TL;DR
- Waymo navigates political protests, expands service in California, and gears up for an NYC debut—though regulatory hurdles remain.
- Applied Intuition raises $600M in Series F, vaulting its valuation to $15B.
- Micromobility matures, with Voi, Bird, and Dott/Tier CEOs outlining profitability goals and city partnerships.
- Honda’s Fastport eQuad enters last-mile delivery play, and VanMoof rides again post‑bankruptcy.
Waymo’s Week of Expansion and Caution
Autonomous vehicle leader Waymo, owned by Alphabet, made headlines this week. The company briefly paused its nationwide robotaxi rides on June 13 ahead of planned “No Kings” protests targeting the Trump administration—an apparent preemptive safety and reputational measure.
Days later, Waymo announced an 80‑square‑mile service expansion across Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Silicon Valley, reaffirming its status as the U.S.’s largest commercial robotaxi operator, with more than 250,000 paid rides per week.
Now comes the most ambitious move yet: waymo’s NYC push. The company has applied to test its AV fleet in New York City, although a fully driverless rollout will hinge on changes to state regulations, signaling a future lobbying effort.
Key Developments in Autonomous Transportation
| Company | Event | Source |
| Waymo | Suspended service ahead of June 13 protests | TechCrunch |
| Waymo | Expanded service area by 80 sq miles in CA | TechCrunch |
| Waymo | Submitted AV testing permit in NYC | TechCrunch |
| Applied Intuition | Raised $600M Series F; valuation hit $15 B | TechCrunch |
| Archer Aviation | Raised $850M in direct offering post Trump’s eVTOL order | TechCrunch |
Applied Intuition: A $15 Billion Mobility Juggernaut
In one of the year’s headline deals, Applied Intuition—a developer of AV simulation and software tools—closed a $600M Series F, including a tender offer for early stakeholders. That round, co‑led by BlackRock and Kleiner Perkins, also featured contributions from Qatar Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Council, and returning investors Lux Capital and General Catalyst.
This milestone follows the 2024 Series E achievement ($250M at a $6B valuation), marking an impressive 150% increase in valuation within a year. This surge highlights ongoing venture confidence in AV ecosystem enablers focused on simulation, testing, and regulatory collaborations.
Micromobility Matures: From Nuisance to Infrastructure
Long regarded as urban chaos, shared micro‑transport is now gaining legitimacy. At Micromobility Europe 2025 in Brussels, CEOs from Bird, Voi, and Dott/Tier emphasized the sector’s evolution toward profitability and institutional partnerships:
- Cities are now providing 4‑year operational contracts, as seen in Paris.
- North America trails Europe by 18–24 months in embracing micromobility.
- Bird projects free cash flow within 18 months.
- Voi uses LLMs to transform rider feedback into deployment decisions.
- Operators are scaling up e‑bike fleets, optimizing routing via data.
- A push for regulated ride caps, rider behavior enforcement, and protected bike lanes is underway.
Honda’s Fastport eQuad: Legal for Bike Lanes, Built for Delivery
From the hardware side, Honda’s Fastport eQuad debuted as an electric last-mile delivery solution. Pedal‑assisted and available in two sizes, the eQuad carries up to 650 lb at 12 mph—allowing legal operation in bike lanes. The vehicle represents a potential game-changer for urban logistics, especially for restaurants, grocers, and parcel services.
VanMoof Rides Again After Bankruptcy
After declaring bankruptcy in 2023, premium e-bike maker VanMoof has relaunched with a redesigned model. The company rebuilt its supply chain and support infrastructure while preserving its beloved user experience, signaling resilience in micromobility hardware and renewed investor faith in post‑pandemic urban transport.
Other Transportation Headlines
- Tesla partnered with Electrify Expo to offer weekend EV demos—a departure from its usual sales strategy and possibly a target for protestors tied to Tesla controversies.
- Zoomcar, a leading Indian car-share platform, confirmed a data breach affecting 8.4M users, including names and vehicle info.
- Zoox, Amazon’s AV division, opened a production facility aiming to build up to 10,000 robotaxis annually.
- At the Paris Air Show, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled an AAM roadmap, while Archer Aviation presented its Midnight eVTOL and Beta Technologies highlighted its Alia electric aircraft.
Conclusion
From a staggering $15B valuation to AI-enhanced micromobility and hardware resurgence, transportation tech is accelerating full throttle. As companies like Waymo, Applied Intuition, and Bird scale operations, navigate regulations, and refine platforms, newcomers like Honda’s eQuad and VanMoof underscore the pivotal role of hardware in future city mobility.
Whether autonomous, electric, or pedal-powered, one thing is clear: mobility innovation isn’t idling—it’s hitting peak speed.
