TechCrunch Mobility: Tesla Cybercab hits the road - and a snag

Key Points:

• Tesla's recent Cybercab event in Austin failed to impress Wall Street and lacked the usual excitement, with CEO Elon Musk notably absent; the event raised questions about Tesla's readiness to scale its robotaxi service compared to competitors like Waymo.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into Tesla shortly after Cybercabs, which lack manual controls like steering wheels and pedals, began operating on Austin streets, citing federal safety regulations.
• Several significant deals and funding rounds were announced, including Allianz's potential £5 billion acquisition of AA, Delivery Hero's board approval of Uber's $15 billion takeover offer, and funding for startups in autonomous aircraft, drone systems, battery swapping, and hydrogen injection technologies.
• Industry updates include privacy concerns leading Florida and Texas to discontinue using Flock’s license plate readers, leadership changes at flying car company Pivotal, and new autonomous vehicle deployments in Japan by May Mobility and NTT Mobility.
• The editor shared a review of the 2027 Kia Telluride hybrid, noting its improved power and fuel economy, spacious and quiet interior, and user interface design, while critiquing the unconventional gear shifter placement.