Kirsten Korosec
| Kirsten Korosec | |
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Journalist, editor |
| Title | Senior Reporter / Transportation Editor |
| Employer | TechCrunch |
| Known for | Transportation and mobility technology reporting, TechCrunch Mobility newsletter |
Kirsten Korosec is an American journalist and editor who covers the transportation and mobility technology sectors. She is known for her work at TechCrunch, where she writes about electric vehicles, autonomous driving, robotics, and the broader future of transportation. Korosec is the author of the TechCrunch Mobility newsletter, a recurring publication that serves as a central hub for news and analysis on developments in the transportation industry, from electric vehicle startups and autonomous vehicle companies to emerging trends in physical AI and robotaxi businesses.[1][2] Over the course of her career, Korosec has established herself as a prominent voice in automotive and technology journalism, reporting on major industry players including Tesla, Rivian, Lucid Motors, and numerous autonomous vehicle and robotics companies. Her reporting encompasses corporate strategy, funding developments, regulatory shifts, and product launches across the transportation technology landscape.
Career
Early Journalism Career
Prior to her tenure at TechCrunch, Kirsten Korosec built a career covering the intersection of technology, business, and the automotive industry at several major publications. Her body of work spans reporting on electric vehicle startups, legacy automakers' transitions to electrification, autonomous driving technology, and the corporate and financial dynamics of the transportation sector.
TechCrunch
Korosec joined TechCrunch, a leading technology news publication, where she became a senior reporter focused on transportation and mobility. In this role, she has covered a wide range of topics including the electric vehicle industry, autonomous vehicle development, ride-hailing companies, and the emergence of robotics in the transportation space.
One of her most prominent contributions at TechCrunch is the TechCrunch Mobility newsletter, a regularly published roundup that provides news, analysis, and insights on the future of transportation. The newsletter covers a broad spectrum of subjects, from the business strategies of major EV manufacturers to the regulatory and financial challenges facing autonomous vehicle companies.[1]
In early 2026, Korosec reported extensively on developments across the mobility sector. Her coverage included analysis of Uber's expanding business operations,[1] the return of Travis Kalanick to the technology industry,[2] and an in-depth interview with RJ Scaringe, the CEO of Rivian, about his new robotics startup, Mind Robotics, and his perspective on the state of the robotics industry.[3]
Korosec's reporting has also addressed the financial and strategic dimensions of the autonomous vehicle industry. In February 2026, she examined whether $16 billion in investment capital would be sufficient to build a profitable robotaxi business, exploring the economic challenges facing companies in the sector.[4] That same month, she reported on Rivian's financial trajectory and the factors shaping the company's future.[5]
Her coverage extends to partnerships between technology companies and established automakers. In January 2026, Korosec reported on BMW's decision to integrate Amazon's Alexa+ voice assistant, powered by generative AI, into the 2026 BMW iX3, highlighting the growing convergence of consumer technology and the automotive industry.[6] She also covered the rise of "physical AI" as a concept within the technology industry, analyzing how the term entered mainstream discourse and its implications for robotics and autonomous systems.[7]
Coverage of the Electric Vehicle Industry
A significant portion of Korosec's career has been devoted to covering the electric vehicle industry, including the rise of startups challenging established automakers. She has reported on companies such as Lucid Motors (now Lucid Group), tracking the company's trajectory from its early days as a startup through its production milestones and financial developments.
Korosec reported on Lucid Motors' early moves to recruit talent from established automakers and technology companies, including the company's hiring of Tesla's former production executive in 2019, a move that signaled Lucid's ambitions to scale its manufacturing operations.[8] This reporting provided early insight into the competitive dynamics between Tesla and its emerging rivals in the EV market.
Her coverage of the broader EV ecosystem has included reporting on battery technology partnerships, charging infrastructure development, and the financial strategies of EV startups seeking to reach profitability. She has followed the development of companies including Rivian, tracking the company through its public offering, production ramp-up, and ongoing financial challenges.[5]
Commentary on Media and Technology Journalism
Korosec has also written about the state of technology journalism itself. In February 2026, she reported on The Washington Post's decision to reduce its San Francisco bureau and scale back its coverage of the technology sector, including journalists who had covered Amazon and Blue Origin. Korosec framed this development within the broader context of changes in media coverage of Silicon Valley at a time of significant technological transformation.[9]
Notable Reporting Topics
Throughout her career, Korosec has covered a number of recurring themes and subjects within the transportation technology sector:
Electric Vehicles: Korosec has reported extensively on the electric vehicle industry, covering both established manufacturers and emerging startups. Her work has tracked the development of companies such as Lucid Motors, Rivian, and Tesla, as well as the strategies of legacy automakers transitioning to electric powertrains.[8][5]
Autonomous Vehicles and Robotaxis: A significant area of her reporting focuses on autonomous vehicle technology and the companies attempting to commercialize self-driving cars. She has examined the financial requirements and business models of robotaxi companies, questioning the viability of various approaches to achieving profitability in the sector.[4]
Robotics: Korosec has covered the emerging intersection of robotics and transportation, including reporting on Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe's new venture, Mind Robotics, and broader trends in "physical AI" and its application to autonomous systems.[3][7]
Ride-Hailing and Mobility Services: Her coverage includes reporting on ride-hailing companies such as Uber and the evolving business models of mobility service providers.[1][2]
Automotive Technology Partnerships: Korosec has reported on collaborations between technology companies and automakers, including BMW's integration of Amazon's AI-powered voice assistant technology.[6]
Personal Life
Korosec maintains a relatively private personal life. She is based in the United States and is active on social media, where she shares her reporting and engages with the technology and automotive journalism community.
Recognition
Korosec's TechCrunch Mobility newsletter has become a recognized resource within the transportation technology community. The newsletter's regular publication schedule and comprehensive coverage of developments across electric vehicles, autonomous driving, robotics, and mobility services have positioned it as a reference point for industry professionals, investors, and readers following the future of transportation.[1][2][4]
Her reporting on the competitive dynamics of the EV industry, including her early coverage of Lucid Motors' talent acquisition from Tesla, has contributed to public understanding of how emerging automakers build their organizations and compete with established players.[8]
Korosec's willingness to examine the broader media landscape, including her reporting on The Washington Post's reduction of its technology coverage, has also drawn attention to the changing state of journalism covering the technology sector.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 KorosecKirstenKirsten"TechCrunch Mobility: Uber everywhere, all at once".TechCrunch.2026-03-22.https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/22/techcrunch-mobility-uber-everywhere-all-at-once/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 KorosecKirstenKirsten"TechCrunch Mobility: Travis Kalanick's return proves it really is 2016 again".TechCrunch.2026-03-15.https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/15/techcrunch-mobility-travis-kalanicks-return-proves-it-really-is-2016-again/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 KorosecKirstenKirsten"Rivian's RJ Scaringe thinks we're doing robots all wrong".TechCrunch.2026-03-15.https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/15/rivians-rj-scaringe-thinks-were-doing-robots-all-wrong/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 KorosecKirstenKirsten"TechCrunch Mobility: Is $16B enough to build a profitable robotaxi business?".TechCrunch.2026-02-08.https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/08/techcrunch-mobility-is-16b-enough-to-build-a-profitable-robotaxi-business/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 KorosecKirstenKirsten"TechCrunch Mobility: Rivian's savior".TechCrunch.2026-02-15.https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/15/techcrunch-mobility-rivians-savior/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 KorosecKirstenKirsten"The 2026 BMW iX3 voice assistant will be powered by Alexa+".TechCrunch.2026-01-05.https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/05/the-2026-bmw-ix3-voice-assistant-will-be-powered-by-alexa/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 KorosecKirstenKirsten"TechCrunch Mobility: 'Physical AI' enters the hype machine".TechCrunch.2026-01-18.https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/18/techcrunch-mobility-physical-ai-enters-the-hype-machine/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 KorosecKirstenKirsten"EV startup Lucid Motors snaps up Tesla's former production executive".TechCrunch.2019-07-01.https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/01/ev-startup-lucid-motors-snaps-up-teslas-former-production-executive/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 KorosecKirstenKirsten"The Washington Post is retreating from Silicon Valley when it matters most".TechCrunch.2026-02-05.https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/05/the-washington-post-is-retreating-from-silicon-valley-when-it-matters-most/.Retrieved 2026-03-23.