From Rad Power Bikes to Luminar’s collapse, 2025 ends with a reckoning for transportation startups—even as robotaxis and next-gen trucks rev up for 2026.
Bookended by Bankruptcies
The transportation tech sector began and ended 2025 on a rocky note, with Canoo and Nikola filing for bankruptcy early in the year—and now, Rad Power Bikes and Luminar joining them in December.
Rad Power Bikes, once a darling of the micromobility boom, filed for Chapter 11 after warning of a shutdown if new funding didn’t arrive. It’s still operational during proceedings, but plans to sell within 45–60 days.
Meanwhile, Luminar’s demise looks final. The troubled lidar maker, once a high-flying player in autonomous driving, filed for bankruptcy following layoffs, exec exits, and a legal fight with Volvo, its largest customer. The company has begun selling off assets, including its semiconductor unit.
“This isn’t a restructure—Luminar’s filing signals an endgame,” noted TechCrunch’s Sean O’Kane.
Robotaxis Are No Longer Hypothetical
While some mobility players folded, others hit their stride. Robotaxis officially arrived in 2025, with Waymo leading, and Zoox and Tesla ramping operations in select U.S. cities.
Expect 2026 to bring new entrants, market overlap, and increased regulatory scrutiny, especially around safety.
- Tesla pulled human safety drivers from its small fleet in Austin.
- Still, it hasn’t received California’s driverless permit—and now faces deceptive marketing charges over Autopilot.
A judge ruled Tesla misled customers about its Full Self-Driving tech. Penalty? A potential 30-day license suspension—unless it drops the Autopilot name or delivers actual autonomy.
EV Market Swerves: Ford Pivots, Rivian Scales
Despite growing consumer interest, EVs struggled in 2025, forcing automakers to adjust.
Ford announced it will end production of its fully electric F-150 Lightning, pivoting instead to an extended-range hybrid variant that includes a gas generator for 700+ miles of range.
- It’s also diving into battery storage and delaying its next EV truck to 2027.
But hope isn’t lost for pure electric.
- Rivian’s R2, a smaller, more affordable EV, is expected in 2026.
- Slate Auto, backed by Jeff Bezos, has over 150,000 reservations for its low-cost electric truck due in late 2026.
Behind the Headlines: Deals, M&A, and Micromobility Maneuvers
- Spinny, India’s used car marketplace, is raising $160M to acquire car services startup GoMechanic, hitting a $1.8B valuation.
- Boatsetter and GetMyBoat, boat-sharing platforms, have merged to consolidate the Airbnb-for-boats space.
- Cowboy, the e-bike startup from Brussels, was acquired by ReBirth Group, which owns legacy European bike brands like Peugeot and Gitane. The €15M deal gives Cowboy another shot at growth after product recalls.
- Nirvana Insurance, a trucking-focused insurtech, raised $100M Series D, now valued at $1.5B.
Reindustrialization and AI in the Factory
In a compelling shift, 2025 also saw rising momentum for AI-driven manufacturing in mobility.
Eclipse Ventures’ Jiten Behl, a former Rivian exec, told TechCrunch we’re entering a new era of U.S. industrialization, one led by AI-powered factories over offshore labor. The trend could reshape everything from vehicle assembly to battery production.
Odds & Ends You Shouldn’t Miss
- Redwood Materials unveiled a patented Battery Collection Bin for safe recycling—launching in San Francisco.
- Rivian rolled out its “Universal Hands-Free” driving mode via OTA update, enabling hands-off driving on 3.5M miles of roads in North America.
- SAFE named a new CEO: Avery Ash, previously SVP of Government Affairs.
- GM’s internal succession chatter is heating up, with Sterling Anderson emerging as a contender to eventually replace Mary Barra.
On to 2026 (and Vegas)
The Mobility newsletter signs off for 2025 with an eye on CES 2026, where AI, autonomy, and next-gen EVs will dominate the desert buzz.
If you’re headed to Las Vegas: pack curiosity and questions. The future of transportation won’t wait.
And to all readers: thanks for the feedback, the critiques, and the conversation. See you next year.
