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Your usual host Kirsten has handed me the ins rope, Rebecca Bellan one day, I want to talk about Aurora Innovation and its last minute saving.

Aurora launched its first fully autonomous commercial truck service in the United States this April after postponing its initial 2024 debut. Only (known) minutes, Aurora won.

Aurora said freight was more than 1,200 miles between Dallas and Houston this week, launching customers Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber freight. Now it's a truck. Aurora plans to expand to “dozens of autonomous trucks” by the end of 2025 and to El Paso and Phoenix as it continues to use its fleet of overseeing autonomous trucks to operate more cargo for customers.

This is a huge step for Aurora and the industry. But with Trump’s tariffs stopping many shipments, Aurora is in a good position to seize this moment, or will prolonged delays threaten its survival?

A little bird

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trade!

Aviation environmentDrone maker, has completed the acquisition of space and defense engineering company Bluehalo. The $4.1 billion all-share deal will make the merged company a new type of defense technology called AV that can build technologies in all combat areas: air, land, ocean, space and networks.

The real exceptionIt is a defense-focused aerospace company that builds spacecraft and U.S. national security missions, raising $260 million in the C Series led by VC company Accel.

Famous readings and other tidbits

Self-driving cars

Possible liquidity It's the latest addition UberRoster of autonomous driving collaborators. The pair announced this week that they planned to deploy May’s self-driving cars on the Uber platform by the end of 2025, starting in Arlington, Texas, as part of a multi-year partnership.

momentum,,,,, China's AV startups are also working with Uber. Both plans start Momma Robotaxis on the Uber platform from 2026 from Europe.

Waymo and Toyota A deal is being explored that could one day lead to new self-driving cars designed for rides, and perhaps even personal self-driving cars. It's still early days, so see it as their budding relationship.

Electric cars, charging and batteries

canoBankruptcy lawsuits are still ongoing, and now a mysterious London investor is asking the judge to stop selling EV startup assets to its CEO, calling it a "flawed process". He invested $20 million in asset offers, outperforming Canoo CEO Anthony Aquila's $4 million bid.

Rivian It sits in the battery stock of trucks, SUVs and commercial vans built before and after Donald Trump's election. This would reduce the hit to the president's tariffs, which has put the automotive industry on a severe blow.

Slate automatic,,,,, The buzzing new Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup that stood out from stealth last week is focusing on a printing factory in Warsaw, Indiana, the future where it will produce cheap electric trucks.

TeslaThe board reportedly began shopping for CEO Elon Musk as Washington chiefs fell into trouble and the brand depreciated and its profit margins were difficult. Tesla Chairman Robyn Denholm denied the Wall Street Journal report.

As we follow the theme of Tesla’s board, let’s turn our attention to board member Joe Gebbia (who also has connections with Doge). Gebbia acquired about 4,000 shares of Tesla shares for $1 million for $1 million, which is rare because it is rare for board members to buy shares directly.

All kinds of

Ford Its FNV4 software architecture program has been closed, the project once considered it crucial to compete with electric vehicle leaders like Tesla. The shutdown of the program means the end of years of development, which will vertically integrate vehicle software from Ford's gasoline and power lineups.

Jozy Aviation For the first time, its EVTOL has been transformed from horizontal flight to a pilot on board. This is a necessary step for the company to work for FAA certification.

Car and delivery

doordash Hope the California judge dismissed by Uber This accused the delivery company of stifling competition by incorporating restaurant owners into exclusive deals. Doordash said the lawsuit was nothing more than Uber's terrifying strategy to avoid "real competition."