The Station is a weekly newsletter that provides updates on transportation-related news. In a recent edition, it was reported that Mercedes has announced the addition of OpenAI’s conversational AI agent, ChatGPT, to its MBUX infotainment system. This move by Mercedes signals a potential peak in the hype surrounding ChatGPT. The newsletter also features an analysis by reporter Haje Van Kamps about the trend of going big with electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States, stating that it may not be the right move.
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The newsletter also covers various topics related to micromobility. It highlights the rise of bike buses in the U.S., where groups of families cycle together to school for safety reasons. It also mentions a study in the UK that found that bikeshare services increase cycling participation among users. Additionally, the newsletter includes updates on companies such as Clip, Cowboy, DAB Motors, and Peugeot Motorcycles in the micromobility space.
In terms of labor rights, delivery workers in NYC have been awarded a guaranteed minimum wage of $18 per hour. However, both app companies and deliveristas have expressed disappointment, with the latter expecting a higher wage. The newsletter also mentions the opening of Joco Concierge, a delivery rider hub in partnership with Grubhub, and the release of Leatt’s new 3.0 Enduro helmet.
In the EV space, Harley-Davidson subsidiary LiveWire is set to start delivering its new S2 Del Mar e-motorcycle this summer. A new alliance of tiny car manufacturers called the Microcars Coalition is also highlighted. Micromobility.com is leaving unprofitable markets to focus on self-sustainability, though specific details are not provided. NYC has expanded its e-scooter pilot program to include Queens, with Bird, Lime, and Veo as the chosen operators.
The newsletter also covers various deals, including LeddarTech’s plan to go public via a merger with Prospector Capital Corp., Axle Energy’s pre-seed funding round, and Fernride’s Series A round. Other notable deals and investments include Pebble Mobility, Human Horizons, Standard Fleet, Stellantis, Telo, Uber’s investment in Everest Fleet, and GM’s battery cell factory in Indiana.
The newsletter concludes with discussions on ADAS Xpeng’s expansion of its City NGP, Elon Musk’s comments on Tesla’s market cap and autonomous driving, and updates on electric vehicles, charging, and batteries such as BrightDrop’s delivery of electric vans to FedEx Express Canada, Einride’s collaboration with PostNord in Norway, and Japan’s subsidies for Toyota’s battery production.
