Dear Friend,

As early September 2025 unfolds, mobility accelerates toward autonomous systems and electrified transport, with Mexico's Vemo securing $250 million to expand its Chinese EV-powered taxi fleet through Uber's platform, while AI logistics pioneer Augment raises a massive $85 million Series A just five months after its $25 million seed round, and Uber partners with Chinese startup Momenta to test Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Munich starting 2026.

The energy transition commands unprecedented infrastructure investments – Hitachi's $1 billion commitment to expand U.S. power grid manufacturing addresses surging AI data center electricity demand, while German utility RWE secures €3.2 billion ($3.75 billion) from Apollo Global Management for critical grid upgrades. Battery innovation accelerates as Palmer Energy Technology acquires Oxford spin-out Brill Power, whose cell-level control technology extends battery life by up to 60%, and the UK's Faraday Institution invests £9 million in manufacturing projects to address lithium-ion production bottlenecks.

Physical AI witnesses remarkable funding momentum with over $9.6 billion in disclosed valuations – Chinese robotics firm Unitree eyes a $7 billion IPO valuation, autonomous trucking leader Kodiak Robotics advances toward a $2.5 billion SPAC merger with shareholder approval scheduled for September 23, and Alibaba co-leads a $140 million funding round in Shenzhen-based X Square Robot founded just two years ago, while Y Combinator-backed Motion secures $38 million Series C at a $550 million valuation to integrate AI agents with robotic automation for SMEs.

Stay sharp,

Mobility

1. Global Critical Logistics Gets New Majority Stakeholder
Providence Equity Partners acquired a controlling interest in Global Critical Logistics from ATL Partners, who will retain a minority equity stake in the transportation company.
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2. Trimac Expands Flat Deck Services with Searcy Trucking Acquisition 
Trimac Transportation acquired Winnipeg-based Searcy Trucking to expand its specialized, less-than-truckload and flat deck services across Western Canada and the U.S. Midwest.
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3. Uber and Momenta to Test Autonomous Vehicles in Germany in 2026 
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle startup Momenta announced plans to test Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Munich, Germany starting in 2026, with Momenta-powered vehicles integrated into Uber's platform.
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4. Logistics Plus Announces Acquisition of LoadDelivered Logistics
Logistics Plus acquired Chicago-based freight brokerage LoadDelivered Logistics to enhance its North American transportation management solutions and expand its brokerage division capabilities.
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5. EIB Invests €17.5 Million in Greek EV Charging Network
The European Investment Bank provided €17.5 million in venture debt financing to Joltie SA, a Greek electric vehicle charging operator, to install around 2,200 charging points in Greece and Cyprus by 2029.
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6. Vemo Raises $250 Million for Mexico EV Taxis
Mexico-based electric vehicle taxi startup Vemo, which operates through Uber's platform, secured $250 million in financing, betting on the country's transition to electrified mobility using primarily Chinese EV technology.
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7. InDrive Announces $100 Million M&A Fund
Ride-hailing platform InDrive revealed plans on September 8, 2025, to expand into multiple verticals over the next 12 months, backed by its previously announced $100 million venture and M&A arm established in November 2023.
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8. Augment Raises $85 Million Series A
AI logistics startup Augment, founded by Deliverr's former founder, raised a massive $85 million Series A round led by Redpoint on September 3, 2025, just five months after launching with a $25 million seed round.
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Energy Transition

1. Palmer Energy Technology Acquires Brill Power
Palmer Energy Technology Limited completed acquisition of Oxford University spin-out Brill Power, combining PETL's automotive-grade battery storage systems with Brill Power's cell-level control technology that extends battery life by up to 60%.
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2. Deep Fission Raises $30 Million
Berkeley-based Deep Fission Inc. raised $30 million in financing to develop systems for installing small nuclear reactors deep underground, also completing reverse merger with Surfside Acquisition Inc.
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3. Faraday Institution Invests £9 Million in Battery Manufacturing
UK's Faraday Institution announced £9 million investment in two battery research projects, with University of Birmingham receiving £6 million for FAST project to address lithium-ion battery manufacturing bottlenecks.
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4. CVC DIF to Acquire a Large-scale Hybrid Solar PV and Battery Storage Project in Chile
CVC DIF, the dedicated infrastructure investment strategy of leading global private markets manager CVC, is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire the Gabriela project, a utility-scale hybrid PV-BESS energy project located in Northern Chile, from Grenergy, a Spanish multinational clean energy producer.
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5. Hitachi to Invest $1 Billion to Produce Power Grid Components in US
Hitachi plans to invest $1 billion to expand its U.S. power grid infrastructure manufacturing, its energy unit said on Thursday, as the country faces record electricity demand from Big Tech's build-out of AI data centers.
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6. South Korea's SK On Signs Energy Storage Battery Supply Deal with Flatiron Energy
South Korea's SK On has signed a deal with U.S.-based Flatiron Energy Development to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage systems (ESS).
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7. RWE Taps investor Apollo for 3.2 Billion Euros in Grid Funding
RWE said that investor Apollo Global Management had agreed to contribute 3.2 billion euros ($3.75 billion) for future power-grid upgrades that arise from its 25.1% stake in German transmission system operator Amprion.
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Physical AI

1. SGS Announces the Acquisition of Fulcrum Robotics in Australia SGS, a leading testing, inspection, and certification company, announced the acquisition of Fulcrum Robotics, an Australian specialist in aerial, marine, and terrestrial drone-based inspection and robotic services for the industrial and environmental sectors.
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2. Kodiak Robotics SPAC Transaction Progress
Autonomous trucking company Kodiak Robotics moved closer to going public through its SPAC merger with Ares Acquisition Corporation II, with the extraordinary general meeting scheduled for September 23, 2025, to approve the business combination at a $2.5 billion valuation. The registration statement became effective on August 29, 2025.
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3. Alibaba Leads $140 Million Funding Round in X Square Robot
Shenzhen-based X Square Robot, founded in 2023, secured 1 billion yuan ($140 million) in the most recent round co-led by Alibaba's cloud unit and state-backed CAS Investment Management.
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4. Motion Secures $38M Series C for AI Agent–Driven Physical Automation

Y Combinator-backed Motion raised $38 million, led by Scale Venture Partners, to integrate AI agent orchestration with robotic and process automation for SMEs, valuing the company at $550 million post-money.
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5. Chinese Robotics Firm Unitree Eyeing $7 Billion IPO valuation
China's Unitree Robotics is looking at a company valuation of as much as 50 billion yuan ($7 billion) for its planned initial public offering, two people with knowledge of the plans of one of the country's newest and most high-profile startups said.
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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.