TechCrunch Mobility: Overcoming the Hurdles of Robotaxi Technology

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I’ve just returned from vacation—what have I missed? Quite a lot, particularly the conclusion of the Uber-Waymo partnership in Phoenix. As both companies advance their robotaxi initiatives in Atlanta and Austin, the significant inquiry has transitioned from if to when this partnership will end. I’m eager to see how each entity adapts following the separation.

Tensions are already emerging, with numerous Uber executives voicing private worries regarding Waymo. I suspect these frustrations will become more pronounced when the alliance concludes. One critical area to watch will be regulatory shifts, particularly as robotaxi services attempt to establish their foothold.

This week saw significant updates from federal agencies concerning autonomous vehicles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Administrator Jonathan Morrison asserted that it is unacceptable for autonomous vehicle makers to hinder emergency services or law enforcement.

The sentiment was clear: “Neglecting to recognize and appropriately respond in these scenarios signifies a functional defect. Emergencies are neither rare nor simply ‘edge cases.’ The NHTSA implores creators and operators of autonomous vehicles to prioritize this immediately.”

Although Morrison did not pinpoint specific robotaxi companies, his comments broadly targeted all AV developers under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation’s Standing General Order. However, Waymo seems to be central to his remarks.

Past investigations by TechCrunch have indicated that Waymo—operating the largest robotaxi fleet in the U.S. across cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco—has faced various hurdles with first responders. Recently, San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood initiated an inquiry into how autonomous vehicles affected public transportation and emergency responses during the July 4 fireworks, which resulted in significant traffic disruptions. Local reports mentioned that several Waymo robotaxis required towing after losing power during the celebrations.

Morrison’s comments carry considerable weight. But will they lead to tangible repercussions for AV developers? That remains uncertain. Currently, the NHTSA has requested companies to submit their “solutions” by month’s end.

In another important federal development, don’t miss the newly revised 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda. This document outlines proposed modifications to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which govern vehicle design and equipment specifications. These updates may benefit autonomous vehicle manufacturers like Tesla and Zoox, who are creating vehicles without traditional steering wheels, pedals, and other conventional components.

A little bird

If you have any thoughts to share, please contact Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or reach out to me on Signal at kkorosec.07, or connect with Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.

Deals!

This week, rather than highlighting traditional venture capital deals, we focus on Rivian, which has recently sold 86.25 million Class A shares at $15.50 each (including an additional 11.25 million shares sold to underwriters).

Overall, Rivian aims to raise $1.32 billion through this fundraising round. This initiative comes at a critical juncture for the electric vehicle manufacturer, which began delivering its new R2 SUV last month and has revised its sales forecasts for 2026. The company now expects to deliver between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles, having surpassed earlier predictions in Q2 due to robust growth in both EDV and R1 models, alongside the R2 delivery launch.

The reason behind this funding remains unclear. Notably, Rivian has yet to achieve profitability, and scaling production for the R2 or any other vehicle incurs substantial costs!

Other notable deals …

Bidbus, a startup from Los Angeles focusing on vehicle bidding among dealers, secured $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Ibex Investors, with contributions from Mucker Capital, FJ Labs, Motley Fool Ventures, Data Point Capital, Walter Ventures, and Yossi Levi, recognized as the Car Dealership Guy.

Lyft plans to acquire Serveo’s bike-sharing division based in Spain. While the deal specifics are yet to be revealed, Lyft anticipates completing the acquisition by year-end.

TaiSan, a UK-based battery startup, has successfully raised £4.65 million in a seed funding round co-led by Eos Advisory and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, along with support from InnoEnergy, AFI Ventures, EverQuest Capital Partners, Exergon, Heartfelt Ventures, Adeline Arts & Science, Techmind, angel investor François Badelon, and matched funds from Innovate UK.

Notable reads and other tidbits

AssuranceAmerica, a U.S.-based insurance company, has reported a data breach affecting 6.9 million individuals, exposing personal details and driver’s license numbers, making it the largest known breach of American driver’s license data this year.

Beta Technologies, specializing in electric vehicle vertical takeoff and landing solutions, successfully conducted flights under the new eVTOL Integration Pilot Program launched by the U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA, covering nearly 275 nautical miles across Virginia and Maryland.

Tesla enthusiasts might remember the turbulent days when Elon Musk clashed with various short-sellers of the company’s stock. Musk continues to elicit mixed reactions, and a recent ETF developer has taken advantage of this sentiment by launching two anti-Elon exchange-traded funds.

GM’s Chevrolet has introduced a new American-made EV truck. Senior reporter Tim De Chant raises concerns about its sluggish sales performance.

Manna Aero, an Irish autonomous drone delivery company, is expanding its U.S. operations with a new factory and operational center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, aiming to create 1,000 jobs in the forthcoming years.

Slate Auto has partnered with Crayola to provide vehicle wraps in five crayon-inspired colors for their EV truck and SUV customers. (Note: The base Slate EV is not painted but made from gray composite material that can be personalized with wraps; the company offers numerous options.)

One more thing …

The TechCrunch podcast Build Mode has just launched its third season, generating excitement! Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen, who leads TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield program, Build Mode aims to assist early-stage founders. Unlike Equity — the TC podcast I co-host with Anthony Ha and Sean O’Kane — Build Mode specifically focuses on early-stage fundraising.

The new season begins with insights from Precursor Ventures founder and managing partner Charles Hudson, who shares invaluable advice for early-stage founders preparing for their first institutional funding round.

Don’t miss it: Updated guidelines for early-stage fundraising featuring Charles Hudson.