TechCrunch Mobility: Carma Challenges Uber’s Ride-Sharing Patents, Tesla’s European Troubles, and Delivery Robots in Texas

Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility, your go-to source for the latest news and insights in the future of transportation. This week’s highlights include a patent infringement lawsuit that could significantly impact Uber, struggles for Tesla in the European market, and innovative delivery robots making their debut in Texas.

Carma Technology vs. Uber: A Patent Dispute Heats Up

Carma Technology, founded in 2007 by Sean O’Sullivan, is challenging Uber with a patent infringement lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Uber infringed on five of Carma’s patents related to matching riders with available vehicle capacity—essentially, the core of ride-sharing technology. According to IP attorney Larry Ashery, Carma has strategically built a portfolio of 30 related patents over 18 years. This comprehensive approach means Uber faces a complex legal battle, needing to defend against each individual claim within the five asserted patents.

Autonomous Vehicle Startup in Stealth Mode: Bedrock Robotics

Boris Sofman, formerly of Waymo and Anki, is behind a new autonomous vehicle startup called Bedrock Robotics. The San Francisco-based company is developing self-driving kits to retrofit construction equipment and heavy machinery. While still operating in stealth, Bedrock Robotics has reportedly raised significant venture funding, signaling strong interest in their approach to autonomous construction.

Funding and Investment Deals

• Firefly Aerospace: Received a $50 million investment from Northrop Grumman to advance its Eclipse medium launch vehicle.
• Pallet: Secured $27 million in Series B funding, led by General Catalyst, to scale its AI-driven warehouse logistics software.
• Volteras: Closed an $11.1 million Series A, led by Union Square Ventures, to expand its virtual connective tissue for EVs supporting the grid.
• Way Data Technologies: Raised €2.6 million in pre-seed funding to advance its fleet management solutions.

Autonomous Vehicle Updates

Rivr: Is piloting its four-wheeled, stair-climbing delivery robot with Veho in Austin, Texas. This dog-like robot aims to solve the “last 100 yards” delivery challenge by carrying packages directly to customers’ doors.

TuSimple (now CreateAI): Faced scrutiny after a report revealed the company sent sensitive autonomous vehicle data to a Beijing-owned firm, violating a national security agreement.

Zoox: Issued its second software recall following a collision with an e-scooter in San Francisco. Despite the incident, Zoox continues to expand its partnerships, becoming the official robotaxi partner of Resorts World Las Vegas.

Electric Vehicle Market Trends

Tesla: Is experiencing challenges, with unsold Cybertrucks accumulating in Detroit and significant depreciation rates affecting trade-in values. Sales in Europe and the U.K. have also declined sharply.

Volkswagen: Four former executives received prison sentences for their roles in the 2015 emissions cheating scandal, marking a significant turning point in the automotive industry’s shift towards electric vehicles.

In-Car Technology

Stellantis: Is pivoting away from its partnership with Amazon to develop in-car software, opting instead for an Android-based system.