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The TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 event has concluded, and what an exciting event it was! One of the key highlights was Zoox co-founder and CTO, Jesse Levinson, sharing his views on whether Tesla’s robotaxis will debut in California next year. His response was a resounding “no,” and he provided detailed reasons for his stance. He also made a significant announcement about his own company. Elsewhere, Rivian’s Head of Software, Wassym Bensaid, shared his belief that buttons are becoming obsolete, with voice being the future. He also gave a few more insights about the potential outcomes of the Rivian-VW partnership, hinting towards Scout Motors.
In case you missed the interviews, full interviews with Levinson and Bensaid are available.
There was so much more to the event, including a detailed interview with GM’s chairperson and CEO, Mary Barra, who discussed autonomous vehicles, China, and electric vehicles with global managing editor, Matt Rosoff. She also expressed her vision for GM to create an autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals.
A standout moment was when BANF made it to the Startup Battlefield top 20.
In other news, there’s been some job movement at Rivian. Rivian’s Head of Battery Manufacturing Engineering, Kenton Harris, has left the company to become the global chief engineer at Ford.
Let’s not forget about the deals! Waymo raised $5.6 billion in a Series C funding round led by parent company Alphabet. The round was also joined by a number of notable Silicon Valley venture firms. The specifics of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s known to be a “multi-year” commitment.
There’s so much more to explore, from the acquisition of Ghost Autonomy’s IP by Applied Intuition, to the raising of $9 million by Infinite Machines, the New York-based startup developing a cyberpunk-inspired electric scooter.
Another significant moment was the public offering launched by Joby Aviation, the electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle startup, to sell up to $200 million of its shares of common stock.
In conclusion, TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 was a whirlwind of significant announcements, exciting deals, and insightful interviews. Stay tuned to TechCrunch Mobility for more news and insights on the future of transportation!
