TechCrunch Mobility: All eyes on Tesla FSD

Key Points:

• Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is under increased scrutiny following a fatal Texas crash where the driver claimed Autopilot was engaged; Tesla’s AI VP disputed this, suggesting manual override occurred, while NHTSA and NTSB have launched investigations.
• Waymo is expanding its Ojai robotaxi fleet with plans to import over 3,000 vehicles into the U.S. this year, using minivans designed in Sweden and manufactured in China, equipped with its sixth-generation self-driving technology.
• Several mobility and autonomous vehicle startups secured significant funding and partnerships recently, including Aseon Labs raising $10 million for autonomous robotaxi maintenance pods, and Elroy Air planning a $1 billion SPAC merger.
• Industry developments include proposed U.S. federal regulations that could allow automated vehicles without brake pedals, Lucid Motors cutting 18% of its workforce amid restructuring, and Lyft setting multi-sensor safety standards that exclude Tesla’s camera-only autonomous vehicles from its network.
• Additional news highlights include OpenAI hiring Uber India’s former president, Polestar’s U.S. sales ban due to Chinese tech restrictions, Waymo preparing for a German robotaxi launch, and Uber facing shareholder lawsuits over safety and compliance concerns.