TechCrunch Mobility: Ferrari Luce, Texas AV Tracker

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility

Welcome to your guide to the future of transportation, where electric vehicles, autonomous systems and even gaming news intersect with mobility. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility.

Ferrari Luce: Who is it for?

If you follow EVs or sports cars, you probably saw the uproar over Ferrari's first all-electric model, the Luce. Designed by Apple veteran Jony Ive and priced near $650,000, the five-seat EV drew swift criticism, jokes comparing it to the Nissan Leaf and even pointed commentary from industry designers.

Senior reporter Sean O'Kane asked a key question as the debate exploded online: who is the Luce for? You can read his full breakdown for the detailed analysis. Here are the highlights and wider context.

• Ferrari buyers are often repeat customers: more than 80% of the 14,000 people who bought a Ferrari last year already owned one, O'Kane notes.
• Ferrari says demand exists. CEO Benedetto Vigna reports orders from both existing and new customers.
• If demand exceeds supply, Ferrari will need to choose buyers carefully — likely prioritizing loyal customers and collectors.

Ferrari doesn't need universal approval; it only needs enough buyers to justify the Luce.

Remember the Purosangue SUV: widely criticized at launch, it later proved commercially successful. The Luce may follow the same path — polarizing at first, profitable later.

Autonomous Vehicles: Texas launches a public AV tracker

Texas updated its law to give the Department of Motor Vehicles more control over autonomous vehicle testing and deployment. Companies now must license AVs in the state, and the DMV publishes the data.

I explored the new AV tracker tool and found these fleet counts:

• Waymo: 577 registered AVs
• Avride: 317
• Nuro: 47
• Tesla: 42
• Freight and truck players such as Aurora, Gatik AI, Kodiak AI and Waabi are also listed

Fleet size is only one success indicator. Many companies listed haven't launched commercial services in Texas yet. I'm more interested in the tracker's complaints feature, which is public record — and so far there are no complaints logged against the companies above.

Deals and Funding Roundups

Here are notable mobility-related investments and acquisitions:

• Equip Capital formed a single asset fund that took a majority stake in European e-scooter operator Ryde Technology, with Goldman Sachs Alternatives as lead investor.
• LiveWire, the Harley-Davidson electric motorbike spinoff, acquired electric off-road startup Dust Moto.
• Matternet, an autonomous drone delivery company, raised $33 million via a private placement and completed a reverse merger with Los Altos Ventures Corp.
• Revel merged with Voltera; the combined business will operate under the Voltera brand and be led by Revel CEO Frank Reig.
• Stark, a German drone maker, is reportedly in talks to raise at least €300 million, potentially doubling its valuation to €2.5 billion.
• Volara Motorsports Group acquired Lynx Motor Works, an Austin-based maker of limited-production classic reimagined vehicles.
• WeRoad, a Milan-based adventure travel startup, raised $58 million in a Series C led by Airbnb to fund a U.S. push starting in Austin.

Notable Reads and Industry Tidbits

• American Airlines will install Starlink on more than 500 narrow-body Airbus jets beginning next year, giving Starlink a meaningful revenue lift.
• Rivian will begin deliveries of its new R2 SUV on June 9. The company is also under a NHTSA probe into rear suspension servicing.
• Slate Auto is expected to announce pricing and open nonrefundable preorders for a low-cost EV on June 24, with deliveries slated later this year.
• The Commerce Department granted Volvo Cars a specification authorization allowing the Swedish automaker to continue importing and selling vehicles in the U.S. despite tightened rules aimed at vehicle tech with ties to China.
• Waymo started offering select riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco access to its newest robotaxi, an all-electric, minivan-like vehicle called the Ojai. Early impressions indicate this design helps solve long-standing robotaxi durability and cost challenges.

Quick take: gaming news intersection

Mobility and gaming news increasingly overlap: automakers and AV firms use game-engine tools for simulation, training and in-cabin entertainment. Expect more crossovers as companies lean on immersive software to test autonomous behavior and create passenger experiences.

Polls and Reader Feedback

We asked readers whether they like the Ferrari Luce. Opinions were split. If you want to weigh in on future mobility polls, sign up for the Mobility newsletter.

Last week's newsletter poll

We asked: "Will SpaceX and Tesla merge?" Responses showed strong sentiment toward a future merger:

• 51%: "Yes, within two years"
• 14.5%: "Yes, this year"
• 34%: "Never"

Together, more than 65% of respondents think a merger is inevitable.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence.

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin