Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility – your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here — just click TechCrunch Dynamics!

Some breaking news hit just as we were about to send out this newsletter. D National Transportation Safety Board An investigation has been opened Waymo Its robotaxis have been seen illegally passing stopped school buses multiple times in at least two states. Read the full story here.

Now about our regular programming…

Tesla It made several moves this week — and just before its quarterly earnings drop — designed to show its progress and even dominance in autonomous driving technology. But, hold on, there’s more to it than mere optics.

The week started with Tesla offering passengers Robotaxi rides in Austin Without human safety drivers In the front seat. If you recall, Tesla launched a limited service in Austin last year with a fleet of modified Tesla Model Y cars running a more advanced version of the company’s driving software known as Full Self-Driving Supervised (that’s “unsupervised”). Human security operators have been riding in the front passenger seat as a precaution since the rollout.

Not all of Tesla’s fleet will be fully driverless in Austin, and they have a chase car behind them. Still, it’s significant and suggests that Tesla is headed for a broader ramp-up.

Meanwhile, Tesla killed AutopilotAdvanced driver-assistance system that was initially introduced in its vehicles in 2014. Autopilot has gone through several software and hardware iterations with new capabilities.

Autopilot was instantly popular and controversial, as the name implied the system was more capable than it actually was. (Drivers are responsible and should have their hands on the wheel when autopilot is engaged.)

Tesla eventually made a basic Autopilot system standard on all its vehicles, while launching and charging a more powerful system now known as Full Self-Driving (Supervised). The basic version, which is now dead, included traffic-aware cruise control, where the car maintains a fixed distance to the cars in front, and Autosteer, a feature that centers the car in the lane and steers it.

The decision to kill standard ADAS comes a week after Tesla said it would stop charging a one-time $8,000 fee for FSD software and move all customers to a monthly subscription.

These decisions when taken together offer a simple enough explanation: Tesla wants to recognize more revenue from FSD as it positions itself as an AI and robotics company.

But there is another possible reason. The company faces a 30-day suspension of its manufacturing and dealer licenses in California after a judge ruled in December that Tesla was involved. Deceptive marketing Overestimates the capabilities of the autopilot and FSD.

The ruling was stayed for 60 days to allow Tesla to comply. Dropping the Autopilot name when cashing in on FSD is a rather bold move. But perhaps Tesla believes that’s enough to satisfy the DMV.

Deal!

ZiplineThe autonomous drone-delivery and logistics startup, which has been around for more than a decade, has started delivering blood in Rwanda. Its progress has been slow and steady, conquering other African countries and expanding into the United States. That trajectory accelerated in 2025 with the launch of a new drone platform called P2 that focuses on home delivery of food and other goods.

Now, with the fuel $600 million in new fundingIts expansion ambitions have grown. The company, now valued at $7.6 billion, is bringing its services to Houston and Phoenix and plans to expand to at least four more US states in 2026.

Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Valor Equity Partners and Tiger Global participated in the funding round.

Other deals that caught my attention…

ABZ innovationA Europe-based manufacturer of heavy-duty agricultural and industrial drones, Raised $8.2 million In a funding round led by Vsquared Ventures, with participation from Assembly Ventures and Day One Capital.

EthernoviaA San Jose, California-based startup that develops Ethernet-based systems for autonomous vehicles, raised $90 million In a Series B funding round led by Maverick Silicon – an AI-focused fund created in 2024 by hedge fund Maverick Capital.

Serve roboticsBacked by sidewalk delivery robot companies Nvidia and Uber, acquired Robotics at work In a deal that valued the common stock at $29 million. Diligent makes Moxi, a robot designed to assist hospitals by delivering lab samples, supplies and other tasks. Note: Look for more autonomous vehicle technology-robotics crossovers in the coming years.

TerralayerA German grid-scale battery storage company, has raised €192 million in a round Led by Euregio. RIVE Private Investments, Creandum, Earlybird, Norrsken VC, and Picus Capital also participated.

Trucker Founder Scott Painter reacquired the company $227 million deal Through his firm Fair Holdings, and partners AutoNation, PenFed Credit Union, Zurich North America and others. TrueCar will no longer be publicly traded, and Painter has returned to the CEO spot.

Notable reading and other tidbits

Austin RussellThe founder and former CEO of bankrupt leader company Luminar agrees Receive an electronic subpoena For his phone information related to the company. The subpoena relates to Luminar’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

Chinese car maker Geely Holding Group his release A five-year blueprintAnd among its many targets is a category of robotics. This is by 2030, the company said Cao Cao Mobility The ride-hailing unit will operate a fleet of 100,000 robotaxis covering major cities in China. It has hinted at plans to expand beyond China “in the future”.

General Motors Production of the two gas-powered vehicles is moving away from China and Mexico and to a US factory in Kansas. That change will mean the end of its rebooted Chevrolet Bolt EV, which is currently the only vehicle built at the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas. Read more to know when the Chevy Bolt EV will end production.

Tesla aim Resume work in Dojo3of the company previously abandoned Third generation AI chip. The Dojo3 self-driving model will not be aimed at training. Instead, CEO Elon Musk said it would be dedicated to “space-based AI compute.”

Waymo has launched its robotaxi service in miami. Riders will be accepted on a rolling basis from about 10,000 local residents on its waiting list.

One more thing…

Alex Roywho co-hosts Autonocast with myself and Ed Niedermeyer, just traveled from Los Angeles to New York in a Tesla Model S, with the car’s fully self-driving supervised software. Manage all driving. This “Cannonball Run” route is familiar to Roy; He set the transcontinental driving record in 2007 when he traveled the route in 31 hours and 4 minutes. He set other Cannonball run records in EVs. Others followed and beat those records.

According to Roy, who captured the entire run on video, the FSD (version 14.2.2.3) drove 100% of the 3,081-mile journey. This includes exiting the highway and parking at the EV charger. The time was 58 hours, 22 minutes.