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| Here is your daily Transportation briefing: - 🛸 DoorDash launched drone deliveries in Virginia.
- 🛠️ DOT announced plans to scrutinize airline data security.
- 🏍️ German mobility electric motorbike startup NOVUS raised a funding round.
Comments/feedback are welcomed. Robel
p/Robel-Kelkile | |
| 1 | | United Airlines announced it will permit MileagePlus loyalty program members to combine their frequent flyer miles for travel on United flights. The move called "pool leader" is able to include up to four family members or friends in the joint account. More: - Members retain individual MileagePlus accounts and can decide how much to contribute to the pool.
- Once contributed, miles stay in the pool for collective use.
- Other airlines like JetBlue and Frontier also offer loyalty points pooling, with different limits on the number of participants.
- The move comes as mileage pooling aims to engage less-frequent to moderately frequent travelers and their families in the loyalty program.
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| 2 | | The U.S. Department of Transportation initiated its first comprehensive examination of data security and privacy policies across major U.S. airlines. The review will involve letters to airline executives querying their data collection methods, handling procedures, and training protocols, as well as potential enforcement actions for problematic practices. More: - Airline executives will be questioned about data collection and employee training regarding passenger information.
- Airlines subject to the review include Allegiant, Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United.
- The action aligns with broader government efforts to enhance consumer privacy, including recent FTC measures to restrict data sharing and strengthen data privacy laws.
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| 3 | | DoorDash has announced an expansion of its partnership with Alphabet's Wing, introducing drone delivery services in the U.S. The move will start with select users in Christiansburg, Virginia, ordering from Wendy's. More: - Users near the designated Wendy's location can select drone delivery at checkout, with orders delivered within 30 minutes by Wing drones, contingent on property suitability and weight restrictions.
- Wendy's items will generally qualify for drone delivery, but orders exceeding weight restrictions may necessitate multiple drones or traditional delivery methods.
- DoorDash intends to expand the pilot to other U.S. cities later this year, aiming to offer more efficient and sustainable delivery options.
- Wing, with partnerships with companies like Walmart and Walgreens, has conducted over 350,000 deliveries across three countries.
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| 4 | | German mobility electric motorbike startup NOVUS secured a funding round led by 468 Capital. 468 Capital's investments in the mobility industry and presence in the US market through General Partner Florian Leibert will support NOVUS's growth and expansion. More: - Founded by René Renger, a former designer at Volkswagen, NOVUS aims to shape the future of mobility by creating an iconic Lightbike, drawing inspiration from Apple's "iPhone moment."
- More than 45% of pre-orders and over 400 potential customers on the test ride waiting list are non-motorbike riders.
- The funding will be used for regulatory certification, industrializing production, and market launch in DACH and Europe, following the signing of a convertible in March and the initiation of the EU certification process.
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| 5 | | The Volkswagen Group and Mobileye announced an expanded collaboration to develop advanced self-driving technology. The move comes as Volkswagen will integrate Mobileye's SuperVision and Chauffeur systems into more production models, aiming to develop an AI-powered Level-4 autonomous driving system for commercial vehicles. More: - Mobileye will supply production-ready software architecture to Volkswagen Group brands such as Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche, with Cariad managing the platform and each brand tailoring the technology to its specific requirements.
- Collaboration with tech companies like Mobileye can accelerate the development and rollout of software-powered technology, addressing the industry shift towards software-defined vehicles.
- Mobileye specializes in computer vision processing for automated driving functions and driver assist systems, complementing Volkswagen's efforts to enhance vehicle safety and convenience.
- The Volkswagen Group plans to collaborate with other partners, such as Bosch and Qualcomm, to further refine software-based vehicles.
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| 6 | | Pelikan Mobility, a commercial fleet platform, announced a €4M ($4.3M) seed round. Investors in the round included Pale Blue Dot, First, and Seedcamp. More: - With commercial fleets contributing 10% of European greenhouse gas emissions, Pelikan Mobility seeks to address fleet electrification's significant sustainability priority and financial challenge.
- Pelikan aims to revolutionize commercial EV leasing by developing a tech-native and operations-centric platform that integrates EVs efficiently into fleet operations, leveraging operational data to optimize lease duration, asset longevity, risk management, and operational fit.
- The company's core software platform, launched in 2023, is currently being deployed and tested with major utility and logistics players in France, showcasing its commitment to practical solutions for sustainable fleet management.
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- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey board has authorized the commencement of construction on a project aiming to grant access to a Newark AirTrain and Northeast Corridor station for residents of Elizabeth and Newark communities.
- Cargo theft incidents surged by 68% in the fourth quarter, primarily driven by thefts targeting food and beverage shipments.
- Uber Freight expanded its Powerloop drop-and-hook network nationwide. NOTE: Inside.com founder and CEO Jason Calacanis is an investor in Uber.
- House lawmakers enacted stricter measures regarding Chinese ocean freight data.
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 | Writer | | Born and raised in the Bay Area but currently residing in North Carolina, Robel Kelkile is passionate about all things tech, venture, and financial education. He has previously served both universities and state governments in their engagement strategy and tracking legislation. | | This newsletter was edited by Aaron Crutchfield | |
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 | Join us at the Imagine AI Live conference, March 27-28, at the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas, and discover how AI is transforming the business landscape. | |
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