Daily Business Report: Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023
Aptera unveils ‘Launch’ edition
of ultra-efficient solar vehicles
Carlsbad-based startup Aptera Motors has unveiled its inaugural Launch Edition, the first series of over 40,000 orders for a fleet of what they describe as “ultra-efficient vehicles that will bring solar mobility and freedom from the grid a reality.”
Aptera’s Launch Edition, a two-seater capable of going from 0 to 60 in four seconds, was created with “one purpose in mind — energy efficiency,” said Steve Fambro, Aptera co-founder and co-CEO. Equipped with proprietary solar technology, Fambro said Aptera’s Launch Edition will drive “up to 40 miles per day directly from the sun’s rays, making it possible to never plug in to charge again.” The company also announced this month that it is working on closing a Series B2 funding round.
Top photo: Aptera’s new Launch Edition. (Photo courtesy of Aptera)
City OKs controversial plan for high-rise
housing farther from mass transit
San Diego took a bold step to jump-start production of high-rise housing and backyard apartments Tuesday by loosening rules that govern where such homes can be built.
The City Council voted 5-4 to soften rules allowing taller apartment buildings and more backyard units when a property is near mass transit. Now, the transit line can now be as far as 1 mile away, instead of the previous half-mile requirement. “This will result in more homes for moderate-income and low-income San Diegans, which everybody knows we need very badly,” said Councilmember Vivian Moreno, who voted in favor.
Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, who voted against the change, said it would have a “tremendous” and “terrible” impact because studies show most people won’t walk a full mile to transit.
Will California protect gay marriage in its constitution?
CalMatters
California Democrats want to change the state constitution to safeguard a right that is already firmly protected across the state, just in case the U.S. Supreme Court decides to do away with it.
Oh, and putting it on the ballot will probably help Democrats in the 2024 election.
If that all sounds familiar, you might be thinking of Proposition 1, the highly popular ballot measure from last November that cemented the right to an abortion in the state constitution and that may have goosed liberal-leaning voters to the pollis.
This time, the right in question is same-sex marriage.
On Tuesday, San Francisco Sen. Scott Wiener and Cupertino Assemblymember Even Low, both Democrats, introduced a proposal to expunge language from the state constitution that defines marriage solely as a union between an man and a woman.
To become law, the measure will need the support of two-thirds of both the Assembly and the Senate and of a majority of voters on the November 2024 ballot.
Poway engineer creates free program to teach coding
Poway resident Mike Roberts is doing something to help diversify the software engineering profession. In 2019, he formed Creating Coding Careers (CCC), a nonprofit that teaches coding skills for free without the barriers of a traditional boot camp. CCC allows for progress at the participant’s pace, and those in the apprenticeship program get paid.
About two-thirds of the program costs are paid by prospective employers, normally technology companies that rely upon CCC to help them hire software engineers. Apprenticeship opportunities depend upon employer availability. Candidates are selected based upon employer criteria and are interviewed by prospective employers. Those candidates hired are employed and paid by CCC until their apprenticeship is complete, and they are either hired by the employer or enter the market.
Need to hire talent for your organization? Click here
Want to start a new career in tech? Click here
Susan Lusk named GUHSD Counselor of the Year
The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) has named Susan Lusk of Granite Hills High School as its Counselor of the Year.
The announcement was made as part of National School Counseling Week (Feb. 6–10, 2023) during which GUHSD honored its school counselors, all of whose daily work is essential to GUHSD students reaching their full potential.
Mrs. Lusk’s GUHSD counseling career spans 17 years and includes service at four different GUHSD schools.
She has served at Granite Hills since 2011, and she has chaired the Counseling Department for the last eight years.
Cubic ITS account executive elected to Intelligent
Transportation Society of California board
Dustin Hinds, Cubic ITS’s senior account executive of ITS sales, has been elected to the Intelligent Transportation Society of California Board of Directors. TSCA is a public/private professional organization formed to foster the development and deployment of intelligent transportation systems in California. By providing education and fostering partnerships in the transportation industry, the organization aims to drive the implementation and commercialization of technology in transportation.
While this is Hinds’ first time holding a board seat, his involvement with ITSCA dates back several years, participating in annual meetings, assisting with event planning, and presenting at regional meetings.
Hinds has spent the past 10 years focused on advancing the ITS industry, joining Cubic during the acquisition of Trafficware.
Mitchell publishes electric vehicle collision report
SAN DIEGO — Mitchell, an Enlyte company and leading technology and information provider for the property and casualty claims and collision repair industries, announced the availability of its latest trends publication: “Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights.” The new quarterly report provides auto insurance and collision repair executives with up-to-date information on electric vehicle claims and market data. To access the report, visit www.mitchell.com/plugged-in. You can also subscribe to future issues by completing the web form.
Platform Science brings CAT S
cale’s app to fleet solutions
SAN DIEGO — Platform Science, a leading connected vehicle platform, and CAT Scale, the world’s leading truck scale network, announced a new collaboration to offer CAT Scale’s Weigh My Truck and CAT Scale Locator apps in Platform Science’s catalog of solutions. Platform Science’s innovative transportation solutions make it easier for fleets to develop, deploy, and manage mobile devices and applications on commercial vehicles. The Weigh My Truck app allows drivers to weigh and then get the weights displayed on their mobile device without ever leaving the cab.
iCIM to host fourth annual
INSPIRE conference in May
SAN DIEGO – iCIMS, the talent cloud company, announced it will host its fourth annual,
award-winning conference, INSPIRE, on May 9, 2023, live from San Diego. INSPIRE unites thousands of talent leaders from around the globe each year to unlock best practices and discover the latest innovations to build winning workforces. Register to witness the alchemy of teamwork and see what happens when the iCIMS community of collaborators and game-changing leaders get together at INSPIRE.
BRIDGE to host its inaugural event: BRIDGE 2023
SAN DIEGO – BRIDGE, an independent DEI trade organization serving the global marketing industry, announced the launch of its first annual summit BRIDGE 2023: Pioneering DEI Next Practices, April 23-25 at Zachari Dunes in California. The event which coincides with the organization’s first year anniversary, has been curated to deliver an intentional agenda that guides attendees through a journey beginning with a foundation steeped in data and culminating with tangible business practices of what it means to build an inclusive company or brand.
Third Wave Automation announces investment
from Qualcomm Ventures and Zebra Technologies
UNION CITY, Calif. — Third Wave Automation, provider of high-reach autonomous forklifts, announced a strategic investment by Qualcomm Ventures and Zebra Technologies, bringing total funding to $70 million. The strategic investment will enable TWA to accelerate new innovations as its first product expands its select pilot program. With the funding, TWA plans to expand its market offerings, accelerate new solutions for automating other classes of forklifts, including narrow aisle and counterbalance trucks and integrate with automation solutions, such as Fetch Robotics, which is now part of Zebra Technologies.
Petco expands partnership with top
Canadian lifestyle retailer Canadian Tire
SAN DIEGO — Petco announced a significant expansion to its existing exclusive retail partnership with Canada’s iconic retail brand, Canadian Tire. The expansion forms part of Canadian Tire’s renewed store concept and broader product assortment being rolled out as part of the company’s Better Connected strategy. With an estimated 90 percent of Canadians living just 15 minutes away from a Canadian Tire store, this expansion will enable Petco to further reach into Canada’s assessed $5.3 billion pet market with an expanded, exclusive Petco product assortment in dedicated Canadian Tire store spaces as well as online at canadiantire.ca.
Nuvve strengthens measures
to safeguard shareholder interests
SAN DIEGO – Nuvve Holding Corp., a leader in vehicle-to-grid technology, has entered into a service agreement with Shareholder Intelligence Services LLC to assist in efforts to help identify and combat suspected illegal naked short selling activities and other potential trading violations or market manipulation. Among other services, ShareIntel will monitor trading activity, including shareholder, critical broker-dealer and clearing firm trading patterns as part of its mission to protect investors and maximize shareholder value.
Nuvve believes it may have been the target of a market manipulation scheme involving illegal naked short selling of its common stock that may have artificially depressed its share price and has engaged ShareIntel to monitor and investigate.
Procede Software is the leading
Navistar Certified DMS Partner
SAN DIEGO — Procede Software, a leading heavy-duty commercial vehicle dealer management system (DMS) and solutions provider, announced it is the leading Navistar Certified DMS Partner in terms of the number of International and IC Bus dealership locations using its Excede business system. The achievement is the result of Procede’s long-term strategy to proactively engage with OEMs and dealerships to build collaborative, healthy relationships and to leverage its open API to build powerful integrations between Excede and OEM-proprietary systems.
Camp Run-A-Mutt celebrates 15 cage free years
All month long, Camp Run-A-Mutt is celebrating its 15-year anniversary of providing cage free doggie daycare and overnight boarding to pups across the country. Camp locations are hosting a fundraiser for their local shelters, and customers can drop off donation items. Special promotional merchandise will also be given away in appreciation for customers and their Campers. The idea behind Camp Run-A-Mutt was inspired by a dog named Andy, a sweet English Springer Spaniel. The co-founder and president wanted to pay tribute to his beloved companion by building a place he knew Andy would love.
MedCrypt expands cybersecurity partnerships
SAN DIEGO — MedCrypt Inc., the proactive cybersecurity solution provider for medical device manufacturers, announced its work with six diabetes care technology providers, including the leading manufacturers of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, to enable the next generation of diabetes technology to get to market faster with security built in by design. MedCrypt currently provides enhanced security products and services for seven of the top 10 medical device manufacturers and startups and mid-sized companies
