Remote driving startup Vay could grab up to $410M from Singapore’s Grab

Vay, a German startup offering remote-controlled rental cars, will get an investment of up to $410M from Singaporean super-app company Grab.

Why a lot of people are getting hacked with government spyware

Government surveillance vendors want us to believe their spyware products are only used in limited and targeted operations against terrorists and serious criminals. That claim is increasingly difficult to justify, given the broad range of victims — journalists, activists, and now political consultants — that have come forward.

TechCrunch Mobility: Elon Musk’s threats worked

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for all things “future of transportation.” 

Elon Musk uses Grok to imagine the possibility of love

After Tesla shareholders approved a new compensation package that could be worth $1 trillion, CEO Elon Musk appears to be celebrating with a normal weekend on his social media platform X.

Apple reportedly plans ambitious satellite-powered iPhone features

While Apple’s iPhone already supports texting, calling emergency services, and contacting roadside assistance via satellite connectivity, the company may have many more satellite-powered features in the works.

Slow Ventures holds a ‘finishing school’ to help founders learn to be fancy

Slow Ventures hosted a three-hour “Etiquette Finishing School” this week, covering topics like the perfect handshake, public speaking, and office decorum.

YouTube TV is giving customers a $20 credit for Disney blackout

YouTube TV subscribers unhappy about going more than a week without ESPN, ABC, and other Disney networks will be getting a $20 credit that can be applied to their next billing statement.

Blue Origin scrubs second New Glenn launch, will try again November 12

It’s an important launch for Jeff Bezos’ space company, which is trying to prove its rockets can be re-used while delivering its first commercial payloads.

Scribe hits $1.3B valuation as it moves to show where AI will actually pay off

Scribe Optimize is the startup’s next major offering to help organizations identify where AI will be most useful.

Lenskart recovers from tepid open to close first day slightly above IPO price

Lenskart’s public listing stirred debate over the nearly $8 billion valuation set in its IPO.