Vietnam-based Electric Vehicle Startup VinFast Ships its First Vehicles to the U.S.

Tesla and other automakers competing in the growing electric vehicle market in the U.S. are about to get some new competition from Vietnam-based electric carmaker VinFast. VinFast shipped its first batch of vehicles to the U.S. as the company eyes international expansion. The first shipment of electric cars included 999 VF 8 SUVs. VinFast says its entrance into the U.S. market is a milestone for Vietnam’s automotive industry.

Eric Walz2022-11-28 14:45 PT

Stellantis Acquires Autonomous Driving Software Startup aiMotive

Stellantis, the parent company of the Jeep and Chrysler brands, is acquiring autonomous driving software startup aiMotive as the automaker looks to expand the autonomous driving and connectivity capabilities of its future vehicles. aiMotive is Budapest, Hungary-based developer of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving software technology.

Eric Walz2022-11-17 10:40 PT

California Startup Orbis Brakes Debuts its Revolutionary 'Periodic Wave' Brake Line Developed in Collaboration with NASA

California-based startup Orbis Brakes has launched its new “Periodic Wave" disc brake line that uses advanced aerodynamics to provide superior surface cooling. The enhanced cooling helps reduce dangerous brake fade and help extends electric vehicle range. Orbis pioneered its lightweight Periodic Wave brake line in collaboration with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

Eric Walz2022-08-11 11:15 PT

EV Startup VinFast is Offering 3 Years of Free EV Charging and Advanced Driver Assist System for Customers That Reserve a Vehicle Through Sept 30

Electric vehicle startup VinFast announced on Wednesday that all customers reserving the company's VF 8 or VF 9 SUVs between now and September 30 will receive complimentary charging for three years and a one-year VinFast Smart Driving package, which includes Level 2+ ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) and a “Smart Services” suite.

FutureCar Staff 2022-07-22 11:55 PT

BMW i Ventures Invests in Vendia, a Next-Gen Blockchain Company Helping Businesses to Securely Share Data With Third Parties

BMW i Ventures announced today an investment in the Series B funding round of next-generation blockchain company Vendia. The company developed a serverless, distributed data and code-sharing platform that allows businesses to securely share data with their partners. Vendia’s blockchain technology can be used by automakers like BMW to securely share vehicle data with its trusted partners in real-time across applications, datastores and the cloud.

Eric Walz2022-07-07 13:00 PT

Autonomous Logistics Startup Gatik Plans to Deploy its Fully-Autonomous Trucks in Kansas With No Safety Drivers Onboard

Silicon Valley-based autonomous middle-mile logistics startup Gatik is deploying its self-driving trucks on public roads in Kansas, after the state’s Governor Laura Kelly signed “Senate Bill 313” which allows for deployment of fully-driverless vehicles on public roads in the state.

Eric Walz2022-06-25 09:00 PT

Vietnamese Electric Vehicle Startup VinFast Files for U.S. IPO, Recently Signed MoU to Build a $4 Billion EV Factory in North Carolina

Vietnamese electric vehicle startup VinFast has big plans for expansion outside of its home country. On Thursday, its Singapore-based holding company filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with U.S. securities regulators. The plans were first reported by Reuters. The plans come after VinFast signed an MoU to build its electric vehicle factory in North Carolina. The company is investing up to $4 billion in the plant.

FutureCar Staff 2022-05-15 16:30 PT

Short-Term Car Rental Startup Kyte to Offer the Tesla Model 3 as a Monthly Subscription

Imagine being able to lease a Tesla Model 3 for 6 or 12 months instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars to purchase one outright. That’s exactly what car subscription startup Kyte is doing. The San Francisco-based company announced on Thursday that it’s adding the Tesla Model 3 to its short-term vehicle subscription options as its works to electrify its vehicle offerings.

FutureCar Staff 2022-05-07 15:30 PT

Vietnamese Electric Vehicle Startup VinFast Signs MoU With North Carolina Officials to Build its U.S. Factory in the State

Vietnamese electric vehicle startup VinFast, a subsidiary of conglomerate Vingroup, announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of North Carolina for the establishment of VinFast’s first North American EV manufacturing plant in the state. VinFast’s North Carolina factory will create a major EV manufacturing hub in Chatham County’s Triangle Innovation Point megasite.

FutureCar Staff 2022-05-05 14:00 PT

Stellantis Launches a $300 Million Euro Venture Capital Fund That Will Invest in Innovative Automotive Technology Startups

Automaker Stellantis has launched a venture capital fund called Stellantis Ventures that will help support innovative startups working on advanced mobility solutions for the auto industry, such as autonomous driving, software, advanced materials, vehicle connectivity and related technology. Stellantis Ventures will initially invest €300 million (US$331 million) in early and late-stage startup companies.

FutureCar Staff 2022-04-22 15:00 PT

The First 4D Imaging Radar-on-a-Chip Developed by Texas-based Startup 'Uhnder' Will Debut on Vehicles in 2022

Austin, Texas-based digital radar startup Uhnder, a developer of 4D imaging radar technology for automotive and next-gen mobility applications, will soon become the first company to mass produce an automotive-grade, 4D digital imaging radar-on-chip to support next-generation advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles (AVs). Uhnder’s new digital radar chip will debut on consumer vehicles this year in Tier-1 supplier Magna's ICON digital radar.

Eric Walz2022-04-14 06:00 PT

Toyota-backed Autonomous Driving Startup Pony.ai Closes on the First of its Series D Funding, Valuation Climbs to $8.5 Billion

Autonomous driving technology developer Pony.ai completed its first close of a Series D funding round, which combined with its previous funding, pushed its valuation to $8.5 billion. Prior to the latest funding, The company secured a $400 million investment from Toyota in Feb 2020 and raised $367 in million Series C funding after. Pony.ai plans to commercialize robotaxis and self-driving trucks in China.

Eric Walz2022-04-13 10:00 PT

BMW-backed Energy Storage Startup ONE Raises $65 Million, Plans to Build an EV Battery Factory in the U.S.

Our Next Energy (“ONE”), an energy storage startup based in Novi, Michigan, announced a new $65 million funding round, its second major funding in the past five months. In order to demonstrate the company’s advanced EV battery technology, ONE recently installed its prototype battery in a Tesla Model S and was able to travel 752 miles on a single charge.

Eric Walz2022-04-07 13:30 PT

Lidar Developer Robosense is Reportedly Set to Close on a $379 Million Funding Round, the Largest Single Investment in the Nascent Industry

Lidar startup Robosense, a leading supplier of the technology for autonomous vehicles based in China, has reportedly secured the largest single investment in the lidar industry of RMB 2.4 billion. The funding round is being led by China’s smartphone giant Xiaomi and includes “nearly half of China’s auto industry”.

FutureCar Staff 2022-04-03 16:00 PT

Electric Mobility Startup Revel Announces $126 Million Series B Funding Round Led by BlackRock

Brooklyn New York-based transportation startup Revel, which allows users to rent electric mopeds, sign up for monthly e-bike subscriptions, hail an electric Tesla Model Y or find fast-charging that’s compatible with any brand of EV, announced a $126 million Series B funding round led by BlackRock Renewable Power (BlackRock).

Eric Walz2022-04-01 12:00 PT

Electric Vehicle Startup Volta Trucks Raises $260 Million in New Series C Round

Electric commercial truck startup Volta Trucks said on Friday that it had raised 230 million euros ($260 million) in a Series C funding round led by Luxor Capital, which will finance it through the launch and series production of its Volta Zero electric urban delivery truck. Stockholm-based Volta Trucks said that the funding round was led by New York-based hedge fund Luxor Capital, which led a seperate $43.7 million investment round in Sept 2021.

Eric Walz2022-03-27 13:40 PT

Connected Vehicle Software Platform Developer Sibros Raises $70 Million in Series B Funding Round

Silicon Valley startup Sibros, a developer of a connected vehicle software platform for automakers, announced it closed on a $70 million Series B funding round led by investment firm Energy Impact Partners (EIP) with participation from Fontinalis Partners, Google and others. The company said the funding will be used for its expansion to meet strong global demand and deliver large deployments of its vertically integrated vehicle software platform.

Eric Walz2022-03-03 04:00 PT

Honda Invests in Software Startup Helm.ai to Strengthen its Computer Vision and AI Development

Honda Motor Co. has made an investment in Silicon Valley-based software company Helm.ai in order to strengthen its software development in the fields of computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI). Helm.ai has been collaborating with Honda since 2019 through its "Honda Xcelerator," a global open innovation program that supports startups working on innovative technology.

Eric Walz2022-02-27 11:00 PT

California Startup Parallel Systems Emerges From Stealth, Aims to Disrupt the Rail Freight Industry with its Electric & Autonomous Platform

​A new California startup named Parallel Systems founded by former SpaceX engineers has emerged from stealth after announcing a $49.55 Series A funding round. The company is developing an electric rail platform for shipping containers, which replaces diesel powered locomotives and converts each freight car into individually self-propelled, autonomous and electric vehicles that can be linked together.

Eric Walz2022-02-25 13:30 PT

BMW iVentures Announces Investment in EV Charging Startup HeyCharge, its Tech Allows Drivers to Charge Without an Internet Connection

​BMW i Ventures, the venture capital arm of automaker BMW that invests in promising startups, announced its leading a $.7 million seed funding round in HeyCharge, the German startup working to democratize access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by allowing driver to charge their EVs without an internet connection.

Eric Walz2022-02-19 09:00 PT