Dear Friend,

As early August 2025 unfolds, mobility sees massive consolidation with Tata Motors' blockbuster €3.8 billion acquisition of European commercial vehicle leader Iveco creating a global trucks and buses powerhouse with over 540,000 annual unit sales and €22 billion in combined revenues, while urban air mobility advances through strategic moves including Joby Aviation's $125 million purchase of Blade Air Mobility's helicopter ride-share operations for immediate access to 12 metropolitan terminals, Israeli eVTOL pioneer AIR's $23 million Series A to scale piloted and cargo aircraft production, and Lyft's $197 million acquisition of European ride-hailing app FREENOW marking its first international expansion across nine countries and 180 cities.

The energy transition demonstrates strategic infrastructure investments across the value chain—from EDF's full acquisition of UK EV charging leader Pod Point to strengthen Britain's charging network, to Atlantica's purchase of Statkraft's 236 MW operational Canadian renewable portfolio plus 800 MW development pipeline, while breakthrough technologies gain momentum as Helion Energy breaks ground on its fusion power facility in Washington state targeting 2028 commercial operation to supply Microsoft's AI data centers. Battery storage attracts significant capital with KKR committing €150 million to Greenvolt's 4.3 GW probability-weighted pipeline across nine countries and FRV Australia completing financing for its 250 MW Gnarwarre battery project featuring grid-forming technology, as private equity firm AURELIUS positions for Q4 2025 closure of its FIAMM Energy Technology acquisition to expand in battery and energy storage systems.

Physical AI demonstrates robust funding momentum with over $303 million in disclosed investments—led by Motive's $150 million round from Kleiner Perkins to scale AI-driven fleet management serving nearly 100,000 commercial fleets, SiMa.ai's oversubscribed $85 million raise led by Maverick Capital for Physical AI platform commercialization, and specialized applications gaining traction through 4AG Robotics' $40 million CAD Series B for autonomous mushroom-harvesting robots expanding to North America and Europe, OpenMind's $20 million round led by Pantera Capital to develop the OM1 operating system for humanoid robots, while Amazon-backed Skild AI unveils its universal "Skild Brain" robotics model designed for cross-platform robotic intelligence, and manufacturing automation advances through EssilorLuxottica's acquisition of Belgian optical lens quality control specialist Automation & Robotics and Singapore's SixSense raising $8.5 million for semiconductor defect detection AI.

Stay sharp,

Oilstainlab @ Car Week Investor Reception

Car Week in Monterey is the annual pilgrimage of auto enthusiasts from all over the world. Get early access to the Luxury Collection main event and join us on August 14th for an exclusive investor reception with Oilstainlab, makers of the revolutionary HF-11, world’s lightest and most exhilarating supercar—a future unicorn. All the details and registration:

Mobility

1. Tata Motors acquires Iveco Group for €3.8 billion
Tata Motors confirmed a €3.8 billion acquisition of European commercial vehicle leader Iveco, merging portfolios to create a global powerhouse in trucks and buses, combining annual sales exceeding 540,000 units and revenues above €22 billion.
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2. AIR lands $23 million Series A to scale eVTOLs
Israeli eVTOL maker AIR raised $23 million to expand into the U.S. market—funding serial production for piloted and cargo eVTOLs, aiming for a leading stake in sustainable aerial mobility.
Read more

3. Joby Aviation to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s ride-share business for up to $125 million
Joby Aviation, the electric air taxi innovator, will purchase Blade Air Mobility’s helicopter ride-share division for up to $125 million, immediately giving Joby access to 12 terminals in major metropolitan markets including New York City and expanding its urban mobility operations.
Read more

4. Lyft completes FREENOW acquisition for $197 million
Lyft completed its acquisition of European ride-hailing app FREENOW for approximately $197 million, marking the company's first international expansion into nine European countries and 180 cities.
Read more

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Energy Transition

1. EDF fully acquires EV charging leader Pod Point
EDF completed its acquisition of UK-based Pod Point, a major EV charging provider, integrating all operations and delisting the company to strengthen its electric vehicle infrastructure ambitions in Britain.
Read more

2. Atlantica acquires Statkraft's Canadian renewable energy platform for undisclosed amount
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure purchased Statkraft's 236 MW operational renewable portfolio and 800 MW development pipeline in Canada, featuring wind and solar assets with 15-year average remaining PPA terms.
Read more

3. Helion Energy begins construction on fusion plant to power Microsoft data centers
Nuclear fusion startup backed by Sam Altman and SoftBank started building fusion power facility in Washington state targeting 2028 commercial operation to supply Microsoft's AI infrastructure.
Read more

4. AURELIUS agrees to acquire FIAMM Energy Technology from Resonac
Private equity firm AURELIUS signed agreement to purchase battery and energy storage systems manufacturer FIAMM Energy Technology, with transaction expected to close Q4 2025 subject to regulatory approvals.
Read more

5. KKR provides €150 million capital boost to Greenvolt for battery storage
Global investment firm KKR committed financing to clean energy developer Greenvolt's 4.3 GW probability-weighted pipeline across nine countries, with funding delivered in two tranches through September.
Read more

6. FRV Australia reaches financial close on 250 MW Gnarwarre battery project
Saudi-backed Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Australia completed financing for its largest battery energy storage system in Victoria featuring grid-forming technology and $15 million ARENA support.
Read more

Physical AI

1. Motive secures $150 million for AI-driven fleet management
AI platform Motive closed a $150 million funding round led by Kleiner Perkins to scale its AI-based fleet safety and operations tools, supporting nearly 100,000 commercial fleets in optimizing physical operations with advanced automation.
Read more

2. 4AG Robotics raises $40 million Series B to accelerate global adoption of autonomous mushroom harvesting

BC-based 4AG Robotics raised $40 million CAD in a Series B led by Astanor Ventures and Cibus Capital to scale manufacturing of its autonomous mushroom-harvesting robots, with new deployments planned in North America and Europe.

Read more

3. Amazon-backed Skild AI launches “Skild Brain” general-purpose robotics AI model

Skild AI unveiled its universal “Skild Brain” robotics model, designed to work across a wide range of robots and environments, setting a new standard for general-purpose robotic intelligence.

Read more

4. SiMa.ai raises $85 million to scale Physical AI platform
SiMa.ai secured $85 million in an oversubscribed funding round led by Maverick Capital, with new and existing investors participating. The funds will support global expansion and accelerate the commercialization of SiMa.ai’s Physical AI platform for robotics and automation across multiple industries.
Read more

5. OpenMind raises $20 million to create OS for humanoid robots
OpenMind announced a $20 million funding round led by Pantera Capital with support from Ribbit, Coinbase Ventures, and Pebblebed to develop the OM1 operating system for humanoid robots, aiming to standardize and connect the next generation of physical AI machines.
Read more

6. EssilorLuxottica acquires Automation & Robotics to enhance manufacturing
EssilorLuxottica completed the acquisition of Automation & Robotics, a Belgian firm specializing in automated systems for optical lens quality control, strengthening its automation capabilities in high-precision industrial manufacturing.
Read more

7. Female-founded AI startup SixSense raises $8.5 million for manufacturing automation
Singapore’s SixSense closed an $8.5 million Series A led by Peak XV's Surge, developing AI tech for real-time chip defect detection and smart automation in semiconductor manufacturing.
Read more

Information provided by Mavka Capital. Securities are offered through Finalis Securities LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC. Mavka Capital and Finalis Securities LLC are separate, unaffiliated entities. The information contained in this message does not constitute legal advice and should not be considered an offer to purchase or a solicitation to sell securities or any other financial instruments; it is for informational purposes only.