Embark Trucks

Carnage grows among transportation startups

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In the world of electric vehicle and autonomous trucking startups, the picture of winners and losers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carnage-grows-among-transportation-startups

Sensor analytics for robotic trucks could provide reverse benefit

Back in February, the predictive analytics software experts at Uptake cut a deal with Daimler Truck to use its data-as-a-service model to tell when any of 160 possible faults and failures could happen. This could result in huge savings for fleets adding the software.

How would this play out for driverless trucks.

“You’re going to see a greater amount of sensor data and information coming out of each one of these trucks,” said Jim Lowell, vice president of technology for Chicago-based Uptake....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sensor-analytics-for-robotic-trucks-could-provide-reverse-benefit

Landing and launching terminals for autonomous trucks getting closer

Driverless trucks likely will be in limited use on some U.S. interstates as soon as late 2024. How they will be maintained between trips is a growing focus for their software developers.

Aurora Innovation appears to be farthest along in preparing for inspections, fueling maintenance and automated landing and launch of autonomous Class 8 trucks. An unremarkable frontage road location in Palmer, Texas, south of Dallas is being transformed into a terminal capable of doing for autonomous trucks...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/landing-and-launching-terminals-for-autonomous-trucks-getting-closer

Startups struggling to make financial ends meet

One is a startup. The other is better described as an early-stage growth company. Choosing lidar maker Ouster Inc. and bus, battery and electric infrastructure provider Proterra Inc. for Securities and Exchange Commission filings scrutiny may be selective. But they represent the ongoing financial difficulties affecting companies trying to advance transportation technology.

Some have already left the stage: XL Fleet was purchased by the Shyft Group. Electric Last Mile Solutions went bankrupt amid...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/startups-struggling-to-make-financial-ends-meet

Embark Trucks laying off 70% of employees, winding down business

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Embark Trucks laid off 70% of its workers on Friday and may liquidate. The first autonomous trucking...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/embark-trucks-laying-off-70-of-employees-winding-down-business

Nikola will make Plus autonomous truck technology standard in 2024

Nikola Corp. will test autonomous driving software from Plus on its battery- and fuel cell-electric trucks later this year and become the first zero-tailpipe-emission truck maker to make it standard in 2024.

Plus requires drivers in the cab as it opens up more autonomous features through its PlusDrive system. It is aiming for driverless operation. But it wants to log 8 billion miles of operation with safety drivers monitoring the technology before removing the driver.

The Plus automated driving...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nikola-will-make-plus-autonomous-truck-technology-standard-in-2024

How Kodiak Robotics avoided FOMO in staying private

The meltdown of transportation SPAC valuations is unrelenting. Here’s the story of one thriving autonomous trucking developer that stayed out of the rush-to-go-public frenzy.

Kodiak Robotics’ peace of being private

One autonomous trucking developer ignored the FOMO (fear of missing out) on the SPAC frenzy of 2020 and 2021. With valuations cratering for most companies that went public via special purpose acquisition companies, Kodiak Robotics is looking pretty smart. 

It is hiring strategically...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-kodiak-robotics-avoided-fomo-in-staying-private

How soon will we see an autonomous trucking shakeout?

It is pretty much acknowledged across the trucking industry that a consolidation of players in autonomous trucking is coming. Money is tight. Borrowing is expensive. Share prices and corresponding book values are in the dumper. 

The coming shakeout

No single factor proves a shakeout among autonomous trucking players is coming. But an accumulation of evidence suggests that not all of today’s entrants will survive as independents.

PitchBook writes of mobility tech in its 2023 Industry and Technology...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-soon-will-we-see-an-autonomous-trucking-shakeout

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