Kirsten Korosec
TechCrunch
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Recent articles by Kirsten:
Udacity, Mercedes-Benz create sensor fusion nanodegree as demand for self-driving car engineers rises –
Udacity and Mercedes-Benz’s North American R&D lab have developed curriculum for a sensor fusion nanodegree, the latest effort by the online education startup to meet high demand for skills related to autonomous vehicles and to duplicate the success it has had with its self-driving car engineer program. Enrollment for the sensor fusion degree opened up […] → Read More
Self-driving truck startup TuSimple will haul mail for USPS in two-week pilot –
TuSimple, the self-driving truck startup that reached unicorn status earlier this year with a $1 billion valuation, is getting two weeks to prove its tech to the United States Postal Service. The company announced Tuesday that it was awarded a contract to complete five round trips, for a two-week pilot, hauling USPS trailers more than […] → Read More
GM’s car-sharing service Maven to exit eight cities –
GM is scaling back its Maven car-sharing company and will stop service in nearly half of the 17 North American cities it operates in. A spokesperson who confirmed Maven was shutting down in some cities, without identifying the location or number that will remain, said the company plans to focus on markets that have the […] → Read More
Quadric.io raises $15M to build a plug-and-play supercomputer for autonomous systems –
Quadric.io, a startup founded by some of the folks behind the once-secretive bitcoin mining operation “21E6,” has raised $15 million in a Series A round that will fund the development of a supercomputer designed for autonomous systems. The round was led by automotive Tier 1 supplier DENSO and its semiconductor products arm NSITEXE, which will also […] → Read More
In-car commerce startup Cargo extends Uber partnership to Brazil –
Cargo, the startup that brings the convenience store into ride-hailing vehicles, is making its first international expansion through an exclusive partnership with Uber in Brazil. Uber drivers in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will now be able to sign up for Cargo and potentially earn additional income by products to passengers during their ride. […] → Read More
Ford CTO Ken Washington at TC Sessions: Mobility on July 10 –
A conference dedicated to transportation and mobility wouldn’t be complete without hearing from Ford, the U.S. automaker with a storied 116-year history. We’re excited to announce that Ford CTO Ken Washington will participate in TechCrunch’s inaugural TC Sessions: Mobility, a one-day event on July 10, 2019 in San Jose, Calif., that’s bringing the best and brightest […] → Read More
Ford will slash 7,000 salaried jobs by August –
Ford Motor is laying off 7,000 salaried employees as part of CEO Jim Hackett’s restructuring plan to reduce bureaucracy, cut costs and turn the automaker into a more agile company prepared for a future that extends beyond its traditional business of producing and selling cars and trucks. The cuts represent about 10 percent of the […] → Read More
Tesla communications chief is leaving the automaker –
Dave Arnold, Tesla’s senior director of communications, is leaving the company after two-and-half years years, according to sources familiar with the move. Tesla confirmed to TechCrunch that Arnold was leaving in June. “We’d like to thank Dave for his work in support of Tesla’s mission, and we wish him well,” a Tesla spokesperson said in […] → Read More
Tesla issues battery software update after Hong Kong vehicle fire –
Tesla has started pushing out a software update that will change battery charge and thermal management settings in Model S sedans and Model X SUVs following a fire in a parked vehicle in Hong Kong earlier this week. The software update, which Tesla says is being done out of “an abundance of caution,” is supposed […] → Read More
Musk’s new lawyer fights ‘pedo guy’ defamation lawsuit claims, questions motive –
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s lawyer argued Tuesday in a court filing that the British cave diver who became embroiled in a public spat with his client and later sued for defamation can’t recover damages because his reputation was not harmed. In court documents filed Tuesday, Musk’s new lawyer Alex Spiro of Quinn Emmanuel […] → Read More
TC Sessions: Mobility announces its July 10 agenda –
TechCrunch Sessions is heading to San Jose on July 10 and we’re thrilled to announce our jam-packed agenda, overflowing with some of the biggest names and most exciting startups in the transportation industry. With Early Bird ticket sales ending soon, you’ll want to be sure to grab your tickets after checking out this agenda. Throughout […] → Read More
Uber launches PIN feature to cut wait times at airports, starting in Portland –
Uber is piloting a new PIN feature at the Portland International Airport that will give riders a one-time 6-digit numeric code in an effort to speed up pickup times and reduce traffic congestion. The PIN, or personal identification number, feature kicks off Monday at the Portland Airport, which can average around 400 Uber rides an […] → Read More
Elon Musk’s “pedo guy” defamation case is going to trial –
A defamation case filed last year against Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk after he repeatedly called a British cave diver “pedo guy” will go to trial on October 22, a U.S. district judge determined Friday. Vernon Unsworth, the British cave diver, filed a defamation lawsuit in September 2018 in the U.S. District Court for […] → Read More
Uber’s trading debut: who was (and wasn’t) at the opening bell –
Uber finally made its debut Friday on the New York Stock Exchange, ending its decade-long journey from startup to publicly traded company. So far, it’s been a ho-hum beginning with shares opening at $42, down from the IPO price. The share price is hovering just under $44. Thirteen people, including executives, early employees, drivers and […] → Read More
VW’s new electric hatchback receives 10,000 pre-orders in first 24 hours –
Volkswagen opened up pre-orders in Europe at a special launch event Wednesday for the first model in its new all-electric ID brand. Within 24 hours, the company received more than 10,000 registrations, a result that suggests growing demand for electric vehicles. VW revealed Wednesday the name, some pricing and range specs for the first model […] → Read More
GM in talks to sell shuttered Lordstown factory to Workhorse for EV pickups –
General Motors is in talks to sell its Lordstown vehicle factory in Ohio to Workhorse Group, a battery-electric transportation technology company, to produce EV pickup trucks. It’s a development that could produce a positive outcome for Workhorse, GM and the laid-off workers at the Lordstown factory that stopped producing the automaker’s Chevrolet Cruze in March. […] → Read More
Waymo and Lyft partner to scale self-driving robotaxi service in Phoenix –
Waymo is partnering with Lyft to bring self-driving vehicles onto the ride-hailing network in Phoenix as the company ramps up its commercial robotaxi service. → Read More
A super fast, next-generation Google Assistant is coming to new Pixel phones this year –
A next-generation Google Assistant that can handle more complex tasks — quickly switching from hailing a ride, to checking the weather and taking a selfie — is coming to new Pixel phones later this year. → Read More
GM Cruise raises $1.5B at a $19B valuation from Softbank and Honda –
GM Cruise has raised another $1.5 billion in new equity from a group of investors that includes T. Rowe Price Associates, Honda, Softbank Vision Fund, and its parent company GM as the self-driving vehicle company pushes to launch a commercial autonomous ride-hailing service this year. This investment increases Cruise’s post-money valuation to $19 billion, inclusive of SoftBank’s […] → Read More
Google refreshes Android Auto with new features and a darker look –
Android Auto — the in-car platform that brings the look and functions of a smartphone to the vehicle’s central screen — is getting a new look and improved navigation and communication features that will roll out this summer. → Read More