it is successful. Waymo — likely leading in commercial robotaxi ridership and fleet size — is deeply entrenched in navigating this landscape. With each new city it ventures into or capability it develops, distinct challenges emerge.

Situationship or Corporationmaxxing?

This week, I’m foregoing my usual “Little bird” section to delve into SpaceX, its IPO ambitions, and the complex dynamics within the Elon Musk business ecosystem.

Normally, I don’t dedicate much space in this newsletter to cosmic topics. However, the SpaceX IPO filing made headlines this week, and its leader has strong ties to Tesla. Therefore, we delve into the realms of space and, more specifically, how Musk reallocates resources among his ventures.

The synergy between Tesla and SpaceX is well acknowledged; Tesla, being publicly traded, reveals financial interactions with Musk’s other endeavors. This recent IPO filing is no exception and provides clarity on these transactions. Notably, now that Musk’s company xAI has merged with SpaceX, this IPO consolidates these financial ties into a singular entity.

For example, in 2025, SpaceX invested $506 million in Tesla’s commercial energy storage offerings, known as Megapack — nearly tripling its expenditure from the previous year. Furthermore, SpaceX procured $131 million worth of Cybertrucks last year. SpaceX also compensated Musk’s tunneling entity, The Boring Company, $1 million for tunnel construction in Bastrop, Texas. Musk’s social media platform X, purchased by xAI last year and merged with SpaceX, likewise allocated $1 million for leasing space from The Boring Company.

Additionally, Tesla’s investment in xAI transformed into an equity share in SpaceX following SpaceX’s acquisition of xAI.

These financial assessments might be overshadowed by two upcoming initiatives involving SpaceX and Tesla: the creation of Terafab, a chip-manufacturing facility, and Macrohard, an AI platform aimed at utilizing autonomous agents to bolster human labor.

This brings me to a question: Will SpaceX and Tesla eventually merge?

To engage in our polls, sign up here to receive TechCrunch Mobility directly in your inbox!

For additional insights on SpaceX, explore these pieces:

Everything in the SpaceX IPO filing
A detailed look at Elon Musk’s expanding influence
Who stands to benefit the most?
xAI reported $6.4B in losses last year
xAI continues to depend on gas turbines for its data centers

Deals!

Aboard, a Southern California startup focusing on long-range electric travel trailers, has successfully raised $13 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Ondine Capital and Llama Ventures. Notably, the company brought on Richard Kim — renowned for his designs of the BMW i3 and i8 — as a consultant.

Quartermaster, a startup from Arlington, Virginia, that is developing a distributed sensing network for ships, has secured $43 million in a Series A funding round, co-led by First Round Capital and Quiet Capital.

May Mobility, focused on autonomous vehicle technology, has partnered strategically with Ecarx, an automotive tech company backed by Geely founder Li Shufu. This partnership will see Ecarx supply May Mobility with thousands of custom-built robotaxi vehicles. They plan to engage with a third-party partner to kick off deployments in 2024, aiming for commercial launch by 2028. The project’s total estimated value is around $750 million over its lifespan.

Scapia, an Indian travel booking startup, has raised $63 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst, with participation from existing investors Peak XV Partners and Z47.

Uber has increased its stake and now owns 19.5% of the German food delivery service Delivery Hero, according to Bloomberg.

Notable Reads and Other Tidbits

Bryan Reimer, a research scientist at MIT, recently discussed AI and its future, underlining its dependence on human behavior, governance, and trust.

The global EV landscape reveals a K-shaped trend, spotlighting a nation that is lagging behind.

Lyft shared a blog articulating its position on autonomous driving. Much like its rival Uber, Lyft argues that a ride-hailing service necessitates both human and robot drivers. This stance is politically savvy as it aims to satisfy its human gig workers while reflecting the current realities regarding robotaxi availability — they remain uncommon in daily life for most individuals across the U.S.

The self-driving tech startup Nuro has appointed Michael Mancini as its chief financial officer, who previously held the same role at Energy Recovery, Astranis Space Technologies, and Aerion Supersonic.

Stellantis, the automotive powerhouse behind Jeep and Ram brands, has partnered with self-driving startup Wayve to incorporate hands-free driving functionality in its vehicles by 2028. Concurrently, Stellantis has unveiled its $70 billion revitalization strategy, which includes launching 11 new models for North America — including some Chryslers!

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) driver-assistance software has just launched in Lithuania, becoming the second European nation to approve its use. Notably, expanding FSD in Europe is crucial for Tesla’s aspirations, alongside Musk, whose $1 trillion pay package is tied to achieving specific product targets, including securing “10 million active FSD subscriptions” by 2035.

A physician in San Francisco, who had filed a lawsuit against Waymo after its identity-verification system mistakenly identified him as a terrorist, has retracted the suit following resolution of the matter.

One More Thing …

The last time I encountered a Nissan Leaf was two years ago during a test drive of the 2024 model, priced at $37,815 (including destination fees). My experience was somewhat mixed. Recently, I revisited the Leaf, this time in the form of the 2026 Nissan Leaf Platinum+, priced at $42,635 with destination fees and upgrades such as two-tone paint and a floor mat package.

This latest model represents the third evolution of the Leaf, featuring an enhanced EPA estimated range of 259 miles (and some versions exceeding 300 miles). However, the most notable upgrade I remarked upon was its more modern and, dare I say, refined interior design. While I won’t label it “sleek,” it was a welcome improvement. (Check out the cool ambient lighting at night in the image above!) The version I tested, which is the highest trim, includes features like a wireless phone charging pad, a dimming panoramic roof, a heads-up display, and a long, curved 14.3-inch central screen.

Previously, I criticized the absence of modern tech in a vehicle priced over $30,000 — for instance, a clear backup camera. This time around, several impressive enhancements come standard, addressing my earlier feedback, including a 360-degree camera, wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and adaptive cruise control. Overall, I was pleased to get back behind the wheel of a Nissan Leaf.

Have a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Signal at kkorosec.07, or reach out to Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.