Innovation gone wrong China has recently banned concealed electronically actuated door handles, a design popularized by Tesla. At the same time, Waymo has brought in a staggering $16 billion to finance its advancement into new markets. That’s on top of the €20 million raised by European startup R3 Robotics to scale up automation for disassembling EV systems.
At the same time, in parallel happening news, five other high-growth startups are having a big impact in their sectors, backed by massive funding rounds. Indeed, as much as Elon Musk’s possible supercompany name choices have captured the imagination, so too have massive investments in other, more traditional mobility-focused ventures.
This new regulation by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology takes an important step in that direction. Beginning January 1, 2027, all new cars sold in the country must include mechanical releases for door handles. This decision has immediate ramifications for manufacturers such as Tesla, who has used hidden electronically actuated door handles in its car designs. This new requirement is a significant step to improve vehicle safety and accessibility.
At the same time, Waymo — a frontrunner in the global race to develop autonomous driving technology — declared it had taken on $16 billion to grow its business. The company currently offers commercial robotaxi services across six markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami. With the new funding, Waymo is preparing to increase its (mostly) roborized taxicab driver fleet and service area. They have ambitious plans to expand to over a dozen new cities worldwide, with London and Tokyo as primary targets.
“This funding will allow us to accelerate our mission to make self-driving technology safe and accessible for everyone,” – Waymo spokesperson
In Europe, R3 Robotics has become a notable leader in the automation of EV disassembly. The company has raised €20 million ($23.6 million) to scale its operations, addressing the growing need for efficient recycling processes in the EV market.
Gaining steam Additive Drives, a German community fabbed electric motor manufacturer. They raised €25 million ($29.5 million) in growth funding from their investor Nordic Alpha Partners. This funding will allow the company to increase its production capacity and help make the broader electrification of transportation a reality.
The news was equally dominated by Austin’s Apeiron Labs, which builds autonomous underwater vehicles and recently closed a $9.5 million Series A round. This federal investment will go a long way toward their broader development missions in designing cutting-edge underwater technologies.
Additionally, Seattle-based Overland AI, which is developing self-driving tech for ride-hailing and delivery, has closed 100 million in a round led by venture firm 8VC. This investment is a testament to the growing excitement surrounding autonomous technology and how it can be applied beyond transportation to revolutionize a multitude of industries.
Alphabet, Waymo’s primary investor, has for years been showing its hand when it comes to pushing forward transformative mobility technologies. Waymo’s recent accomplishments are hard to ignore. At the same time, Bedrock has brought in more than $350 million in a short period, illustrating the intense demand for mobility-focused startups.
Meanwhile over in Africa, GoCab, a new mobility fintech startup, has closed $45 million in financing. This funding will support them in growing their operations and finding better transportation solutions all over the continent.
In the aviation sector, Skyryse has raised more than $300 million in a Series C investment to further its mission of automating aviation operations. The narrative The growing investment in automation throughout nearly every sector of transportation is changing the game for efficiency and safety.
Talks of Elon Musk’s incoming supercompany are reaching fever pitch. New brands such as X, ELON, SpaceAI, and K2 have proven to be fierce competitors. These choices represent Musk’s apparent desire to unite his many technological ventures under one roof.
The mobility landscape is shifting faster than ever. Together with regulatory changes and a wave of substantial investments, innovators are working to change the way people move through and interact with the world around them.