🚋 Mobility Futures #11

Happy Monday 👋

China's auto exports surged by 39% YoY, totaling 4.09 million vehicles, with Russia emerging as its largest overseas market. Notably, NEV exports reached 1.4 million units despite tariff impositions in Europe. In the aviation sector, AirAsia and Airbus partnered to develop sustainable aviation fuel and enhance aerial mobility initiatives in ASEAN. Additionally, construction is set to begin on a $3B railway network connecting the UAE and Oman, led by Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala. Lastly, Brittany Ferries launched the world's largest battery-powered hybrid ferry, while Hidden Hill closed its first RMB fund at $156M for logistics and supply chain investments.

🚘 Ground Mobility

🚗 China's Auto Exports Surge, Russia Becomes Top Overseas Market. From January to August 2024, China exported 4.09M vehicles, a 39% YoY increase, with Russia becoming its largest overseas market. New energy vehicle (NEV) exports reached 1.397M units, growing 25% YoY despite European tariff disruptions.

🚘 US Seeks to Ban Chinese Connected Cars Over Security Concerns. The US Department of Commerce proposed banning Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles on US roads for national security reasons, effectively excluding Chinese cars and trucks from the US market.

🚗 WeRide and Uber Partner for Autonomous Ride-Hailing. WeRide and Uber have partnered to integrate WeRide's autonomous vehicles into Uber's ride-hailing platform. Uber also urges the EU to ban combustion engine ridesharing cars by 2030 and set EV production targets.

🛬 Aviation

🛬 AirAsia and Airbus Expand Partnership for Sustainable Aviation Fuel in ASEAN. AirAsia and Airbus partnered to explore sustainable aviation fuel production and other supportive aerial mobility sustainability initiatives in the ASEAN region.

🛩️ Lack of Public Awareness About Flying Taxis in the UK. A study by NATS, a UK air traffic control service provider, revealed that 64% of the British public are unaware of flying taxis.

✈️ End of an Era for Ultra-Long Regional Flights. The world's longest CRJ900 flights, which could take up to 6 hours and 50 minutes for a single leg, are being discontinued. This move aims to optimize operational efficiency and expand capacity on key routes. 

🚋 Rail

🛤️ UAE-Oman Railway Construction to Begin. Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala Investment Company agreed to commence construction of the $3B Omani-Emirati railway network project.

🚄 Hydrogen-Battery Rail Innovation for CO2-Free Transport. Stadler, a rail vehicle manufacturer, unveiled the RS ZERO, a new hydrogen and battery-powered train model that offers CO2-free rail transport, especially for regional transportation.

🚈 Hitachi Rail Advances Real-Time Railway Analysis With AI. Hitachi Rail is integrating NVIDIA AI technology to lower railway operators' maintenance costs, reduce train idling time, and improve transit reliability.

🚢 Marine

🚢 Brittany Ferries Launches World's Largest Battery-Powered Ferry. Brittany Ferries, a French shipping company, launched a hybrid ferry with the world's largest battery fitted to a ship. The ferry embarked on sea trials.

🛥️ Vision Marine Launches New Electric Boat. Vision Marine Technologies, a company focused on the electric boat industry, announced the launch of its new E-Motion 180e Inboard electric boat.

🛳️ China's Groundbreaking Methanol Dual-Fuel Marine Engine. China developed a revolutionary dual-fuel engine that runs on methanol, a groundbreaking technology for the marine industry and low-carbon solutions.

💰 Deals of the Week

🚙 Hidden Hill Closes a $156M RMB Fund for Logistics and Supply Chain. Hidden Hill, a venture capital firm, closed its first RMB-denominated fund worth $156M to invest in modern logistics and digital supply chain companies.

🌊 French Startup VELA Raises €40M for Wind-Powered Maritime Transport. VELA, a French startup, raised $43M in funding to revolutionize wind-powered maritime transport with its Trimaran vessel.

🛩️ Pyka Secures $40M Series B Funding for Autonomous Electric Aircraft. Pyka, an electric aviation company, raised $40M in Series B funding to commercialize its autonomous electric aircraft technology.

🚚 Descartes Acquires MyCarrierPortal for $24M. Descartes Systems Group acquired MyCarrierPortal, a U.S. company providing carrier onboarding and risk monitoring services for the trucking industry, for $24M.

💰 Italian Vehicle Assistance Startup hlpy Raises $19.5M Series B. hlpy, an Italian startup providing digital mobility and vehicle assistance services, raised $19.5M in a Series B funding round.

🛵 Zeno Raises $9.5M to Launch Electric Motorbikes in East Africa. Zeno, founded by a former Tesla employee, raised $9.5M in seed funding to compete with Ampersand and BasiGo in launching electric motorbikes in East Africa by 2025.

🚒 KleanDrive Secures $1.27M Investment for Electric Vehicle Conversion. KleanDrive, a UK company that specializes in converting heavy vehicles to electric power, received a $1.27M investment from FirstGroup Energy Limited.

🚗 Hyundai Motor India's $3B IPO Gets Green Light. Hyundai Motor India, the Indian subsidiary of the South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company, secured approval from SEBI for its $3B IPO, which will value the company at around $2B.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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