Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, the premier destination for news and views on the future of transport. Take note of the exciting wrap-up of transportation-related innovations from CES 2025.
Moving to this week’s notable news, a brief recognition to Hindenburg Research, a short-seller firm renowned for uncovering fraudulent activities in prominent companies is in order. Notable for unmasking corruption in Nikola Motors and Lordstown Motors, the firm is now ceasing operations.
The highlight this week is on recently consummated deals. eBay is acquiring Caramel, a firm that facilitates car transactions. The terms of the deal are undisclosed.
Significantly, the electric vehicle (EV) startup Harbinger amassed $100 million in a ‘Series B’ financing round. Leitmotif and Tesla’s early investor, Capricorn Investment Group, co-led this round of investment. Even more, existing investors Tiger Global and mobility venture firm Maniv took part.
Simultaneously, Tesla’s luck in the most current round of federal funding for electric-vehicle charging infrastructure presented mixed fortunes. While an application for $97 million to establish a heavy-duty charging network from California to Texas fell through, it clinched a separate $100 million to develop electric truck charging stations across Illinois.
In other asset financing news, real-time tracking software developer, Shippeo, raised $30 million in a funding round involving various investors.
On to the latest autonomous vehicles’ drama, Aurora Innovation is challenging federal regulators in court over the use of warning triangles in semis on the highway. Concurrently, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded its investigation into Cruise’s caution around pedestrians following a software-related recall.
The week hasn’t been quieter for electric vehicles, charging, and batteries. The first major revamp since the 2020 launch, a new Model Y is prepared for the Chinese and Asian Pacific markets.
Ending on a lighter note is a commentary on the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus, an electric minibus. Despite its length, the vehicle is easily maneuverable, while its price tag remains within reasonable limits. However, its future on long trips remains questionable with only an estimated 234 miles from a 91-kilowatt-hour battery.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
