Lyft, the US ride‑hailing company, announced the European rollout of its existing app, enabling travelers from North America to book rides in Europe without downloading a new app. The expansion begins with Barcelona and Hamburg and will cover several major European cities by the end of October 2024, with plans to support local currency payments.
AnimaWings confirmed that it has started a judicial reorganization to address technical fleet issues and rising operating costs, while continuing to operate flights and urging passengers to check their booking status.
Bolt announced a large‑scale purchase of 25,000 robotaxi units from US‑based Lucid Group, with a long‑term plan to operate up to 100,000 driverless taxis in Europe by 2035, complementing its existing partnerships with Nvidia, Stellantis and Pony.ai.
Swedish autonomous‑vehicle startup Einride is testing its electric driver‑less truck with Lidl in Germany, marking the first public‑road use of such a vehicle in German grocery retail and a potential reference case for wider adoption.
Parkiduo is a mobility platform that optimizes the use of private garage spaces, connecting owners with drivers and allowing sharing a single spot among users with compatible schedules. The startup targets the urban parking market, combining technology, collaborative economy and sustainable mobility.
Two years after its creation, French mobility startup Stairling bought the MySam platform (founded in 2016) and renamed it Staircab. The deal gives Stairling access to about 200,000 corporate clients and 18,000 drivers across 200‑350 cities, allowing the company to provide a white‑label VTC service to hotels, airports, tourism offices and other organisations. The acquisition complements Stairling’s cooperative model for drivers and supports its ambition to become a leading fintech player in the gig‑economy. A new funding round is being finalised to secure an ACPR licence for handling driver payments directly.
German startup FRYTE Mobility raised €3.5 million in a Seed round co‑led by 4impact capital and Rethink Ventures to build a software coordination layer for electric truck charging, aiming to connect logistics platforms with charge point operators across Europe.
Swedish electric‑aircraft startup Heart Aerospace achieved its first flight of an electric plane in the US, a milestone highlighted by Elon Musk’s public endorsement.
Wayve, a London‑based AI driving startup founded in 2018, partnered with Uber to offer supervised autonomous rides in London. Riders can request an UberX, Uber Electric or Uber Comfort and be matched with a Wayve‑powered electric Ford Mustang Mach‑E, with a licensed driver on board for safety. The launch marks the first autonomous trips available to the public in the UK and is part of a broader global rollout with Uber.
Chinese car brand OMODA unveiled its latest OMODA 4 vehicle at the VCT Champions Tour Europe final in Barcelona, showcasing a limited‑edition electric‑yellow design, hybrid powertrain, AI‑driven cockpit and gaming‑oriented infotainment. The launch was part of a partnership with the esports event and will be followed by an official European debut at the Paris Motor Show. The local distributor Genius Automotive Europe highlighted its role in bringing OMODA to Central and Eastern European markets.