Flexport faucets Shopify for money, behind the wheel of the Kia EV9 and the place Amazon desires to take a position

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Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility – the identical weekly publication you’ve been studying, however with a brand new title and some modifications.

Don’t fear, that is nonetheless your central hub for information and insights on the way forward for transportation. This week, examine Amazon, EV startup Fisker, electrical boats, a bunch of latest funding offers and my time driving the all-new Kia EV9.

Let’s go!

A bit of chook

A bit of chook pointed us to a brand new web site with some electrical vehicles that certain do look acquainted.

Bear in mind Lordstown Motors, the EV startup that went public through a SPAC and has since filed for chapter safety? Steve Burns, who based and was then ousted from Lordstown Motors, is again with a brand new EV startup referred to as LandX Motors.

The new LandX Motors website prominently shows the identical electrical Endurance pickup truck he as soon as promised would beat Tesla, Ford and Basic Motors to market.

An individual conversant in the corporate’s plans instructed TechCrunch that it’s not a lot in regards to the Endurance truck, however the underlying platform, software program and engineering behind it. Nonetheless, with the previous Lordstown vehicles enjoying a starring position on firm’s web site and video, it’s unclear simply how developed this plan is.

Wish to attain out with a tip, remark or grievance? E mail Kirsten at [email protected] or [email protected]. Should you favor to stay nameless, click here to contact us, which incorporates SecureDrop (instructions here) and numerous encrypted messaging apps.

Deal of the week

Provide chain logistics startup Flexport had a quite tumultuous 2023 that included founder Ryan Petersen ousting his hand-picked successor and taking again the CEO spot after which acquiring the assets of shuttered digital freight community Convoy.

The startup is kicking off 2024 by shoring up its enterprise with a $260 million “uncapped convertible note” from Shopify, a deal that was introduced by Petersen in a collection of posts on social media website X.

As a reminder, Shopify and Flexport are already hooked up. Flexport acquired in 2023 Shopify’s logistics arm. The deal gave Shopify 13% fairness stake in Flexport and a seat on the board.

Different offers that acquired my consideration …

Electra, the Paris-based EV charging startup, raised $330 million in a Collection B spherical led by Dutch pension fund service supplier PGGM and Bpifrance’s Giant Enterprise fund. Eurazeo, RIVE Non-public Funding, the SNCF group by way of 574 Make investments and Serena additionally participated.

Franziska Bossart, the brand new head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, spoke to me about how the $1 billion fund is evolving. Tl;dr: She’s increasing its geographic focus to Asia and Europe, and homing in on three areas, together with AI.

Worldwide Battery Firm, a startup creating lithium-ion battery cells for EVs, raised $35 million in a pre-Collection A spherical led by RTP World.

Land Moto, the Cleveland-based electrical motorbike startup, raised $3 million in a spherical led by a particular function enterprise automobile referred to as Nunc Coepi Ventures.

Lightship, an all-electric RV startup, raised $34 million in a Collection B spherical co-led by Apparent Ventures and Prelude Ventures. Different new traders embrace Allegis Capital and international RV producer THOR Industries and its funding accomplice TechNexus Enterprise Collaborative.

Northvolt, the Swedish battery startup, secured a $5 billion debt deal to assist pay for the enlargement of its first gigafactory. As TC+ reporter Tim de Chant writes: “Northvolt’s $5 billion loan won’t be enough to guarantee success, but it should be enough to help ramp up its production to a targeted 60 gigawatt hours.”

Uber shut down alcohol supply service Drizly three years after the cab-hailing firm acquired it for $1.1 billion.

Notable reads and different tidbits

Autonomous automobiles

TuSimple will delist itself from the Nasdaq stock exchange because it strikes ahead with its plan to totally exit the U.S. market.

Electrical automobiles, charging & batteries

BMW’s future progress is dependent upon EVs, and it’s finally going all in, TC+ reporter Tim de Chants writes.

Fisker’s electrical Ocean SUV is under investigation by federal regulators over braking loss complaints.

GM recalled 66 electric delivery vans made by its BrightDrop subsidiary after the entrance drive models in a minimum of two of them caught hearth late final 12 months. The trigger seems to be associated to a producing defect.

Navier, the electrical boat startup, has launched a pilot program for its hydrofoiling watercraft through a partnership with Stripe to carry passengers from San Francisco’s outskirts to the downtown space.

Way forward for flight

Wing, the drone-powered supply firm operated by Alphabet, intends to introduce a larger craft able to delivering heavier packages to prospects.

This week’s wheels

Picture Credit: Kirsten Korosec

I headed to Napa Valley to check out the Kia EV9 – an all-electric SUV with three rows that many consider will carry a complete new batch of EV prospects into the market.

Earlier than I give some abbreviated ideas on what I did and didn’t like, listed below are just a few specs. The Kia EV9 is available in 5 trims with the most affordable — the rear-wheel drive EV9 Gentle — beginning at $54,900. I examined the GT-Line trim, an all-wheel drive top-of-the-line model that has a variety of 270 miles and begins at $73,900 (For comparability, the Rivian R1S, which is AWD, comes with customary with  260 miles of vary and begins at $78,000. The Kia EV9 Gentle RWD trim outfitted with the larger battery has the most effective vary of 304 miles.

What did I like? It remained nicely planted on winding roads, even when I pushed the automobile a bit. It’s additionally quiet, has the sort of inside particulars one would possibly count on in a premium-priced SUV, the seats are comfy and the superior driver help system is straightforward to have interaction. The third row isn’t precisely spacious, however actually higher than many three-row SUVs I’ve been in.

There have been just a few misses. I do assume that Kia missed a possibility by not giving the EV9 rear-wheel axle steering and I’m undecided if the battery vary, which is between 230 miles and 304 miles relying on the trim, is sufficient for patrons. Lastly, the format of the inside cabin is sort of there, however I’m nonetheless undecided I like the location of the beginning button and kit shifter (it’s a inventory tucked behind the steering wheel).