In this week's mobility news roundup, we're covering a flurry of activity across the transportation landscape. From Lyft's entry into Europe to Nuro's expansion into Japan, there's no shortage of exciting developments to dive into. But first, let's tackle the surprise return of a financial instrument thought to be on its way out: the Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC).

Kodiak Robotics, an autonomous vehicle technology startup, has announced a merger with Ares Acquisition Corporation II, valuing the company at approximately $2.5 billion pre-money. This deal marks a significant milestone for Kodiak, which has raised around $243 million to date. New and existing investors, including Soros Fund Management, ARK Investments, and Ares, have committed over $110 million in financing to support the transaction, with an additional $551 million in cash held in trust.

When asked about the decision to pursue a SPAC merger, Kodiak founder and CEO Don Burnette cited the company's recent launch of driverless operations and the need for growth capital to take advantage of market tailwinds. Despite short-term economic volatility, Burnette remains bullish on the long-term potential of autonomy in the transportation sector.

In other deal news, Conifer, a startup developing electric hub motors free of rare earth elements, raised a $20 million seed round from investors including True Ventures, MaC Ventures, and MFV Partners. Kavak, a Mexico-based online used car dealer, secured $127 million in an equity round, cutting its valuation to $2.2 billion from $6.5 billion. Lyft also made headlines with its acquisition of FreeNow, a German multi-mobility app, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility for approximately $197 million in cash, marking the company's entry into the European market.

Nyobolt, a British EV charging startup, raised $30 million in funding led by IQ Capital and Latitude, with strategic partners Scania Invest and Takasago Industry participating. Meanwhile, Nuro announced plans to begin mapping and collecting data in Japan using autonomous vehicles from its U.S. fleet.

In autonomous vehicle news, Waymo and Uber are preparing to launch their joint robotaxi service in Atlanta this summer, with Uber opening an "interest list" for customers in the city. Zoox has partnered with Stingray Music to offer curated playlists in its robotaxis, a sign of the company's impending commercial launch. China has cracked down on automaker advertising of driver-assistance features, banning terms like "autonomous driving" and "self-driving."

Electric vehicle news includes Lime's partnership with Redwood Materials to recycle critical minerals from used scooter and e-bike batteries. Kia debuted its 2026 EV4 sedan at the New York International Auto Show, a global electric sedan designed for affordability. TechCrunch contributor Abigail Bassett reviewed the all-electric Lucid Gravity SUV, praising its "over-engineering at its best." Rivian's first non-Amazon van customer is HelloFresh, and Subaru unveiled its second EV, the Trailseeker SUV.

Archer Aviation unveiled its proposed air taxi network for New York City in partnership with United Airlines, allowing passengers to add an Archer ride to their traditional airline tickets. In ride-hailing news, India's market regulator launched an investigation into Gensol Engineering and BluSmart, a ride-hailing startup, over alleged misuse of electric vehicle loans. Hertz customers were notified of a data breach that included personal information and driver's licenses, attributed to a vendor, software maker Cleo.

That's all for this week's mobility news roundup. Stay tuned for more updates on the future of transportation!