Issue [#272] – Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news – post a job listing here!
Micromobility
E-bikes, lauded for eco-friendly, cost-efficient commuting, cut carbon emissions but raise safety concerns over accidents and traffic violations, sparking calls for licensing. Challenges include lithium-ion battery waste, infrastructure gaps, regulatory debates, and balancing health, economic, and urban mobility benefits | La Noticia Digital
New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed treating Class 3 e-bikes over 100 lb like mopeds, requiring licensing, registration, and banning bike lane use. Class distinctions, typical weights (50-75 lb), and heavy models’ moped-like designs spotlight safety concerns in bike lanes | Electrek
Timothée Chalamet, Hollywood’s micro-mobility darling, rode a Lime e-bike to a London film premiere. Lime’s CMO, Carolyn Rosebrough, cheered. Adam Tranter, a cycling PR guru, sees this as a PR coup, flipping the “lame” bike script. Lime, chasing Taylor Swift, sees celebrity endorsements as key to brand love | ZAGDaily
Product Launches & Updates
Ducati, famed for racing, partners with Piquadro, a luxury luggage maker. Their limited-edition travel collection, unveiled at Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence, comprises backpacks and trolleys. Crafted with premium materials like polycarbonate and aluminum, this collection is designed for discerning travelers. While stylish, it’s not motorcycle gear. Priced accordingly, it’s a statement piece for the Ducatisti who value both performance and refined aesthetics | Ride Apart
Chrysler paused development of its first EV, the C6X, originally set for a 2026 debut. Suppliers were told to halt spending after a redesign scrapped the Airflow-inspired plan. The Halcyon concept previews its new direction. Sharing the 400-volt STLA Large platform with Dodge Charger EVs, it may offer a 100-kWh battery and 300-mile range. Chrysler’s current lineup, limited to the Pacifica and Voyager, underscores its urgent need for new models. Its EV timeline now appears increasingly uncertain | InsideEVs
Polestar 7, a European-made compact SUV, signals a key shift: a single architecture for future models, breaking from Geely-shared platforms. Polestar 5, launching this year with 800-volt tech, and the 2026 Polestar 6 roadster flank this move. Aggressive 30-35% sales growth targets, fueled by expanded retail and strong order growth (37.2% Q4 2024), underpin Polestar’s ambition | Green Car Reports
Honda’s 2026 Acura RSX will be the company’s first original EV, built on a new platform with the Asimo operating system. Produced at a $4.4 billion Ohio factory with LG Chem, it revives the RSX badge for a sporty SUV, unlike the Prologue and ZDX, which use GM’s Ultium platform | The Verge
Investment & Deals
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume hinted at expanding Rivian’s partnership, with a $5.8 billion investment and plans to share resources like modules and purchasing volumes. Rivian will supply software and EV architecture for future Porsche, Audi, and Scout models. Rivian’s stock rose after the news, following a $6.6 billion U.S. loan for its new Georgia plant | Electrek
Netradyne, a fleet safety AI firm backed by Point72, raised $90M in Series D. Their dashcams, deployed at Amazon, reduce accidents by 50%. Netradyne leverages 18B miles of driving data to power AI co-pilots and develop foundational models for autonomous driving, while expanding global | TechCrunch
Metafuels, a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) developer, raised $9M in a round led by Celsius Industries, joined by RockCreek, Fortescue Ventures, Verve Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, and Contrarian Ventures. The company also secured a $5M Swiss government grant. With $22M raised since 2023, Metafuels plans to scale its technology, including a 12,000-liter/day SAF facility in Denmark and additional production sites. The company is considering a buyers alliance to accelerate industrialization and e-SAF capacity | Tech.eu
Illinois, in a major CFI Program win, secured $100 million to electrify its trucking routes. This partnership, uniting Tesla, Prologis, Gage Zero, and Pilot with the state EPA, directly addresses the Midwest’s critical lack of heavy-duty charging infrastructure. This landmark project will install 345 ports across 14 sites, featuring chargers ranging from 150kW to 1MW, significantly accelerating the adoption of electric trucks on long-haul routes | TechCrunch
Donkey Republic, the Danish micromobility operator, secured a €8.2 million loan from EIFO, NEFCO, and Sydbank to expand its fleet and refinance debt. The funds will support 2025 growth, following a 75% EBITDA increase and 25% revenue rise in 2024 | ZAGDaily
Harbinger, a Los Angeles EV startup founded by ex-Canoo and QuantumScape employees, raised a $100 million Series B led by Capricorn Investment Group and Leitmotif. Focused on modular electric chassis for medium-duty trucks, Harbinger promises compelling unit economics, targeting fleet CFOs and anticipating higher margins than Tesla within 12-18 months | TechCrunch
eBay is acquiring Caramel, a Los Angeles-based startup that streamlines vehicle transactions, offering services like title transfers and financing. This acquisition, expected to close Q1 2025, aims to improve trust, security, and efficiency amid rising competition, notably Amazon Autos’ entry with Hyundai | TechCrunch
Cities & Policy
GM illegally sold granular driving data to insurers, including acceleration, braking, and trip length. The FTC fined GM and barred them from selling this data for five years. This follows a New York Times investigation and a consumer backlash, with one customer stating, “You guys are affecting our bottom line.” The FTC alleges GM misled customers about data collection and use, obtaining data without explicit consent. GM now requires explicit consent and allows data deletion upon request | The Verge
New York Governor Kathy Hochul proposed regulations for Class 3 e-bikes over 100 lb (45 kg), treating them like mopeds with motor vehicle licensing, registration, and bike lane bans. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes remain unaffected, though some heavy e-bikes may bypass the regulation | Electrek
Oregon may soon ban faster e-bikes from bike lanes, jeopardizing cyclist safety. Senate Bill 471 targets Class 3 e-bikes, those exceeding 20 mph, removing their right-of-way. This raises concerns, as drivers cannot easily distinguish these from slower e-bikes, increasing the risk of accidents | Electrek
The Biden administration finalized a rule banning Chinese and Russian vehicles and connected vehicle software in the US, citing national security. Exemptions include vehicles over 10,000 pounds. Polestar, Waymo, and BYD are impacted, with software restrictions starting in 2027 and hardware by 2030 | The Verge
In episode 25 of the #CitiesFirst Podcast, host Scott Shepherd explores Boston’s mobility revolution with Jamey Tesler, Executive Director of the Mass Mobility Hub. Discover the latest innovations, learn how cities can pilot new tech at scale, and gain insights into the Mass Mobility Hub ecosystem | #CitiesFirst Podcast
New York City’s congestion pricing launched with a $9 toll, monitored by the Congestion Pricing Tracker, created by Brown’s Benjamin Moshes and brother Joshua. Using Google Maps data, it tracks real-time traffic changes, quickly gaining attention from media and advocates | The Verge
Kentucky leaders launched the “Safe Teen Driving Challenge” to reduce the 47,000 teen driver crashes over three years. WKYT’s Darnell Crenshaw explains how the challenge and app aim to save lives. Four winners will be announced in April, with $2,000 for the top prize | WKYT
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