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I’ve just returned from vacation. What have I missed? Quite a bit, it seems — notably, the Uber-Waymo partnership in Phoenix has concluded. However, Uber and Waymo continue to collaborate on robotaxi services in Atlanta and Austin. The pressing question is not if but when these remaining partnerships will end. Yet, I’m more curious about how these companies will act once all partnerships have ended.
Tensions are already apparent, with Uber executives making indirect criticisms of Waymo. When these partnerships conclude, I anticipate these subtle jabs will turn into direct actions. The policy arena, particularly markets where robotaxi companies are seeking access, will likely become a key battleground.
This week saw a notable federal development in the autonomous vehicle industry. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a directive to autonomous vehicle developers, emphasizing that their vehicles must not interfere with first responders or law enforcement.
The key statement: “Let me be clear: the inability to detect and appropriately respond to such situations represents a functional insufficiency. Emergency scenes are not rare or extreme ‘edge cases.’ As such, NHTSA is today issuing a call to action for AV developers and operators to immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue.”
Although Morrison’s letter does not single out any specific robotaxi company, it was distributed to every AV developer listed in the Department of Transportation’s Standing General Order. However, it seems that Morrison’s concern is particularly directed at Waymo.
A previous JS investigation revealed that Waymo, which operates the largest robotaxi fleet in the U.S. with vehicles in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco, has had multiple encounters with first responders. Recently, San Francisco supervisor Bilal Mahmood announced plans to submit a letter of inquiry to investigate how autonomous vehicles impacted public transit and emergency responders during a July 4 fireworks event that caused significant traffic jams. Local reports indicated that several Waymo robotaxis needed towing after depleting their power in the congestion.
Morrison’s letter carries weight, but whether it will lead to significant consequences for AV developers remains uncertain. Currently, the NHTSA has requested that companies provide the agency with “solutions” by the month’s end.
In further federal news, check out the updated 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda, updated last week. It features a comprehensive list of proposed changes to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) requirements, which oversee vehicle design and equipment. These changes could benefit autonomous vehicle companies like Tesla and Zoox, which are developing vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals.
A little bird
Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or my Signal at kkorosec.07, or email Sean O’Kane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com.
Deals!
While we typically spotlight venture deals, this week, I want to draw attention to Rivian and its sale of 86.25 million Class A common shares at $15.50 each, including an additional 11.25 million shares bought by underwriters.
Rivian projects this sale will raise $1.32 billion in new capital. This move comes at a pivotal moment for the electric vehicle company. Recently, Rivian began delivering its new R2 SUV and raised its sales forecast for 2026, now expecting to deliver between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles after surpassing its second-quarter expectations with strong growth in EDV and R1, along with the launch of R2 deliveries.
Rivian did not specify why it initiated this capital raise. However, it’s worth remembering that the company is not yet profitable, and scaling up production of the R2 or any vehicle is costly.
Other deals that caught my eye …
Bidbus, a Los Angeles-based startup creating a digital marketplace for dealers to bid on cars, secured $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Ibex Investors. Mucker Capital, FJ Labs, Motley Fool Ventures, Data Point Capital, Walter Ventures, and the Car Dealership Guy’s Yossi Levi also participated.
Lyft announced plans to acquire Serveo’s bike-share business in Spain, with the deal expected to close this year. Financial terms were not disclosed.
TaiSan, a U.K. battery startup, raised £4.65 million in a seed funding round co-led by Eos Advisory and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II. Other participants included InnoEnergy, AFI Ventures, EverQuest Capital Partners, Exergon, Heartfelt Ventures, Adeline Arts & Science, Techmind, angel investor François Badelon, and Innovate UK matched funding.
Notable reads and other tidbits
AssuranceAmerica, a U.S. insurance provider, confirmed a data breach that exposed the personal information and driver’s license numbers of 6.9 million people, marking the largest known leak of Americans’ driver’s license data this year.
Beta Technologies, a developer of electric vehicle takeoff and landing systems, completed operational flights as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. The flights spanned approximately 275 nautical miles, covering areas in Virginia and Maryland.
Those familiar with Tesla will recall when Elon Musk confronted various short sellers of Tesla stock. Musk remains a polarizing figure, and a new exchange-traded fund creator has capitalized on this sentiment with two new anti-Elon exchange-traded funds.
GM brand Chevrolet developed an all-American EV truck, with senior reporter Tim De Chant questioning why it isn’t selling.
Manna Aero, an Ireland-based autonomous drone delivery startup, is expanding in the United States with a new factory and operations center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is expected to employ 1,000 people in the coming years.
Slate Auto collaborated with Crayola to offer its EV truck and SUV customers vehicle wraps in five crayon colors. (Note: The basic Slate EV vehicle is not painted. Instead, it features a gray composite material that can be customized with a vehicle wrap, with hundreds of options available.)
One more thing …
JS podcast Build Mode has launched its third season, and it’s a noteworthy one. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen, head of JS’s Startup Battlefield program, Build Mode focuses on assisting early-stage founders. Unlike Equity, which I co-host with Anthony Ha and Sean O’Kane, Build Mode is tailored for emerging entrepreneurs.
The new season begins with Precursor Ventures founder and managing partner Charles Hudson, discussing what early-stage founders need to know before raising their first institutional round.
Tune in: The new rules of early-stage fundraising with Charles Hudson.
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