Balanced News: SoftBank bets on ex-Argo AI founders, Flexport’s founder cleans house and Cruise digs in

SoftBank Group has invested over $1 billion in Stack AV, a new autonomous vehicle startup founded by the former executives of Argo AI. The investment comes from SoftBank Group, not the SoftBank Vision Fund. Meanwhile, Paris has banned shared e-scooters but is encouraging e-bike sharing as an alternative. Lime CEO Wayne Ting says Lime now has more e-bikes in the city than it ever had scooters. Other notable deals include Ascend Elements raising $542 million, Autonomy acquiring EV Mobility, and Envisics closing a $100 million funding round. Cruise also made news with reports of a robotaxi blocking an ambulance and CEO Kyle Vogt claiming to be close to mass-producing robotaxis without steering wheels or pedals.