News Summary

Jeff Bezos is among high-profile investors backing Slate Auto, a secretive electric vehicle (EV) startup. This company, which has gained attention due to its concealed operations, is led by notable backers including Mark Walter and Thomas Tull. Slate Auto is reportedly developing an electric pickup truck, and its business model has attracted significant interest. In related news, Lucid Motors has acquired assets from Nikola, a move that surprised industry observers. Lucid committed around $30 million for Nikola’s factory, its lease in Phoenix, and various machinery and inventory. This acquisition is noteworthy in the EV sector, especially considering Nikola founder Trevor Milton’s recent legal troubles and pardon. Meanwhile, other significant funding rounds include Nuro’s $106 million Series E and Parallel Systems’ $38 million Series B, indicating robust investment activity in the autonomous and electric vehicle sectors.