Welcome Back to TechCrunch Mobility
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation, and now, more than ever, how AI is playing a part. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility!
The Challenge Between Uber and Waymo
In recent discussions, I explored the deteriorating partnership between Uber and Waymo. My analysis indicated a potential divide where both companies may find themselves at odds over autonomous vehicle (AV) policy. This speculation is grounded in recent findings from my ongoing conversations and research.
Insights from Uber’s D.C. Council Engagement
For several weeks, I’ve engaged with sources and scrutinized communications from Uber regarding a proposed bill that would authorize autonomous vehicles to operate in Washington, D.C. My research revealed that Uber and Waymo are already standing on opposite sides of this legislative proposal, engaging in a contentious exchange both privately and publicly.
Uber has voiced strong opposition to the D.C. bill, asserting that it could lead to the displacement of human drivers and potentially grant Waymo a de facto monopoly in the AV sector. Instead, Uber is advocating for a “hybrid” approach, where robotaxis would operate within a ride-hailing network that includes human drivers.
Insiders suggest that this hybrid model is unlikely to advance through legislation. If it were to become law, it could present AV developers like Waymo with difficult choices: either integrate their robotaxis into ride-hailing platforms like Uber or complicate their operations by employing human drivers alongside their technologically advanced fleets.
Reactions from Industry Players
A D.C. Council hearing recently hosted representatives from Lyft, Tesla, Uber, and Waymo, alongside a diverse group of advocates for disability rights, local businesses, government officials, and labor unions. The feedback post-hearing highlighted a notable consensus: Waymo generally supports the bill, contrasting sharply with other players in the industry.
Concerns raised by Tesla’s Senior Policy Adviser, India Herdman, resonate with various AV developers. Key issues were the proposed 180-day, 250,000-mile mandatory testing requirement, the hefty $1 million application fee, a $5 million permit fee, and a tax of $0.15 per mile. Tesla also requested that mileage accrued in other jurisdictions should count towards meeting these requirements.
Waymo, which has been actively testing its autonomous vehicles in Washington, D.C., with human supervisors, has already exceeded the stipulated metrics. If the bill were to pass as it currently stands, Waymo would possess at least a six-month advantage in entering the market.
Noteworthy Deals in the Industry
Deals!
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
Uber is solidifying its dominance in the rideshare and delivery market with a compelling $14.8 billion acquisition proposal for Germany’s Delivery Hero. If this deal materializes, Uber will enhance its presence in nearly 100 markets, effectively doubling its delivery footprint.
In addition, Delivery Hero has agreed to divest its operations in 14 markets where Uber Eats is already present, selling to SSW Partners for $1.6 billion.
Other noteworthy deals include:
Self Inspection, a San Diego startup focusing on transforming the vehicle inspection process, secured $10 million in funding from a round led by Sheryl Sandberg’s family office. Investors included U.S. AutoForce and Westlake Financial, alongside various early-stage funds like Costanoa Ventures, Rebellion Ventures, and BrightCap Ventures.
Senra, a startup innovating wire harness manufacturing, successfully raised $65 million in a Series B funding round co-led by Lowercarbon and Interlagos with contributions from prestigious firms including General Catalyst, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Founders Fund.
Zepto, an Indian fast-delivery enterprise, is reportedly pursuing a valuation that is significantly lower than its previous peak of $7 billion ahead of its initial public offering, as noted by Bloomberg.
Notable Reads and Industry Insights
Notable reads and other tidbits
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
Chip Motors, a Miami-based startup, unveiled a compact EV designed for errands and families, featuring some automated driving capabilities.
In law enforcement news, the Los Angeles Police Department is reportedly discontinuing its contract with Flock Safety, a firm specializing in vehicle tracking using extensive license plate cameras deployed nationwide.
Lucid Motors has firmly denied rumors suggesting the company is contemplating a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Key communications from the company, including statements from its CEO and regulatory filings, assert the claims are unfounded. Following the initial report, the company’s stock experienced a dramatic drop but has since rebounded significantly.
David Risher, CEO of Lyft, has positioned the company as the “Good Uber,” reflecting a contrasting vision in the rideshare space.
Preliminary government data indicates a declining trend for manual transmission vehicles, which constituted merely 0.6% of new vehicles manufactured for the U.S. in 2025, as reported by the Washington Post. This raises intriguing questions about the future of driving culture.
The National Transportation Safety Board clarified that a Tesla driver involved in a crash had overridden the Full Self-Driving software by fully engaging the accelerator.
In an incident in July, Waymo’s robotaxis were caught in heavy traffic in San Francisco, leading to a standstill and prompting Mayor Daniel Lurie to urge state regulators to implement stricter guidelines for autonomous vehicles to prevent future gridlock situations.
SpaceX faced setbacks again, as their latest attempt at launching an upgraded Starship rocket system was aborted just moments after ignition at their South Texas facility.
Zoox has announced a software recall for one of its robotaxis that experienced confusion due to smoke from an emergency scene.
One More Thing …
Uber‘s Chief Product Officer, Sachin Kansal, discussed the convergence of travel, AI, and the company’s dual roles in the robotaxi race in a recent podcast interview with TechCrunch EIC Connie Loizos. For those who prefer reading, a Q&A from the episode is also available.
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
Image Credit: techcrunch.com
