Rebecca Bellan
Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch, where she covers transportation and mobility. She has been with the publication since 2023 and has previously written for The Verge and Wired. Her work focuses on autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, as well as emerging transportation technologies such as drones and scooters. Rebecca is known for her in-depth reporting on the impact of technology on society and her ability to break down complex topics into easily digestible stories. In addition to her writing, she frequently appears as a<|im_start|>assistant commentator on news programs discussing the latest developments in transportation technology.
84%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
94%
Examples:
- A wrestling match over who should control robotaxis is playing out in California. Cities around the country have long been crying out for more control over how autonomous vehicles are deployed on their streets.
- Many of the laid-off employees were high performers, according to two sources who spoke to TechCrunch on condition of anonymity.
- Tesla delivered fewer cars than the first quarter of 2024 – the first year-over-year drop in sales in three years.
Conflicts of Interest
98%
Examples:
- Hyundai has agreed to spend nearly $1 billion on Motional, an investment that will give the automaker a majority stake while providing the self-driving startup with the necessary capital to.
- Uber plans to deliver more perks to Uber One members, like member-exclusive events, in a bid to gain more revenue through subscriptions.
Contradictions
86%
Examples:
- Some departments saw layoffs beyond the 10% outlined in the companywide email, with one manager reporting a 20% reduction in staff.
- Tesla slashed prices on the Model 3 and Model Y by as much as $2,000 in the US, China, and Germany over the weekend.
Deceptions
60%
Examples:
- Since Musk laid off staff and announced that Tesla would be going hard on autonomy, Tesla’s share price has dropped almost 10%.
- Tesla wants to pause a federal agency’s lawsuit against the automaker for racial bias against its Black workers at its Fremont assembly plant.
- The layoffs were made to reduce costs and increase productivity to prepare for its next phase of growth.
Recent Articles
China's Zeekr Raises $441M in US IPO, Expands EV Presence in Europe Amidst Western Protectionism
Broke On: Friday, 10 May 2024Chinese EV maker Zeekr, under Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, raised $441 million through an IPO in the US and saw its shares surge to a market value of $6.9 billion. Despite western protectionism, Zeekr plans to expand internationally with its flagship Zeekr 001 SUV and expects presence in eight countries by 2025. Other Chinese automakers like BYD, SAIC and Great Wall Motor also explore opportunities overseas to diversify revenue streams. 
Tesla Announces Price Cuts Amidst Declining Sales and Intensifying Competition
Broke On: Tuesday, 23 April 2024Tesla cuts prices for its models in China, Europe, and the US to match production with demand and stay competitive amid increasing pressure from Chinese automakers like Li Auto and BYD. The price reductions range from $1,930 to $4,144 per vehicle. Tesla Announces Layoffs of Over 10% Global Workforce: Impacting 15,000 Employees Amidst Weak First Quarter Deliveries and Intensifying Competition
Broke On: Tuesday, 16 April 2024Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, announced layoffs of over 10% of its global workforce on April 16, affecting approximately 15,000 employees. The cuts follow weak first quarter deliveries and increasing competition in the EV market. Tesla reportedly abandoned plans for a budget-friendly starter car and faced a price war in China. Some employees learned of their layoffs when they couldn't badge into work on Monday.