Hey followers! Today, we’re diving into some exciting updates from the world of transport and technology, packed with innovation and bold moves.

Ford announced a $2 billion investment to reinvent its Louisville plant into a hub for affordable electric vehicles, including a new midsize pickup launching in 2027 with a starting price of $30,000. CEO Jim Farley emphasized that this project is a gamble, acknowledging the many new approaches involved. A special team was created to develop a quicker, more efficient assembly process by breaking away from Ford’s traditional manufacturing methods. This new approach involves a more automated assembly line with fewer parts, but it’s a race against tariffs, slow EV demand, and Chinese competition. It’s a massive experiment, costing $5 billion and aimed at keeping American manufacturing thriving amid a shifting industry landscape.

In the startup realm, rental car service Kyte, once touted as Hertz’s top competitor, has shut down after a challenging year. After coping with layoffs and a sale to Turo, the company entered receivership, leaving some customers in a tough spot. Meanwhile, Bumper, a UK buy-now-pay-later platform for car repairs, raised $10.8 million, and Lagos-based food delivery startup Chowdeck secured $9 million. Urban air mobility firm Eve Air Mobility garnered $230 million, bringing its total to $1 billion raised, while Indian electric motorcycle maker Ultraviolette received $21 million in funding to expand its operations globally. Transit software startup Via filed for an IPO with impressive growth, and Chinese AV company WeRide secured undisclosed investment from Grab to accelerate deployment of autonomous taxis in Southeast Asia.

Other notable tech tidbits include Foxconn stepping away from building electric tractors for Monarch Tractor following the Ohio factory sale, and Uber’s leadership shuffle with Lior Ron joining Waabi as COO. The US government finally released $5 billion for EV charging infrastructure after months of hold-up, and India’s ride-hailing giant Rapido is testing a food delivery service to compete with Zomato and Swiggy. Revel, once an electric scooter rental service, is shifting focus entirely to EV charging stations after shutting down its ride-hailing business. Elon Musk also confirmed Tesla canceled its Dojo supercomputer project, redirecting efforts towards their AI chips, indicating a strategic shift in AI training plans.

And for those who love listening in, The Autonocast podcast recently featured Nuro’s co-founder, sharing insights about autonomous delivery tech, perfect for transportation enthusiasts like you.