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TechCrunch Mobility: The Cybertruck experiment is over
TechCrunch • • general
Key Points:
- Tesla will cease production of the Cybertruck next year, after selling an estimated 71,000 units since November 2023, despite initial reservations exceeding 1 million; the vehicle failed to meet promised specs like a 500-mile range and sub-$40,000 price.
- Autonomous drone delivery startup Zipline raised $1.5 billion in 2026, increasing its valuation to $21.5 billion, and expanded its partnership with Walmart to add 300 drone delivery sites across the U.S.
- Other notable funding includes electric truck startup Harbinger’s $240 million Series D round and Humble Robotics’ $51 million Series A round, while Static Media acquired automotive news site CarScoops.
- Industry updates include Amazon partnering with Uber Eats for Prime restaurant deliveries in the U.S., Ford launching a “privacy promise” to protect vehicle data, and Waymo ending its exclusivity with Uber in Austin and Atlanta starting 2028.
- TechCrunch senior reporter Sean O’Kane, known for scoops on Tesla and other mobility topics, is leaving for the Wall Street Journal to cover Tesla, marking a significant shift in the publication’s transportation coverage team.
