Flying Secoya

Rivian's Strong Earnings Propel Stock Amid Mobility Market Buzz

TechCrunch Mobility reviews mobility-sector earnings and deals, leading with Rivian’s Q4 and full-year results. Rivian’s software efforts and a technology joint venture with Volkswagen Group—including an expected additional $2 billion from VW—helped the company in 2025 and are expected to support it into 2026 as it launches the lower-cost R2 SUV. Rivian reported automotive cost of goods sold (COGS) per unit of $100,900 in 2025 (down from $110,400 in 2024), delivered 42,247 vehicles in 2025, and guided to 62,000–67,000 deliveries in 2026; its stock rose about 27% after the results. The newsletter also summarizes AV and sensor market activity (Ouster acquiring Stereolabs, MicroVision buying Luminar assets), venture rounds (Ever $31M; Natilus $28M), Aurora operational updates, regulatory notes (SEC closed Fisker probe; EPA endangerment finding repeal), and product/service developments from Lyft, Uber, Waymo and others.

Berkshire Backs Kraft Heinz's Strategic Pause Amid Turnaround

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel publicly endorsed Kraft Heinz CEO Steve Cahillane's decision to pause a previously announced separation of Kraft and Heinz. Cahillane, who joined Kraft Heinz five weeks earlier, said the company’s opportunities are larger than expected and many challenges are fixable. Berkshire, the largest shareholder in Kraft Heinz with a 27.5% stake currently valued at about $8.1 billion, had recently filed an SEC registration that would allow for potential resale of up to 99.9% of 325.6 million shares. Warren Buffett had earlier expressed disappointment about the split plan and did not rule out selling shares. Kraft Heinz shares initially fell on the reversal announcement but finished the week up 0.7%. Berkshire also plans to release Greg Abel’s first annual letter and its annual report and Q4 earnings on Feb. 28.

SEC Closes Fisker Investigation Amid Declining Enforcement Actions

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission closed its investigation into bankrupt electric-vehicle startup Fisker in September 2025, TechCrunch reports after obtaining records via a FOIA request. The SEC identified roughly 21.7 gigabytes of electronically maintained records related to the probe; the agency had first disclosed the existence of the investigation in an October 2024 bankruptcy filing and had issued subpoenas. The closure comes amid a marked decline in SEC enforcement: the agency initiated 313 enforcement actions in 2025 (the lowest in a decade) and saw total monetary settlements fall 45% year-over-year, according to law firm Paul, Weiss. Fisker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2024 and liquidated remaining assets and inventory. The only known active SEC probe of an EV startup mentioned is Faraday Future, which received Wells notices in July 2025 and has not yet had further action.