The East Midlands has announced it is set to receive £2bn investment in transport infrastructure over the next 5 years, which is being spearheaded by Mayor Claire Ward. This funding is part of the UK government's broader £15.6bn Renewal of Britain initiative aimed at revitalising local transport across English city regions. The East Midlands plan focuses on significantly improving connectivity between Derby, Nottingham, and surrounding areas through a new mass transit system. The investment will support a mix of road, rail, and bus upgrades across the Trent Arc corridor, aiming to reduce congestion, enhance public transport reliability, and stimulate economic growth. The overhaul includes modernising existing infrastructure, building new transport links, and integrating services to better serve commuters and residents. This initiative is expected to create jobs, improve access to employment and education, and contribute to the region’s long-term sustainability goals. Interestingly, it also reflects a shift toward empowering local leaders with the resources to help shape transport solutions tailored to their communities. The East Midlands project is one of several major regional upgrades under the national plan, which also includes investments in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and the North East, marking a significant step toward levelling up transport infrastructure across the UK.
Believ, a UK-based EV charge point operator, has announced it has secured a £300m investment facility to accelerate the rollout of 30,000 new public EV charge points across the UK. The initiative targets retail and hospitality venues, offering drivers the convenience of charging while shopping or dining. Believ believes this strategy will not only support the UK’s transition to EVs but also boost local economies by increasing foot traffic to businesses. The funding is backed by Believ’s joint owners, Liberty Global and Zouk Capital, along with banks such as Santander, ABN Amro, NatWest, and MUFG. The company will collaborate with both public and private sector partners, leveraging Virgin Media O2 as a delivery partner. Believ emphasised the urgency of expanding EV infrastructure to build consumer confidence. The investment reflects growing momentum in the (UK) EV market, driven by more affordable mass-market vehicles.
Zambia is actively courting global automakers to establish EV component manufacturing hubs near its copper and cobalt mines. The initiative aims to capitalise on the country’s rich mineral resources, essential for EV batteries, and to move up the value chain by producing components locally rather than exporting raw materials. Bear in mind, Zambia is Africa’s second-biggest producer of copper, which is a key component in EV engines. President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration is promoting special economic zones and offering incentives to attract investment in battery and EV supply chains. The government is in talks with several carmakers and battery producers, seeking to position Zambia as a strategic hub for green industrialisation in Africa. This move aligns with global efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China. Zambia’s strategy also includes improving infrastructure and logistics to support industrial growth. If successful, the plan could boost local employment, increase export revenues, and strengthen Zambia’s role in the global energy transition.
Leapmotor has announced it is rapidly expanding its presence in Europe, having established 600 sales and service points (POS) across the continent. The company aims to surpass 700 locations by the end of 2025, ensuring that most customers are within a 25-minute drive of a Leapmotor facility. This expansion is part of Leapmotor’s strategy to build a robust, customer-centric EV ecosystem in Europe. New market entries include Ireland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, and Croatia, supported by strategic partnerships with Gowan Auto, Emil Frey Group, and SFA Automotive LTD. In Ireland, Leapmotor will offer its T03 city car and C10 SUV (available as both BEV and REEV) starting September 2025. The company’s European strategy focuses on accessibility and sustainability, aligning with the continent’s push toward electric mobility. Leapmotor’s expansion reflects its ambition to become a major player in the global EV market by offering affordable, high-tech vehicles and ensuring a seamless ownership experience through a strong local presence and after-sales support.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has announced it is set to receive a significant boost from the UK government’s new £15.6bn transport funding package, with £2.5bn being allocated to support its goal of achieving a fully electric bus fleet by 2030. This funding will help TfGM invest in 1,000 new zero-emission buses and further develop the Bee Network, the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system, which will also include trams and trains. The funding package also benefits other regions, as the Liverpool City Region will utilise its £1.6bn share to develop a Bus Rapid Transit network, modelled on Belfast’s ‘Glider’ system, which will connect key locations such as John Lennon Airport and football stadiums. Additional allocations include £350m for South Yorkshire to support bus franchising, and funding for new bus stations in Bradford, Wakefield, and Middlesbrough. The initiative marks a major step in the UK’s Plan for Change, aiming to improve connectivity, reduce emissions, and stimulate regional economies through sustainable transport infrastructure.
Deals
Hypercraft, a Utah-based electric and hybrid powertrain technology company, has secured $26m in Series A funding to advance its software-defined mobility platform. The round was led by Stalwart Ventures and Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF), valuing the company at $106m. Hypercraft specialises in complete electric drive systems for a broad range of applications, including on-road, off-road, marine, racing, and defence sectors. The funding will accelerate development of Hypercraft’s open-source ecosystem, aimed at simplifying integration for OEMs and third-party developers. A key product of theirs, named HyperLynk, is a unified control architecture that supports over 150 system components across both legacy and modern communication protocols. This platform is designed to help government and commercial integrators adapt to rapid technological shifts in mobility. Hypercraft’s product suite includes motors, battery management systems, high-voltage junction boxes, software, and in-house designed HyperPack batteries ranging from 20kWh to 120kWh. The startup emphasised the strategic importance of this funding in driving innovation in hybrid systems and intelligent powertrain control. With its multi-industry reach and modular, software-led approach, Hypercraft is positioning itself as a key player in the transition away from ICEs.
Obvio, a California-based startup, has raised $22m in a Series A funding round, led by Bain Capital Ventures, to scale its (AI-powered) road safety technology. The startup admirably aims to reduce America’s high traffic fatality rate (over 100 deaths daily) by deploying solar-powered AI cameras that detect dangerous driving behaviours. Obvio’s system focuses initially on Stop sign violations, but also identifies illegal turns, speeding, distracted driving, and dangerous lane changes. Unlike traditional surveillance, Obvio emphasises privacy and transparency. Its cameras are visible, not hidden, and only record egregious violations. Obvio’s approach has resonated with both investors and communities, combining public safety with data privacy. The new funding will support broader deployment of its technology, with the startup confident that its AI-driven, community-focused model will gain wider acceptance and thus significantly improve road safety.
Impulse Space, a California-based in-space mobility company, has raised $300m in Series C funding to expand its operations and accelerate development. The round was led by Linse Capital, with participation from DFJ Growth, Valor Equity Partners, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, RTX Ventures, and others. Impulse Space develops advanced space vehicles designed for orbital transport and manoeuvring. Its flagship vehicles include Helios, a kick stage powered by the Deneb engine for rapid orbital transfers, and Mira, a flight-proven vehicle offering precise manoeuvrability for hosting, deployment, and rendezvous operations across various orbits. The funding will support Impulse’s mission to disrupt in-space logistics, enabling payload delivery from low Earth orbit to geostationary, lunar, and interplanetary destinations. The company aims to become a key player in the growing space infrastructure ecosystem.
Crabi, a Mexican insurtech startup, has raised $13.6m in a funding round, led by Kaszek and IGNIA, to expand its AI-driven car insurance platform. Crabi is the first fully licensed digital auto insurer in Mexico, offering a streamlined, tech-first approach to car insurance. The company uses AI and ML to underwrite policies, detect fraud, and personalise pricing. Its platform allows users to purchase insurance in under 2 minutes and manage claims digitally. Crabi aims to disrupt Mexico’s traditional insurance market, which is often seen as inefficient and opaque. With the new funding, Crabi plans to scale operations, enhance its AI capabilities, and expand its customer base across Mexico. The company also intends to explore new insurance products and deepen its market penetration, positioning itself as a leader in Latin America’s growing insurtech sector.
SparkCharge, an American-based provider of mobile, off-grid EV charging solutions, has raised $30.5m to expand its services across North America. The funding includes a $15.5m Series A-1 round led by Monte’s Fam and a $15m venture loan from Horizon Technology Finance, with additional support from investors such as Collab Capital and Cleveland Avenue. SparkCharge offers Charging-as-a-Service, enabling flexible, scalable, and instant DC fast charging without the need for fixed infrastructure. Its portable technology supports fleets, delivery services, events, OEMs, and rideshare operators, helping overcome key barriers to EV adoption such as infrastructure delays and range anxiety. SparkCharge aims to lead the shift toward electric fleets with its mobile-first approach.