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Tesla to begin Cybercab production in April, Musk claims
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 23:11
Core Insights - Tesla will start production of the Cybercab, an autonomous electric vehicle designed without pedals or a steering wheel, in April at its Austin factory [1][2] - The Cybercab aims to optimize the cost-per-mile in autonomous mode, with a manufacturing cycle time of 10 seconds, potentially allowing for the production of 2 to 3 million units annually [4] - There are conflicting statements regarding the Cybercab's design, with Tesla's chairwoman suggesting it would include a steering wheel and pedals as a backup, while Musk has decided against this [3] Production and Design - The Cybercab is specifically built for unsupervised, full self-driving capabilities, lacking traditional controls like pedals and side mirrors [2] - The manufacturing process is expected to be significantly faster than that of the Model Y, which has a one-minute cycle time [4] Regulatory Considerations - Approval from federal regulators is necessary for deploying vehicles without standard equipment like a steering wheel [8] - The regulatory process for exemptions can be lengthy, as seen with General Motors and Waymo, which still use vehicles with traditional controls [9] - Musk expressed confidence in the ability to deploy Cybercabs, suggesting that as they become more common, regulatory resistance will diminish [9]
Accel backs Uber rival Rapido as Prosus boosts stake
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 22:12
Core Insights - Accel has invested in Rapido, a ride-hailing platform in India, while Prosus has increased its stake after TVS Motor sold its entire holding for ₹2.88 billion (approximately $32 million), achieving a return of over 152% in three years [1][3]. Company Overview - Founded in 2015, Rapido has become a significant competitor in India's ride-hailing market, initially starting with bike taxis and later expanding into auto-rickshaw bookings, car services, and courier services. Recently, it has begun piloting a food-delivery service in select cities [2]. Investment Details - TVS Motor first invested in Rapido in April 2022 during a $180 million Series D funding round, acquiring its stake for ₹1.14 billion [3]. - In the latest transaction, Accel purchased 11,997 preference shares, while Prosus acquired 11,988 preference shares and 10 equity shares, with both investors paying approximately ₹1.44 billion (around $16 million) each [4]. Market Position and Valuation - Prosus has previously expanded its stake in Rapido through a secondary share sale in September, which doubled Rapido's valuation to $2.3 billion [6]. Future Prospects - Rapido is in discussions with Accel and Prosus for a new primary funding round expected to close next year, although the exact funding size is yet to be determined [5].
Tesla shareholders approve Elon Musk's $1T pay package
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 21:58
Core Points - Tesla shareholders have approved a compensation package for CEO Elon Musk that could be valued at up to $1 trillion in company shares, with over 75% of participating shareholders voting in favor [1] - The compensation package is structured in 12 tranches based on operational, adjusted profit, and market capitalization goals, requiring Tesla to increase its market capitalization from approximately $1.5 trillion to $8.5 trillion over the next decade [2] - The approval followed an extensive campaign by Tesla's board and executives, including public appeals and television advertisements, which is unusual for the company [3] Company Strategy and Vision - Tesla is at a critical inflection point, as stated by Chairwoman Robyn Denholm, emphasizing the importance of the past year in the company's history [4] - Musk has indicated that the approved package is a means to increase his voting control from around 15% to approximately 25%, which he believes is necessary to maintain control over the company's future direction [6] - The company has promoted its "Master Plan 4" as a visionary document for its future, although it has been criticized for being vague and lacking specifics [7] Historical Context - The new pay package was introduced after a previous plan from 2018, valued at around $56 billion, was rejected by Delaware's Chancery Court due to a lack of transparency in the negotiation process [8] - Earlier in the year, Tesla granted Musk $29 billion in shares to compensate for the loss of the 2018 package, with the understanding that this amount would be voided if Tesla wins its appeal [8]
Meta estimates that it earns 10% of its revenue from scams, report says
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 21:20
Core Insights - Meta projected that 10% of its overall annual revenue, amounting to $16 billion, would be derived from fraudulent advertisements on its platforms [1] - For three consecutive years, Meta has not effectively protected users from ads promoting illegal activities, including gambling and investment schemes [1] - Meta's system for detecting fraudulent advertising campaigns only deactivates accounts if there is a 95% certainty of fraud, which allows some questionable advertisers to continue operating [4] Company Response - Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated that the documents used by Reuters provide a selective view of the company's approach to fraud [5] - Over the past 18 months, Meta has reportedly reduced user reports of scam ads by 58% and removed over 134 million scam ads from its platforms [5]
Google to buy carbon credits from massive Amazonian reforestation project
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 20:28
Group 1 - Google is purchasing 200,000 metric tons of carbon removal from Mombak, a Brazilian forest restoration company, which involves reforesting farmland in the Amazon [1] - The deal is part of the Symbiosis Coalition, an advance market commitment aimed at developing a market for nature-based carbon removal, supported by major companies including Google, McKinsey, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce [2] - Nature-based carbon removal projects face challenges such as vulnerability to wildfires and difficulties in ensuring long-term viability, despite their potential to effectively reduce CO2 levels [3] Group 2 - Nature-based projects offer benefits such as replenishing aquifers and supporting biodiversity, which direct air capture technologies cannot achieve [4] - Google plans to utilize its DeepMind PerchAI to quantify the biodiversity benefits associated with the carbon removal project [4]
Ford execs reportedly discuss ending the F-150 Lightning
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 20:02
Core Insights - Ford is contemplating discontinuing its flagship electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning, following production challenges and a strategic shift towards hybrid and gas-engine models [1] - The decision to idle F-150 Lightning production was influenced by a fire at aluminum supplier Novelis' factory, which has impacted Ford's production capabilities [1] Group 1: Product and Market Performance - The F-150 Lightning was introduced in 2021 with a base price of $40,000, but actual costs for most customers have been significantly higher [2] - Despite being one of the top-selling electric trucks in the U.S., Ford has struggled to sell more than a few thousand units per quarter [3] - The electric truck market has faced challenges, exacerbated by the end of the federal EV tax credit and regulatory rollbacks on emissions standards [3]
Meta brings its short-form video feed of AI slop to Europe
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 18:22
Core Insights - Meta has launched Vibes, a short-form video feed of AI-generated content, in Europe, following its introduction in the U.S. six weeks prior [1] - Vibes allows users to create, share, and personalize AI-generated videos, with a dedicated feed that evolves based on user interests [2] - The platform encourages social interaction through remixing and co-creating videos, which can be shared across Meta's platforms [3] Industry Context - The launch of Vibes comes amid criticism and skepticism from users, with many expressing disinterest in AI-generated content [5] - Despite previous statements from Meta about focusing on "authentic storytelling," the company is now promoting AI-generated media, which has reportedly increased more than tenfold since the app's launch [9] - Other platforms, like YouTube, are taking steps to address the influx of low-quality AI content, contrasting with Meta's embrace of AI-generated videos [8]
Peloton recalls 833,000 bikes after reports of injuries
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 15:35
Peloton is recalling around 833,000 of its original Bike+ machines following reports that some seat posts broke during use, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC reports that Peloton has received three complaints related to the issue, including two incidents in which users were injured. The affected Bike+ units were sold between January 2020 and April 2025. The CPSC is warning Peloton users to “immediately stop using the recalled exercise bikes.” “The integrity of our pr ...
Spotify now lets you see weekly listening stats
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 14:00
Core Insights - Spotify is introducing a new feature called "Listening stats" that provides users with weekly insights into their listening habits, moving away from the previous annual summary approach [1][4] Group 1: Feature Overview - The "Listening stats" feature will display users' top artists and songs for the week, allowing sharing of these statistics via Instagram, WhatsApp, or directly with friends on Spotify [2][4] - Users can create playlists based on their listening preferences and habits through the stats page [3] Group 2: User Experience - The feature is being rolled out to both free and premium users in over 60 countries, maintaining the annual Wrapped recap for year-end insights [4] - While the new feature offers regular insights into listening patterns, it may reduce the surprise element associated with the annual Wrapped summary [4]
Perplexity to pay Snap $400M to power search in Snapchat
TechCrunch· 2025-11-06 11:33
Core Insights - Snap has signed a deal with Perplexity to integrate its AI search engine into Snapchat, with Perplexity paying Snap $400 million in cash and equity [1] - The integration will provide access to over 940 million Snapchat users, allowing them to receive answers from the AI engine through the My AI chatbot [1] - Revenue from this deal is expected to start being recorded by Snap in 2026 [1] Financial Performance - Snap reported Q3 2025 revenue of $1.51 billion, reflecting a 10% increase year-over-year [2] - The company narrowed its losses to $104 million, down from $153 million a year ago [2] - Snap's subscription service, Snapchat+, has surpassed 17 million users [2]