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Lucid's record quarter got a lift from rental sales and company leases
TechCrunch· 2025-05-15 19:05
Core Viewpoint - Lucid Motors achieved a record delivery of 3,109 electric vehicles (EVs) in Q1 2025, aided by a new company car program and sales to rental fleets [1][4]. Group 1: Delivery Performance - The company delivered 3,109 EVs in Q1 2025, surpassing Q4 2024 deliveries by 100 vehicles, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of increased deliveries [1][4]. - The sales to leasing and rental companies contributed significantly to the delivery figures, despite the typical seasonal challenges in automotive sales at the beginning of the year [4]. Group 2: Sales to Rental Companies - Lucid Motors sold approximately $27.2 million worth of vehicles to rental companies in Q1 2025, which could translate to around 360 EVs sold to these companies [8][9]. - In comparison, the company sold $34.7 million worth of cars to rental companies throughout 2024 and $9.1 million in 2023, indicating a notable increase in sales to this segment [9]. Group 3: Revenue Recognition - The company does not immediately recognize revenue from sales to rental companies due to obligations to repurchase the vehicles later, only booking revenue at the time of repurchase [10][11]. - This accounting practice suggests that while sales figures may appear strong, they do not directly translate into immediate revenue for the company [10]. Group 4: Market Position and Strategy - Lucid Motors has faced challenges in establishing a market for its luxury sedan, the Air, but is optimistic about its upcoming SUV, the Gravity, expected to ship in larger volumes in the latter half of 2025 [5]. - The interim CEO emphasized the importance of customer experience, noting that customers often find it hard to revert to other brands after trying a Lucid vehicle [5]. - The company is increasing its marketing efforts, having spent $3.5 million on sales and marketing in Q1, with plans for further investment [15].
Coinbase says customers' personal information stolen in data breach
TechCrunch· 2025-05-15 11:58
Core Insights - Coinbase has confirmed a data breach where customer information, including government-issued identity documents, was stolen [1][4] - The hacker obtained the information by paying contractors or employees in support roles to access internal systems [2] - Coinbase has detected malicious activity in previous months and has warned affected customers [3] Data Breach Details - Stolen customer data includes names, postal and email addresses, phone numbers, last four digits of Social Security numbers, masked bank account numbers, and government-issued identity documents [4] - The breach also involved corporate data, including internal documentation [5] Financial Impact - Coinbase expects to incur costs between $180 million to $400 million for incident remediation and customer reimbursements [5]
Trump tells Apple's CEO to stop expanding iPhone production in India
TechCrunch· 2025-05-15 11:37
Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company would start importing iPhones manufactured in India to meet the majority of demand stateside. It seems U.S. President Donald Trump is not happy with that.Speaking at a business summit in Doha, Trump said he met with Cook and asked him to stop building in India and instead increase production in the United States. “I said to him, ‘Tim, you’re my friend, I’ve treated you very good. You’re coming up with $500 billion, but now I hear you are building all ...
Netflix adds more live TV to its lineup
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 20:30
Core Insights - Netflix is expanding its live streaming content, now reaching over 94 million global monthly active users, with a focus on sports, comedy, and special events [1] - Upcoming live events include the Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano rematch on July 11 and two NFL Christmas Day matchups [1] - Netflix will also stream the 32nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 1, 2026, and its own "Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event" [2] Advertising and Audience Engagement - The company introduced the Netflix Ads Suite, incorporating first-party data from LiveRamp or Netflix, and expanding programmatic ad buying options [3] - A new ad format will utilize generative AI to match ads with Netflix shows [3] - Netflix has a strong reach among Gen Z and millennials, with more viewers aged 18-34 than any other U.S. broadcast or cable network, and U.S. ad-supported tier consumers watching an average of 41 hours per month [4]
Waymo recalls 1,200 robotaxis following low-speed collisions with gates and chains
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 19:57
Core Points - Waymo issued a software recall for 1,200 self-driving vehicles due to minor collisions with gates and similar objects [1] - The recall was initiated to comply with regulatory reporting obligations after NHTSA's preliminary evaluation of Waymo's automated driving system [2] - Waymo's fleet has grown to 1,500 commercial robotaxis operating in major cities, following a software update that reduced collision likelihood [3] Regulatory and Safety Evaluation - NHTSA opened an evaluation after seven incidents of collisions with stationary objects were reported between December 2022 and April 2024, with no injuries [2] - Ongoing discussions between Waymo and NHTSA focused on the comparative risk of autonomous vehicles, with additional collision data provided [4] Previous Recalls - Waymo has previously issued recalls, including one in June 2024 for Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis after a collision with a telephone pole, and another in February 2024 after two robotaxis crashed into a towed pickup truck [5]
Foxconn gets nod for $435M project to make more of Apple chips in India, eventually
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 19:37
Core Insights - Foxconn has received approval from India's cabinet to establish a semiconductor plant in a joint venture with HCL Group, with an investment of 37 billion Indian rupees ($435 million) [1] - The plant will be located in Uttar Pradesh and is expected to start operations in 2027, focusing on manufacturing display driver chips for various devices [2] - Initially, the facility will serve as a semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) site, providing packaging and testing services for chips manufactured elsewhere [3] Group 1: Investment and Manufacturing Strategy - The new plant aims to reduce Apple's reliance on China and enhance its manufacturing capabilities in India [1][4] - The facility is projected to have a capacity of 20,000 wafers per month, producing 36 million units monthly [4] - Apple is already expanding its manufacturing base in India, including local assembly of iPhones and plans for other devices like AirPods [7] Group 2: Government Support and Incentives - The Indian government offers fiscal support covering up to 50% of capital expenditure for semiconductor facilities under its state-run semiconductor scheme [8] - Foxconn's subsidiary announced plans to invest $37.2 million for a 40% stake in the joint venture with HCL [8] - The approval follows previous initiatives, including a $15 billion incentive program for building semiconductor plants in India [10]
Pinterest finally admits mass bans were a mistake caused by an ‘internal error'
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 15:38
Core Viewpoint - Pinterest has publicly apologized for recent moderation issues that led to unwarranted account bans and Pin removals, attributing the problem to an "internal error" [1][5]. User Reactions - Users have expressed anger and frustration over the mass bans, claiming that their accounts were deactivated without valid reasons and that the company has not been transparent about the issue [2][3][6]. - Some users threatened legal action against Pinterest executives, indicating a significant level of unrest within the user community [4]. Company Response - Pinterest acknowledged the issue on May 1, stating that they monitor the platform for content violations but initially did not admit the extent of the problem [4]. - On May 13, the company issued a statement confirming that some account deactivations were mistakes due to over-enforcement and promised to improve their response to such errors in the future [5]. Ongoing Issues - Despite the apology, many users remain dissatisfied, reporting a lack of support when appealing bans and believing that AI moderation has misidentified their content [6].
Uber to introduce fixed-route shuttles in major US cities designed for commuters
TechCrunch· 2025-05-14 15:00
Core Insights - Uber is launching a new "Route Share" feature that offers fixed-route rides at a 50% discount during weekday commute hours in major U.S. cities to address rising transportation costs for consumers [1][2][15] - The initiative aims to enhance customer loyalty amid economic pressures and competition in the ride-hailing market [2][14] Group 1: Route Share Feature - The "Route Share" feature will be available in cities including Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, allowing riders to save 50% on UberX trips [1][2] - Commuter shuttles will operate on pre-set routes every 20 minutes, with the potential for one or two additional stops to accommodate other passengers [3] - Riders can book a seat from seven days to 10 minutes before pickup, with the app providing turn-by-turn directions to the pickup location [4] Group 2: Technology and Efficiency - Uber utilizes the same technology as its existing shared rides service, Uber Share, which offers discounts of 15% to 30% for pooled rides [5] - The company emphasizes its extensive network and technology to create efficiency and predictability in commuting [6] Group 3: Future Developments - Uber envisions that Route Share could qualify for pre-tax commuter benefits, although it would require matching trips with Uber XL vehicles [8] - The potential for integrating autonomous vehicles into the Route Share service is being explored, particularly in urban areas [10][9] Group 4: Additional Features and Discounts - New features include "ride passes" that allow riders to lock in prices for a one-hour window on selected routes, with options for prepaid bundles [16] - Uber is enhancing its partnership with OpenTable to offer discounts on rides when customers book tables through the Uber app [17] Group 5: Pricing Strategy and Customer Engagement - The pricing strategy aims to provide savings during peak demand times, although it may be more beneficial for frequent users [18] - Concerns have been raised about pricing transparency, with reports suggesting that riders using prepaid credits may receive higher fare quotes [19]
Airbnb expands into services and experiences, plans more social and AI features
TechCrunch· 2025-05-13 18:30
Core Insights - Airbnb has introduced a new feature allowing travelers to book services and experiences alongside their accommodations, aiming to enhance user engagement and capitalize on existing site traffic [1][2][12] Group 1: New Offerings - The new feature enables bookings for services such as massages, haircuts, and chef-prepared meals, which can be added to stays or booked independently [1][4] - Initially, services will be available in 10 categories across 100 cities in 8 countries, with experiences spanning 19 categories in 1,000 cities globally [4][6] - Exclusive experiences called Airbnb Originals will be launched, featuring celebrity partnerships for unique activities [8] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The introduction of these services positions Airbnb in direct competition with other travel companies like Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and service providers like Yelp [4] Group 3: User Experience Enhancements - The app update includes a revamped interface for guests and hosts, allowing exploration and booking from Stay, Services, and Experiences categories [12][13] - Social features are being developed to enhance user interaction, including group chat functionalities for shared experiences [14][17] Group 4: Revenue Model - Airbnb will take a 15% commission from services and a 20% commission from experiences, with users seeing a single price during booking [11] Group 5: AI Integration - The company is leveraging AI for customer service, with plans for an AI assistant to provide personalized trip planning and support [18][20]
Tencent hires WizardLM team, a Microsoft AI group with an odd history
TechCrunch· 2025-05-13 17:58
Group 1 - WizardLM, a Microsoft AI research group, has transitioned to Tencent's Hunyuan AI development organization, led by senior AI researcher Can Xu [1][2] - The newly released Hunyuan-TurboS 0416 model claims to outperform open AI models like Google's Gemma 3 series, according to co-founder Qingfeng Sun [2] - WizardLM previously released the WizardLM-2 models under Microsoft, which were pulled due to a lack of toxicity testing, highlighting a history of challenges in model releases [3][5] Group 2 - Tencent's Hunyuan team has been restructured, with increased spending on AI infrastructure, indicating a strong commitment to AI development [7] - Tencent reported an 8% year-over-year growth in Q1 2025, attributing this growth to its investments in AI [8] - The company plans to allocate approximately 90 billion yuan (around $12.49 billion) towards capital expenditures this year, primarily to support its AI initiatives [8][9]