Lucid scores $1 billion in funding, Bird's founder exits, and Zoox robotaxis launches in Vegas

Lucid plans to begin customer deliveries in early 2022.

Lucid, the luxury electric vehicle maker, recently scored a big win by securing a $1 billion investment from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. This brings Lucid’s valuation to over $11 billion and will allow the company to begin production of its flagship vehicle, the Lucid Air, in Casa Grande, Arizona. Lucid plans to begin customer deliveries in early 2022. The company hopes to compete with Tesla in the luxury electric vehicle market and capture a share of the growing demand for sustainable transportation options. Meanwhile, Bird's founder, Travis VanderZanden, has announced that he will be leaving the company to start a new venture. VanderZanden founded Bird, an electric scooter sharing company, in 2017 and grew it into a multi-billion-dollar business. Although he has not yet disclosed details about his new startup, he has said that it will focus on a different industry and aim to solve a different set of problems.

Lastly, Zoox, the autonomous vehicle startup, has announced that its robotaxis will now be available for public use in Las Vegas. The company has been testing its vehicles on public roads for several years and has now received approval from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to operate its robotaxis in the city. Zoox believes that its robotaxis will offer a safer and more sustainable transportation option for residents and visitors to Las Vegas.