Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, the central destination for anyone fascinated by the rapidly evolving landscape of transportation technology and the innovations shaping the way we move. Our newsletter serves as your comprehensive guide to the future of mobility—covering breakthroughs in automation, electrification, regulation, and infrastructure around the world. To ensure that every update, analysis, and exclusive insight arrives directly in your inbox, you can subscribe free of charge by simply clicking on the TechCrunch Mobility link.
To begin, few figures in the technology sector have embodied both ambition and controversy quite like Elon Musk. His relationships with government regulators, whether local, state, or federal, have frequently been strained, marked by repeated instances in which his array of companies has found itself brushing against—or even deliberately stepping beyond—the boundaries of existing laws and administrative frameworks. This past week has proven especially turbulent on the regulatory front, offering a vivid reminder that Musk’s relentless pace of innovation often clashes with bureaucratic oversight.
One of the more serious developments involves The Boring Company, Musk’s tunneling and infrastructure enterprise. According to findings revealed through a detailed ProPublica investigation, Nevada’s state regulators have accused the firm of amassing nearly 800 separate violations. These alleged infractions include carrying out excavations without prior authorization, discharging untreated water onto public streets, neglecting to install mandated silt fences, and tracking mud and debris from active construction zones onto adjacent roadways. Taken together, the accusations form a portrait of an organization whose boldness may, at times, outstrip its compliance procedures.
Meanwhile, Tesla—Musk’s flagship electric vehicle and clean-energy company—finds itself under renewed scrutiny from California’s Department of Insurance. The agency recently launched an enforcement action after years of cautionary notices, citing evidence that Tesla’s internal insurance division has habitually delayed or unjustifiably denied policyholder claims. It is worth noting that Tesla, beyond its automotive ventures, now functions as an insurance provider in select states—an expansion that subjects it to a new realm of consumer protection and financial-service regulation.
At the federal level, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has once again directed its attention toward Tesla. The agency recently initiated a fresh investigation into the automaker’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after receiving reports that vehicles equipped with the technology may have proceeded through red lights or drifted into opposing lanes. While Tesla has faced numerous probes from NHTSA in the past, this particular inquiry stands out for its focus on the company’s most ambitious and controversial technology—its driver-assistance and autonomous navigation system. Musk and many of Tesla’s shareholders have openly linked the company’s long-term growth and valuation to its progress in achieving true vehicular autonomy, alongside its ongoing pursuits in robotics and artificial intelligence.
While this latest investigation is unlikely to completely derail Tesla’s strategic roadmap—especially since the company has already begun rolling out version 14 of its FSD software—it underscores the mounting scrutiny directed at the firm’s self-driving initiatives. As Tesla continues to promote its robotaxi vision, which depends heavily on variations of its FSD platform, these regulatory interventions highlight the tension between innovation and accountability that defines the frontier of autonomous mobility.
Beyond Tesla, intrigue continues to swirl around General Motors (GM). According to a July report from Wired, GM has repurposed several retired Chevy Bolt EVs that once belonged to its discontinued Cruise robotaxi division. These modified vehicles, spotted on highways in Michigan, near Austin, Texas, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, are reportedly being used to refine advanced simulation models and train next-generation driver-assistance technologies. The discovery provides an early glimpse into how GM might be redirecting Cruise’s assets to inform its broader push into automation.
When GM formally absorbed Cruise in December 2024, the automaker announced plans to merge Cruise’s intellectual property and sensor technologies with its own suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The goal, executives said, was to pave the way toward fully autonomous consumer vehicles. Now, reports suggest that GM may be reconstructing its autonomous vehicle division, expanding its engineering presence in hubs such as Austin and Mountain View, and even re-hiring former Cruise employees laid off during earlier restructuring efforts. As Bloomberg recently observed, these moves hint at a quiet but determined second phase in GM’s self-driving ambitions. If you can shed light on these developments, TechCrunch reporters are actively seeking leads—feel free to reach out directly via email or Signal.
In the realm of financial maneuvers, several deals caught our eye this week. Joby Aviation, a pioneer in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, sold approximately 30.5 million shares, generating about $514 million in capital. The company stated that these funds will support multiple fronts: obtaining vital flight certifications, ramping up manufacturing capacity, and preparing logistics for eventual commercial operations. Joby aims to begin air taxi services in Dubai by 2026, followed closely by introductions in the U.S. market. However, despite the promising vision, investors reacted cautiously to the offering, as the shares were priced at $16.85—roughly 11% below their previous closing price.
Across the Atlantic, Europe produced several noteworthy funding rounds. Futurail, a startup focused on designing an autonomy software stack for self-navigating trains, announced a successful seed round of €7.5 million. The investment was co-led by Asterion Ventures and Leap435, with participation from EIT Urban Mobility and U.S.-based investors such as Zero Infinity Partners and Heroic Ventures. The company’s co-founder and CEO, Alex Haag, recently appeared on The Autonocast podcast to discuss the breakthroughs enabling autonomous rail systems—a conversation worth revisiting for anyone interested in how automation extends beyond road transport.
Similarly, London-based firm Nexcade closed a $2.5 million pre-seed round to advance its end-to-end automation solutions for freight forwarders. The round was spearheaded by Connect Ventures, with support from MMC Ventures, Entropy Industrial Capital, and Inovia. Meanwhile, industrial heavyweights Toyota and Metal Mining announced a strategic collaboration to mass-produce cathode materials designed for next-generation all-solid-state batteries—components expected to dramatically enhance the performance and safety of electric vehicles. Rounding out the funding news, Tycho AI, a cutting-edge startup specializing in autonomous navigation systems for drones, secured $10 million in Series A funding led by FirstMark, while fleet analytics company Utilimarc, headquartered in Minneapolis, was quietly acquired by Smith System, though financial terms were kept under wraps.
In terms of legislation and labor, California governor Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill granting Uber and Lyft drivers the right to unionize, even while maintaining their classification as independent contractors. This marks a major shift in the state’s stance toward gig-economy labor rights, potentially setting a precedent that other jurisdictions may soon follow. On the delivery automation front, DoorDash, which was recently revealed to be building its own internal robotics program, simultaneously entered into a multi-year partnership with Serve Robotics. The collaboration will deploy autonomous delivery robots across cities throughout the United States, signaling that DoorDash aims to blend internal innovation with strategic partnerships to accelerate its automation strategy.
Industry updates also include significant milestones from electric vehicle producers. Lucid Motors reported a record number of deliveries during the third quarter, underscoring tangible, if modest, momentum toward its expansion goals—though the company still has much ground to cover compared with the lofty projections it made prior to going public. Meanwhile, Lyft announced another step into the autonomous mobility space through a newly established partnership with Tensor Auto, a venture born out of Chinese robotaxi company AutoX but now operating independently in San Jose. The two companies plan to begin deploying robotaxis across Europe and North America by 2027.
Infrastructure innovation is also making headlines. Climate technology correspondent Tim De Chant highlighted the work of Allium Engineering, a company developing ultra-thin stainless steel sheets intended to revolutionize bridge construction. Such materials promise to reduce weight while preserving strength, potentially transforming how future transportation networks are built and maintained.
In the EV segment, Tesla quietly introduced stripped-down “standard” versions of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, priced at $36,990 and $39,990 respectively. These variants omit several hallmark features—most notably, the Autopilot system. Senior reporter Sean O’Kane noted that, while Tesla has earned a reputation for disruptive ingenuity in design, manufacturing, and software integration, this move seems less about innovation and more about cost-cutting, and even then, the discounts were less aggressive than many enthusiasts had anticipated. It also recalls Musk’s earlier commitment to developing a $25,000 Tesla model—a plan since abandoned.
Elsewhere in the electrification space, Zero Motorcycles announced that it will relocate its primary operations from California to a new European headquarters in the Netherlands. Executives stated that the transition aims to accelerate international growth and enhance focus on the accelerating demand for premium electric motorcycles.
Finally, for those planning to attend TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, which will take place from October 27 to 29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, consider dropping by to connect with the TechCrunch Mobility team. Among the many panels scheduled, one that stands out will feature Uber’s Chief Product Officer Sachin Kansal and Nuro’s co-founder and president Dave Ferguson. Their discussion will explore the intricate interplay between artificial intelligence and mobility—examining how predictive modeling, computer vision, and autonomous decision-making are redefining both passenger transportation and last-mile delivery. The dialogue promises to shed light on what it will take to safely and effectively scale AI-driven mobility solutions in the real world.
In sum, the intersection of bold innovation and regulatory oversight remains as dynamic—and as contentious—as ever. Each new investigation, partnership, and policy forms part of a broader narrative about how humanity moves forward, both literally and figuratively, in the race toward the future of transportation.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/12/elon-musk-vs-the-regulators/
