The year in transportation is ending with a couple of more bankruptcies. Rad Power Bikes, an electric bike company, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company will continue to operate while the bankruptcy case proceeds and is looking to sell the business within 45-60 days.
This comes weeks after Rad Power warned employees that it could shut down without new funding. Another troubled lidar maker, Luminar, also filed for bankruptcy this week. Unlike Rad Power’s situation, Luminar does not seem like a “let’s-help-it-live-another-day” type of situation, and the company plans to sell off its business.
However, the year hasn’t been all failures in transportation innovation. The emerging robotaxi industry has emerged, with companies like Waymo and Zoox setting up shop. The scale of robotaxis was largely driven by Waymo’s fast-paced growth, but companies will face greater scrutiny over safety and how robotaxis fit into daily life.
Automakers have struggled to adjust to the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs). Ford is pivoting its focus away from fully-electric models, opting instead for hybrids and gas-powered vehicles. However, EVs are not dead, with companies like Rivian and Slate Auto set to launch new products in 2026.
Other news includes a merger between Boatsetter and GetMyBoat, an acquisition of the Brussels e-bike startup Cowboy by ReBirth Group Holding, and a $100 million funding round for Nirvana Insurance.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/21/techcrunch-mobility-bankruptcy-takes-out-two