TechCrunch Mobility: Zoox prepares for launch and Uber’s AV empire

TechCrunch Mobility：Zoox 准备上线，Uber 的自动驾驶帝国

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In just a few days, Amazon-owned Zoox will start charging for robotaxi rides. This might not seem like a big deal; the company’s custom-built robotaxis are already giving rides to passengers in Las Vegas and San Francisco, after all. And it’s opening up an early rider program in Miami and Austin too. 再过几天，亚马逊旗下的 Zoox 就将开始对其自动驾驶出租车（robotaxi）服务收费。这看起来似乎没什么大不了的；毕竟，该公司定制的自动驾驶出租车已经在拉斯维加斯和旧金山为乘客提供服务了。此外，它还在迈阿密和奥斯汀开启了早期乘客计划。

None of this matters — in a business sense — until the company can operate commercially. And now it can, starting August 10, thanks to an exemption issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Because Zoox vehicles lack many of the traditional controls required under federal law, such as a steering wheel and pedals, it needed an exemption from federal motor vehicle standards in order to operate. 从商业角度来看，在公司能够进行商业化运营之前，这一切都无关紧要。而现在，得益于美国国家公路交通安全管理局（NHTSA）颁发的豁免权，从 8 月 10 日起，Zoox 可以正式开展商业运营。由于 Zoox 的车辆缺乏联邦法律要求的许多传统控制装置（如方向盘和踏板），它需要获得联邦机动车标准的豁免才能上路。

It had an exemption that allowed it to demonstrate the technology; this one allows Zoox to operate a fleet of up to 2,500 vehicles commercially for two years. The exemption is a win for Zoox, but it also paves the way for any other autonomous vehicle developer that wants to launch a robotaxi that lacks a steering wheel, pedals, or other requirements that might not be needed in a vehicle with no human driver. 此前它拥有的豁免权仅允许其进行技术演示；而这次的豁免权允许 Zoox 在两年内商业化运营一支最多 2,500 辆车的车队。这次豁免对 Zoox 来说是一次胜利，同时也为其他想要推出自动驾驶出租车的开发者铺平了道路——这些车辆可以不再配备方向盘、踏板或其他在无人驾驶车辆中可能不再需要的配置。

For instance, a robotaxi really doesn’t need a rearview mirror; it already achieves that kind of visibility with sensors on the exterior of the vehicle. Tesla is the obvious beneficiary here since it is developing its two-seater Cybercab. But there will be others as well. 例如，自动驾驶出租车其实并不需要后视镜；它已经通过车身外部的传感器实现了同样的视野。特斯拉显然是此举的受益者，因为它正在开发双座版 Cybercab。但未来还会有其他受益者。

In other news, you might have missed my comprehensive assessment of Uber’s autonomous vehicle empire. Check it out; it offers a complete rundown of every company that Uber has partnered with (and in some cases invested in). And I hear more are coming. 在其他新闻方面，你可能错过了我对 Uber 自动驾驶帝国的全面评估。去看看吧；它详细梳理了 Uber 合作（在某些情况下是投资）的每一家公司。而且我听说未来还会有更多合作。

You might recall that the Financial Times did its own calculus of how much Uber was investing in AVs. The outlet determined it was about $10 billion. And what do you know? That is exactly the number Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi shared during the company’s earnings call. He said the company would commit $10 billion “over the coming years” to deploy 120,000 driverless vehicles. Deals! 你可能还记得《金融时报》曾自行计算过 Uber 在自动驾驶领域的投资额。该媒体得出的结论是约 100 亿美元。你猜怎么着？这正是 Uber 首席执行官 Dara Khosrowshahi 在公司财报电话会议上分享的数字。他表示，公司将在“未来几年”投入 100 亿美元，部署 12 万辆无人驾驶汽车。成交！

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin 图片来源：Bryce Durbin

Moove started out as an African fintech company that provided vehicle financing for app drivers. While Moove remains in the mobility sector, it has evolved into a mega ride-hail fleet owner (42,000 vehicles and growing) across 13 countries. It has also added a new business division focused on autonomous vehicles. Moove 最初是一家为网约车司机提供车辆融资的非洲金融科技公司。虽然 Moove 仍深耕移动出行领域，但它已发展成为横跨 13 个国家、拥有 4.2 万辆汽车（且数量还在增长）的超级网约车车队所有者。它还增加了一个专注于自动驾驶汽车的新业务部门。

Moove got an early win and is now the fleet operator for Waymo in Phoenix, Miami, and Las Vegas, and in the future, London. But co-CEO Ladi Delano clearly has grander ambitions for Moove — and now he has the fresh capital to try. Moove 赢得了先机，目前已成为 Waymo 在凤凰城、迈阿密和拉斯维加斯的车队运营商，未来还将扩展至伦敦。但联席首席执行官 Ladi Delano 显然对 Moove 有着更宏大的抱负——现在他有了新的资金去尝试。

The startup, now based in Dubai, raised $250 million in a Series C round led by Mubadala Investment Company with Woven Capital and Ion Pacific as co-leads. Moove, which is now valued at $2.1 billion, plans to use the funds to scale its autonomous vehicle fleet management business, including hiring about 350 people. One interesting item of note: Moove plans to buy Waymo robotaxis and already owns the robotaxi assets of another unnamed company. 这家现总部位于迪拜的初创公司在 C 轮融资中筹集了 2.5 亿美元，由穆巴达拉投资公司（Mubadala Investment Company）领投，Woven Capital 和 Ion Pacific 联合领投。Moove 目前估值为 21 亿美元，计划利用这笔资金扩大其自动驾驶车队管理业务，包括招聘约 350 名员工。值得注意的一点是：Moove 计划购买 Waymo 的自动驾驶出租车，并且已经拥有了另一家未具名公司的自动驾驶出租车资产。

Other deals that got my attention this week … 本周引起我注意的其他交易……

Accell Group Holding, the Dutch bike maker behind brands like Lapierre, Raleigh, and Sparta, was granted a suspension of payments, kicking off an insolvency process. In 2022, a consortium led by KKR bought the firm for 1.56 billion euros ($1.77 billion at the time). Accell Group Holding：这家拥有 Lapierre、Raleigh 和 Sparta 等品牌的荷兰自行车制造商被批准暂停付款，启动了破产程序。2022 年，由 KKR 牵头的财团以 15.6 亿欧元（当时约合 17.7 亿美元）收购了该公司。
Advanced Electric Machines Group, a U.K.-based manufacturer of rare earth and magnet-free electric motors, raised £16 million ($21.5 million) in a round led by Barclays Climate Ventures, PXN Ventures, Northstar Ventures, and the Low Carbon Innovation Fund. The funding round was complemented by loan support from Innovate UK. Advanced Electric Machines Group：这家总部位于英国的稀土和无磁电机制造商筹集了 1600 万英镑（2150 万美元），由 Barclays Climate Ventures、PXN Ventures、Northstar Ventures 和 Low Carbon Innovation Fund 领投。该轮融资还获得了英国创新署（Innovate UK）的贷款支持。
Chargepoly, a French company specializing in the electrification of heavy-duty and commercial vehicle fleets, raised €23 million ($26 million) in a round led by Meridiam. Chargepoly：这家专门从事重型和商用车队电气化的法国公司筹集了 2300 万欧元（2600 万美元），由 Meridiam 领投。
Hadrian, a defense tech company building automated manufacturing facilities, raised a $1.37 billion round at a valuation of $7.87 billion. The lead investors in the round include WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, and Baillie Gifford. Hadrian：这家建造自动化制造设施的国防科技公司以 78.7 亿美元的估值筹集了 13.7 亿美元。该轮融资的领投方包括 WCM Investment Management、Washington Harbour Partners、Valor Equity Partners、137 Ventures 和 Baillie Gifford。
Matel Motion & Energy Solutions, an India-based company developing energy-efficient motors, motor controllers, and integrated powertrains, raised INR 130 crore ($13.6 million) in a Series B funding round led by UC Impower. Matel Motion & Energy Solutions：这家总部位于印度的公司致力于开发节能电机、电机控制器和集成动力总成，在由 UC Impower 领投的 B 轮融资中筹集了 13 亿卢比（1360 万美元）。
River, the Indian electric vehicle startup, raised $120 million in a Series C funding round led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital. Other investors included Singularity AMC, Anicut Capital, 360 ONE Asset, JIF Capital, HDFC AMC, along with existing backers Yamaha Motors, Al-Futtaim Group, and Mitsui. River：这家印度电动汽车初创公司在由 Elev8 Venture Partners 和 Claypond Capital 领投的 C 轮融资中筹集了 1.2 亿美元。其他投资者包括 Singularity AMC、Anicut Capital、360 ONE Asset、JIF Capital、HDFC AMC，以及现有支持者雅马哈发动机（Yamaha Motors）、Al-Futtaim 集团和三井物产（Mitsui）。

Notable reads and other tidbits 值得一读的内容及其他花絮

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin 图片来源：Bryce Durbin

Ford has a name and a number for its new midsize EV. It will be called Fathom and will start at $28,350 when it goes on sale in 2027. TechCrunch climate tech reporter and long-time EV owner Tim De Chant argues that Ford needs another Taurus, and the Fathom isn’t it. What do you think? 福特为其新款中型电动汽车定下了名称和价格。它将被命名为 Fathom，将于 2027 年上市，起售价为 28,350 美元。TechCrunch 气候科技记者兼资深电动汽车车主 Tim De Chant 认为，福特需要的是另一款“金牛座”（Taurus），而 Fathom 并非如此。你怎么看？

Joby Aviation, the electric vertical takeoff and landing company, reported earnings this week. Revenue is up compared with the same quarter last year, thanks to its acquisition of Blade Air Mobility. Net losses shrank a bit to $245 million. One of the more interesting announcements this week, though, was Joby’s partnership with Atoms, Travis Kalanick’s AI and industrial automation startup. The partnership will develop and finance a network of transportation hubs serving air taxis and autonomous ground vehicles with an initial focus on Florida, New York, and Texas, as well as California, according to Joby. 电动垂直起降（eVTOL）公司 Joby Aviation 本周公布了财报。得益于对 Blade Air Mobility 的收购，其营收较去年同期有所增长。净亏损略有收窄，为 2.45 亿美元。不过，本周最有趣的公告之一是 Joby 与 Travis Kalanick 的人工智能和工业自动化初创公司 Atoms 达成了合作。据 Joby 称，该合作将开发并资助一个服务于空中出租车和地面自动驾驶车辆的交通枢纽网络，初期重点关注佛罗里达州、纽约州、德克萨斯州以及加利福尼亚州。

Lucid Motors’ second-quarter earnings struck a somber it’s-time-to-get-down-to-business tone. And that comes with a cost. Lucid Motors 的第二季度财报传达出一种严肃的“是时候脚踏实地干活了”的基调。而这需要付出代价。