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As we navigate through the early days of the new Trump administration, we are met with a flurry of executive orders and declarations that have implications for the future of transportation. While executive orders can sometimes serve as political theater and may not always align with constitutional law, they do provide insights into the priorities of the current administration.
One notable aspect of President Trump’s recent executive orders is his stance on electric vehicle (EV) incentives. Trump has made it clear that he is not in favor of any form of EV incentives. In a series of orders issued on the first day of his second term, Trump directed agencies to halt the disbursement of funds from programs supporting EV charging infrastructure. This move has raised concerns within the industry, especially for companies like Tesla, which have benefited from such programs in the past.
The fallout from these orders is yet to unfold, and we will be closely monitoring the developments to see how they impact the companies involved in the EV sector.
In other news, the once-promising electric vehicle startup Canoo has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased all operations. Prior to its downfall, Canoo had relocated employees from California to offices in Oklahoma and Texas, leaving them jobless in a new location. This serves as a cautionary tale in the fast-moving world of mobility startups.
Moving on to some exciting deals in the industry, Rivian has secured a $6.6 billion loan from the Department of Energy to support the construction of a new factory in Georgia. This loan will enable Rivian to expand its production capacity and bring its R2 SUVs to market by 2028. The funding comes from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, which has previously supported companies like Tesla.
Other notable deals include Ati Motors raising $20 million in Series B funding, Lyteflo securing $3 million in seed funding, Metafuels raising $9 million, Moment Energy closing a $15 million Series A round, Netradyne raising $90 million in Series D funding, and Voltpost receiving $2.6 million in grant funding for EV charging infrastructure.
In the realm of technology and innovation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Ford’s BlueCruise advanced driver-assistance system, Torc Robotics is expanding its autonomous truck testing hub in Texas, and UBCO, an electric motorcycle startup, has gone into receivership.
On the regulatory front, the Federal Trade Commission has proposed a ban on GM’s OnStar system from selling consumer data to reporting agencies, and Subaru has addressed vulnerabilities in its vehicle security systems.
In the space and aviation sector, the Federal Aviation Administration had to divert aircraft due to debris from SpaceX’s Starship explosion, while Amazon paused testing of its delivery drones following a crash.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to test drive the all-new Lucid Gravity SUV during CES 2025. The vehicle impressed with its spacious and luxurious interior, signaling the maturation of Lucid as a prominent player in the EV market.
Stay tuned for more updates on the future of transportation and the exciting developments shaping the industry. And remember to sign up for JS Mobility to stay informed on all the latest news and insights.
