Wayve has announced a successful Series D investment round, securing $1.2 billion and bringing its post-money valuation to $8.6 billion. This funding marks a significant transition for Wayve, moving from AI research to the scaled commercial deployment of its end-to-end AI platform for autonomous driving. The investment round was led by Eclipse, Balderton and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with new contributions from global investors such as Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Baillie Gifford. Micro...

BOS Semiconductors, a fabless chipmaker from South Korea, has successfully raised approximately $60.2 million (87 million won) in a Series-A funding round, a significant figure for an early-stage South Korean startup. This reflects the market's interest in AI semiconductors and BOS Semiconductors' rising status in the industry. The funding round saw participation from both existing and new investors, including Atinum Investment, Partners Investment, Stick Ventures, Industrial Bank of Korea,...

Uber Technologies announced it will invest over $100 million to develop autonomous vehicle charging hubs, enhancing its self-driving operations. This initiative will include installing DC fast-charging stations at Uber's autonomous depots and at key locations in priority cities. The expansion of charging infrastructure will start in the US with the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Dallas, before extending to additional cities. Uber is also collaborating with chargepoint operators globally to establi...

Valeo has announced plans to invest over €200 million in India, aimed at expanding its industrial presence as part of its Elevate 2028 strategic plan. This investment is projected to triple Valeo's sales in India to about €700 million by 2028 and further prepare for growth beyond this period. The company is capitalizing on the rising trends of electrification and AI technologies to meet the needs of Indian and global original equipment manufacturers. Valeo CEO Christophe Périllat e...

Waymo has secured a $16 billion investment round, resulting in a post-money valuation of $126 billion. This milestone signifies the growing scale of autonomous mobility, with Waymo at the forefront. The financing was spearheaded by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global and Sequoia Capital, and included participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Mubadala Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Silver Lake, Tiger Global and T. Rowe Price, among others.  Waymo's safety performance is impressive, ...

Waabi has announced the completion of a $750 million Series-C funding round, which was oversubscribed and coled by Khosla Ventures and G2 Venture Partners. Additionally, Uber has provided a milestone-based future investment as part of a new partnership to deploy Waabi's robo-taxis using the Waabi Driver exclusively on the Uber platform. This funding round is the largest in Canadian history and will support the further development of Waabi's physical AI platform, enhance its commercial progress i...

PlusAI and the Traton Group have announced an expansion of their global partnership to enhance the development and deployment of autonomous trucking solutions in the US and Europe. This announcement is linked to PlusAI's anticipated public listing through a business combination with Churchill Capital Corp IX. Traton has committed up to $25 million in non-dilutive research and development funding to PlusAI for integrating PlusAI's SuperDrive into Traton's autonomous trucks. Additionally, Tra...

Ethernovia, a semiconductor startup specializing in Ethernet-based, packet processor-centric networking solutions for software-defined autonomy in vehicles, robots and intelligent machines, has announced the completion of a Series-B funding round exceeding $90 million. This round was led by Maverick Silicon, with contributions from Socratic Partners, Conduit Capital, CDIB-TEN Capital, and existing investors such as Porsche SE, Qualcomm Ventures and Fall Line Capital. Ethernovia is focused on ...

DENSO plans to invest $69 million in constructing an advanced logistics center in Lebanon, Tennessee, which will retain 100 jobs in the area and enhance the company's operations and competitiveness in North America. The 280,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to begin construction in summer 2026 and open in spring 2027, replacing DENSO's current Wilson County, Tennessee, operations with a larger, technologically advanced space. The phased transition will ensure continuity for DENSO's workforce...

Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV, the electric vehicle manufacturing division of BAIC Group, have announced an enhanced strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to advance the mass production, commercialization and international deployment of autonomous driving solutions, specifically focusing on Level 4 autonomous driving. The partnership intends to address core challenges in scaling from pilot programs to sustainable commercial operations. Under the updated agreement, both companies will concent...

Alphabet's self-driving vehicle unit, Waymo, is reportedly in discussions with potential investors to raise funds at a valuation of at least $100 billion, according to a report from The Information. The financing round could potentially exceed $10 billion, with plans to arrange it in early 2026. Bloomberg News has also reported that Waymo aims to raise over $15 billion, with Alphabet leading this effort.  Waymo, which was established from Google's self-driving car project in 2016, offers...

Tier IV has invested in Turing Drive, a Taiwanese startup specializing in autonomous driving systems for geofenced areas and low-speed operations. Both companies have agreed to form a capital and business alliance focused on advancing the development of autonomous driving technology and expanding their global operations. Tier IV is at the forefront of developing Autoware, a prominent open-source software for autonomous driving, supporting global testing to ensure safe deployment of the technolog...

CATL and Hellobike's robo-taxi joint venture is preparing to deliver its first SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles in small batches by March 2026, with mass production expected by June 2026. This initiative involves a partnership with Dongfeng Nissan's Venucia brand to develop the initial model based on the VX6 platform. The mobility platform, which includes Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba Group, was established in June 2025 to focus on advancing autonomous driving technology. The partners have i...

Autolane, a company specializing in autonomous vehicle infrastructure, has secured $7.4 million in funding coled by Draper Associates and Hyperplane, with additional participation from Launch and Feld Ventures. The funding aims to facilitate Autolane's expansion across retail, restaurant and commercial property sectors. The company's technology supports autonomous ride-hailing services, such as Waymo and Tesla's robo-taxi, and autonomous delivery vehicles for retailers and restaurants within ...

Volkswagen Group China Technology Co. (VCTC) has completed the final expansion of its Hefei research and development center with the opening of its first Test Workshops, giving the Group full end-to-end development capabilities in the mainland Chinese market for the first time. The new facilities bring software, hardware and whole-vehicle validation together under one roof, speeding up decision-making, strengthening customer alignment and accelerating the rollout of next-generation technologies....

Point One Navigation, a US-based startup specializing in high-precision location technology, has announced the successful completion of a $35 million series-C funding round, led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from existing investors IA Ventures, UP Partners and Alumni Ventures. This capital will be used for infrastructure expansion, software innovation, integration with original equipment manufacturers, and growth in research and development, engineering, customer success, and inter...

A mobile autonomous vehicle test lab has been established in Estonia by the Applied Research Center and the Estonian National Metrology Institute Metrosert, with an investment of €0.9 million in the project. The facility, being mobile, allows testing to be conducted either where the customer's development team is located or at the intended operation site of the vehicle. Metrosert highlights the advantages of this approach, noting that it is more flexible and cost-effective compared to sta...

Valeo has placed a strong focus on India as a central part of its growth strategy, aiming to triple its revenue in the country to approximately €700 million by 2028 under the Elevate 2028 road map. This plan, revealed last week at Valeo's Capital Markets Day in Paris, represents a shift from a technology-centric turnaround to a financially disciplined strategy emphasizing growth. While the global strategy aims to improve margins, cash flow and sales growth starting from 202...

German luxury-car maker Mercedes-Benz is investing €55 million in establishing its first research and development center in Hungary. Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, government of Hungary, announced that Mercedes-Benz's investment in the city of Kecskemét will include early hardware and software development, with prototype testing to soon begin. The technologies developed at the newly opened R&D center will be used in new electric p...

OPmobility has reaffirmed its goal to double its sales in the US by the end of 2030, compared to 2024. The announcement coincided with the grand opening of its new North America headquarters in Troy, Michigan, on Oct. 23, celebrating 50 years of presence, investment and innovation in the US. The French supplier has a significant presence in North America, with 26 plants and nine research and development centers, employing nearly 8,000 people. In 2024, the company generated sales of €3.39 bi...

Grab Holdings Ltd. announced plans to invest $60 million in Vay Technology GmbH, a company specializing in automotive-grade remote driving technology. This investment is intended to help Vay expand its operations in the US, where it offers an on-demand car rental service via remote driving technology, while also enhancing Grab's mobility offerings and advancing its autonomous and remote driving expertise. The agreement includes an option for Grab to invest an additional $350 million in meet...

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans to potentially build a large semiconductor fabrication facility for AI chips. At the company's annual meeting, Musk discussed Tesla's fifth-generation AI chip, which is intended to advance its autonomous technology, and suggested the possibility of collaboration with Intel, though no agreement has been finalized. As Intel faces challenges in the AI chip market against competitors such as NVIDIA, the US government recently acquired a 10% stake in Intel. Musk's ...

Aeva has announced that funds managed by Apollo will invest $100 million in 4.375% Convertible Senior Notes to support the company's commercial growth and increase the adoption of its FMCW 4D lidar technology across various applications. According to Aeva Co-founder and CEO Soroush Salehian, this investment signifies strong confidence in Aeva's leadership in next-generation sensing technology and comes at a pivotal moment for the industry. The funds will help Aeva expand and scale its existing p...

DeepRoute.ai has announced plans to launch robo-taxi operations using consumer-grade production vehicles by the end of 2025, aiming to commercialize autonomous driving technology by leveraging its production vehicle platform for large-scale deployment. The company, supported by over $500 million in investments from Alibaba and Great Wall Motor, intends to use the same platform that powers approximately 150,000 production vehicles in China, with expectations to exceed 200,000 by the year's end. T...

Foretellix announced the integration of its Foretify Physical AI toolchain with the NVIDIA DRIVE AV platform, which aims to enhance training, testing, validation and safety evaluation in autonomous driving development, according to an Oct. 28 press release. This integration is designed to combine Foretellix's coverage-driven verification and validation capabilities with synthetic data generation technology, alongside NVIDIA's end-to-end AV software stack. The collaboration seeks to advance sa...

Neolix, recognized as the world's largest provider of Level 4 autonomous delivery solutions, has secured over $600 million in its series D financing. This fundraising round is the largest private investment in China's autonomous driving sector and one of the most significant private investments in China in 2025. The round was led by Stone Venture from the United Arab Emirates and included notable investors such as Gaocheng Capital, CITIC Capital, CDH, Sparkedge Capital, Beijing AI Fund a...

Aumovio, previously known as the Automotive group sector of Continental, has announced a $110 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in New Braunfels, Texas. The expansion is part of a strategic plan over multiple years to boost production capacity for North American projects related to advanced driver assistance systems and align with the company's long-term goals for growth and profitability. The project will involve a 65,000-square-foot addition and the creation of a state-of...

ZF Lifetec, a company of the ZF Group specializing in passive safety systems, has inaugurated a new technology center in Washington, Michigan, marking a significant advancement in passive vehicle safety. The expansion incorporates advanced testing technologies with decades of expertise to assist automakers in meeting regulatory requirements and driving innovation in areas such as automated driving, interior design and real-life safety. The new 82,000-square-foot center merges advanced testing...

Wayve has announced the development of its Gen 3 robot platform, which will utilize NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor, an advanced automotive-grade AI computer. This new platform represents the next step for Wayve's global development fleet, supporting the advancement of its AI Driver software into more secure, capable and scalable automated driving systems. The Gen 3 platform aims to progress self-driving technology to Level 3 and Level 4, necessitating a flexible and powerful computing capability to ma...

NVIDIA has signed a letter of intent for a potential $500 million investment in the upcoming funding round of Britain's autonomous driving technology group, Wayve. This follows the recent technology agreement between Britain and the US to enhance cooperation in AI and related fields. Wayve, founded in 2017, had previously raised over $1 billion in 2024 with support from SoftBank Group and NVIDIA, while Uber also invested an undisclosed amount in the firm in 2024. Unlike traditional autonomous dr...

Hesai Technology has announced the expansion of its production agreement with a prominent US-based robo-taxi company. This agreement, now valued at over $40 million, includes the delivery of both long-range and short-range lidars by the end of 2026. Hesai's selection as the sole supplier for these lidar components highlights its importance as a key partner in the development of the next generation of autonomous vehicle fleets. The robo-taxi sector is experiencing rapid growth, spurred by ad...

According to a press release on Sept. 15, Kodiak Robotics has partnered with Ares Acquisition Corporation II (AACT), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, to announce a significant $145 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) commitment. This investment, which consists of convertible preferred stock and common stock warrants, comes from institutional accredited investors and is intended to bolster the previously announced proposed business combination between Kodiak a...

Bosch is showcasing its prowess in both software and hardware at the IAA Mobility 2025 event in Munich. The company highlighted its capacity to offer tailored, intelligent solutions that are integral to software-driven mobility. Bosch's by-wire systems for braking and steering are significant for the development of software-defined vehicles and automated driving, with predicted sales revenue exceeding €7.0 billion by 2032. The focus on by-wire technology marks a shift in vehicle construction t...

Fernride, a Munich-based ground autonomy platform, has extended its Series A financing round with an additional €18 million, bringing its total funding to €75 million. This extension is supported by investors such as Helantic and dual-use investors such as Thomas Müller, former CEO of Hensoldt and board member of Airbus Defense, who also joins Fernride's board. This round includes commitments from existing shareholders and several new strategic investors, family offices and venture capital ...

Astemo Americas, a subsidiary of Japan-based automotive supplier Astemo Ltd., has announced a $95 million investment to establish a new regional headquarters complex in Wixom, Michigan. This development aims to address the growing software demands linked to advancements in autonomous driving and electrification within the automotive industry. Astemo plans to enhance its competitiveness in software-defined vehicle (SDV) technologies in both the US and Japan. The new headquarters is set to...

Valeo has officially inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Waigang Industrial Park, Jiading District, Shanghai. This development is a strategic move by Valeo to bolster its presence in the mainland Chinese market and support the advancement of autonomous vehicle technologies. The new plant, covering an area of 30,000 square meters, focuses on the research, development and production of domain controllers and advanced driving assistance systems. This facility is particularly significan...

As reported in a press release on Aug. 26, Aurrigo has received £1 million in funding from the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder — Enhancements program and Innovate UK's Launchpad program for the initiation of four new projects. The Pathfinder program is backed by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, a joint unit between the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Transport, working in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic. Starting this summ...

Li Auto has developed its in-house autonomous driving chip, the M100, which demonstrates effective computing power comparable to two NVIDIA Thor-U chips for large language model tasks. The M100 has successfully completed prototype production and has undergone functional and performance testing, showing promising results in stress tests. It is expected to enter mass production and be integrated into vehicles in 2026. Until then, Li Auto will continue to depend on NVIDIA and Horizon Robotics. T...

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to increase its investment in the US to $26 billion between 2025 and 2028. This investment marks an addition of $5 billion to the previously announced $21 billion in March 2025. The fund aims to bolster strategic initiatives in the automotive, steel and robotics industries within the US market. As part of this expanded commitment, a new steel mill is planned in Louisiana to support US industries such as automotive manufacturi...

Lumotive has secured an additional $14 million in investments from Amazon and the ITHCA Group of Oman, adding to its previous Series B funding round of $45 million in February, which valued the company at $200 million. This funding supports Lumotive's advancement in solid-state, programmable light management technologies using its proprietary Light Control Metasurface (LCM) technology. This technology facilitates programmable 3D perception crucial for lidar applications and free-space laser...

In a press release on Aug. 21, Nuro announced the closing of a $203 million Series E funding round, bringing its valuation to $6 billion. This funding round included companies such as Uber, Baillie Gifford, Icehouse Ventures, Kindred Ventures, NVIDIA and Pledge Ventures. This follows an earlier tranche of $106 million announced in April, which involved investors such as T. Rowe Price Associates Inc., Fidelity Management & Research Co., Tiger Global Management, Greylock Partners and...

WeRide, a company noted for its work in autonomous driving technology, has announced a strategic equity investment from Grab, a prominent super app in Southeast Asia. This investment marks the beginning of a collaboration aimed at accelerating the deployment and commercialization of Level 4 robo-taxis and shuttles in the region. The partnership seeks to integrate WeRide's autonomous vehicles into Grab's network, enhancing service and safety levels. This investment is expected to be finalize...

Recent corporate filings have disclosed that ARK Invest, a firm led by Cathie Wood, invested approximately $12.9 million in Pony.ai, a Chinese company specializing in Level 4 autonomous driving technology, in August. This marks ARK's first investment in a Chinese enterprise dedicated solely to this sector. Alongside ARK, Pony.ai drew interest from at least 14 major global institutional investors in the second quarter of 2025, including Baillie Gifford and Nikko Asset Management, both known for t...

Aptiv has commissioned a new technical center in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, to focus on developing software-defined vehicle (SDV) solutions for the Indian market, Autocar Professional reported Aug. 18. The new technical center is part of Aptiv’s planned $60 million investment, which also includes capacity expansion at its Chennai plant in 2024. The 34,000-square-foot facility will initially employ nearly 300 engineers, with plans to expand to over 500 by 2026, facilitat...

Hyundai Motor Group's software unit, 42dot, has announced plans to raise 500 billion won (about $360 million) through a rights offering. This move aims to enhance the company's global competitiveness in AI-based mobility technology. Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia will participate as strategic investors, following the conglomerate's three-year capital expansion plan approved in 2023. The additional capital will be allocated to advancing software-defined vehicles (SDVs), investing in agentic AI, graphi...

KPIT Technologies' board has given its approval for an investment of up to $10 million in Helm.ai through a SAFE Instrument in preferred stock. Helm.ai specializes in AI software for self-driving cars. This investment will be distributed in one or more tranches, contingent upon the company's satisfaction with synergy parameters. Helm.ai will not become a subsidiary of KPIT, and KPIT will not gain participative rights in Helm.ai. Additionally, KPIT's board updated details on the acquisition of...

LG Innotek has partnered with Aeva to strengthen its presence in the lidar market. On July 29, LG Innotek announced a strategic partnership with Aeva to supply and jointly develop next-generation lidar technology. Aeva, known for its 4D lidar based on frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technology, is recognized in the autonomous driving market and counts major automakers, including Daimler Truck, among its clients. Through this partnership, LG Innotek and Aeva will collaborate on the ...

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company has entered into a $16.5 billion multiyear agreement with Samsung for AI chips, as reported in a Reuters article dated July 28. Musk indicated that this is just the initial cost of the deal. According to Musk, Samsung's new Texas, US, fabrication facility will be dedicated to producing Tesla's next-generation AI6 chip, which will be used for Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus, fully autonomous vehicles and AI datacenters. Musk emphasized the str...

Chinese smart driving startup Momenta has made an investment in Zeron Truck, a domestic electric heavy-duty truck startup, signaling its expansion into the truck sector. Zeron has completed its Series A financing round worth 500 million yuan (about $70 million), with Momenta as one of the three lead investors. This marks Momenta's first engagement in the truck industry, building on its existing presence as a supplier of assisted driving solutions in the passenger car sector in China. Zeron wa...

The UK government has announced an additional £150 million investment to advance the nation's Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) industry through the CAM Pathfinder program, which will run until 2030. This initiative seeks to tackle the challenges related to bringing CAM vehicles to market by providing funding to projects in the UK that are developing pioneering technologies, products and services, ranging from cutting-edge software to smart transportation solutions. The program aim...

According to a press release on July 14, Motor AI, a company focused on autonomous vehicles, announced a $20 million seed funding round led by Segenia Capital and eCAPITAL, with contributions from German high net worth individuals. The funds will support the company's efforts to achieve type approval for public roads and begin deploying its Level 4 autonomous vehicles, initially on German public roads. Unlike companies that rely heavily on data collection and black-box prediction models, Motor A...

AirGarage is transforming parking into a tech-enabled real estate asset through its end-to-end platform that integrates various aspects such as payments, enforcement, dynamic pricing and operations, all supported by real-time data and machine learning. With a recent $23 million Series B funding, the company aims to expand its reach and enhance its product offerings, showcasing parking as a significant yet underdeveloped area ripe for digital transformation. Founded by Scott Fitsimones, Chelse...

Toyota Motor North America commenced the expansion of its Arizona Proving Grounds with a commitment to invest more than $50 million, the automaker said in a July 2 press release. The project includes constructing a 5.5-mile oval track, an off-road park, new riding and handling surfaces, and plans for an advanced driver assistance technology facility in the future. The planned expansion, scheduled to be mostly completed by the end ...

In a press release on June 24, Torc announced the opening of a new engineering center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This expansion is a strategic move as Torc aims for commercialization in 2027, with the intention of accelerating its productization initiatives while leveraging the rich automotive and technology talent available in the region. In establishing the Ann Arbor location, Torc collaborated with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to secure incentives, supporting its significant h...

The world's largest battery manufacturer, CATL, has made a strategic move into the robo-taxi sector by establishing a new joint venture with local partners. The new JV, Shanghai Zaofu Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd., was registered in Shanghai and has a capital of 1.288 billion yuan (about $177.5 million). The newly formed company will focus on developing Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The joint effort includes contributions from Hello, Ant Group and CATL, with initial investments ...

According to a press release on June 17, Applied Intuition has secured a $600 million Series F fundraise and tender offer, bringing its valuation to $15 billion. This funding was coled by BlackRock-managed funds and accounts along with Kleiner Perkins, and aims to support the company's advancements in vehicle intelligence, product expansion and global team growth. New investors include Franklin Templeton, Qatar Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Premji Invest, Stripes, Grey...

As reported in a press release on June 18, Zoox has launched the first serial production facility for purpose-built robo-taxis in the US, aimed at supporting the company's planned expansion in robo-taxi services across various markets, starting with Las Vegas and San Francisco, and later including Austin and Miami. This new facility, located in Hayward, California, spans 220,000 square feet and is Zoox's second vehicle production site in the Bay Area, while the first, in Fremont, California, foc...

US carmaker General Motors (GM) announced that it plans to invest $4 billion over the next two years to boost its domestic production of gasoline-powered and electric vehicles. This investment aims to increase the company's annual domestic vehicle assembly to over 2 million units. GM's announcement follows an earlier plan to invest $888 million in the Tonawanda propulsion plant near Buffalo, New York, to support the development of its next-generation V-8 engine. The new investments will impac...

Coco Robotics, an autonomous vehicles company specializing in delivery, announced securing $80 million in strategic financing to enhance its AI platform, scale its fleet and grow enterprise partnerships, as reported in a press release on June 11. The funding includes contributions from existing investors Sam and Max Altman, Pelion, Outlander, and SNR, and new participants Offline, DeepWater, and Ryan Graves, the current CEO of Saltwater. This financial boost builds on Coco's momentum, su...

Astemo Group is introducing new mobility solutions to its customers in North America, according to a June 9 press release. The company is also looking to expand its presence at its North American headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and plans to relocate to a more spacious office. The Japanese supplier changed its name from Hitachi Astemo Ltd. to Astemo Ltd., effective April 1. "As our industry moves into the age of the software-defined vehicle, ...

As reported in a press release on May 26, Abdul Latif Jameel and Uber Technologies announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the development of a scalable, next-generation fleet operations platform. The collaboration aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to foster socioeconomic growth and increase earning opportunities for Saudi nationals. The MOU that was signed during the Saudi-US Investment Forum aims to expedite urban mobility transformation in S...

Toyota Motor and its mobility technology subsidiary, Woven by Toyota, have partnered with their group suppliers Aisin, DENSO and Toyota Tsusho to launch the Toyota Software Academy. This initiative aims to strengthen human resource development focused on AI and software. Additionally, Toyota is introducing the Global AI Accelerator (GAIA) to enhance investments in AI research and development, which is expected to drive innovation. Together, these efforts aim to nurture AI ...

In a press release on May 14, Aeva announced a strategic collaboration with the technology-focused affiliate of a Global Fortune 500 company. The partnership aims to integrate Aeva's next-generation 4D Lidar technology into various markets. Additionally, this global technology solution provider will serve as Aeva's tier 2 manufacturing partner for the previously announced top 10 passenger original equipment manufacturer program. As part of their agreement, the global technology leader will in...

Bosch has launched a new fund worth €250 million through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bosch Ventures. This initiative underscores the Germany-based company's unwavering commitment to investing in startups globally, even in the face of current economic uncertainties. Bosch Ventures will use this fund to target investments in high-growth potential startups in automation, electrification, climate tech, healthcare and software technologies. "Our funding in startups not only foste...

In a press release on April 30, Benteler Group announced that HOLON is advancing with the series production and market launch of its fully electric autonomous shuttle, the HOLON urban. In 2025, the HOLON urban will undergo testing on the streets of Hamburg, Germany, as part of its inaugural pilot project. Hamburg aims to introduce up to 10,000 autonomous shuttles by 2030, providing a new mobility solution that complements the existing public transport system. This initiative is part of an agr...

Changan Automobile, a leading Chinese vehicle manufacturer, has chalked out three key strategies as part of its mid-to-long term roadmap, the company announced April 27 at the ongoing Auto Shanghai 2025. Changan said its three key strategies include Shangri-La Mission, Dubhe Plan and its Vast Ocean Plan, covering the expansion of its new-energy vehicle (NEV) portfolio, global footprint, and new investment in intelligent driving technologies and innovations. Under its Shangri-La Mission, Ch...

Nuro, an autonomous driving technology startup, announced a valuation of $6 billion after securing $106 million in its most recent funding round, supported by T Rowe Price Associates, Fidelity Management and Research, Tiger Global, Greylock Partners, and XN, in a report published by Reuters on April 9. The valuation marks a decrease from its last funding round over three years ago, which valued Nuro at $8.6 billion during a venture-capital boom. The adjustment in valuation follows a peri...

At the Hannover Trade Fair 2025, Imec, a research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, announced a collaboration with the state government of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to launch the Advanced Chip Design Accelerator (ACDA) in Baden-Württemberg. This new competence center aims to enhance Imec's Automotive Chiplet Program by developing chiplets, packaging, system integration, sensing and AI technology, thereby supporting the automotive industry in the introductio...

The South Korean government, via the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), announced a significant initiative to bolster automated vehicle services in various regions throughout the country, including Seoul, Sejong, Gyeonggi (comprising Pangyo and Anyang), Chungnam (Cheonan), Gyeongbuk (Gyeongju), Gyeongnam (Hadong), and Jeju. This initiative is backed by an investment of 2.6 billion won (about $1.8 million). The funding is distributed among these regions with specific amounts ...

Croatian electric-hypercar manufacturer Rimac is advancing its diversification strategy with its subsidiary Verne, which has commenced the construction of a factory near Zagreb, Croatia, for the purpose of manufacturing autonomous electric vehicles aimed at a forthcoming robo-taxi service, as reported in a press release on Feb. 11. This initiative, disclosed in June 2024 with Porsche holding a 20% stake in Rimac, draws inspiration from Jules Verne, focusing on three primary components inclu...

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced plans to expand its technology hub located in Portland, Oregon, the US, to develop advanced connectivity and autonomous driving technologies for future JLR vehicles. Over the next 10 years, the UK-based carmaker plans to inject approximately $180 million into expanding the 50,000-square-feet technology hub. The focus will be on crafting a diverse array of advanced technologies as the automotive industry moves toward more software-driven vehicles (SDVs). T...

Waymo has announced the initiation of fully driverless robo-taxi rides for its employees in Atlanta, marking a significant step toward the company's goal of opening this service to the public by 2025, according to a report published by TechCrunch on Jan. 30. This development underscores Waymo's efforts to expand into new markets, bolstered by the closure of a $5.6 billion Series C funding round two months prior, which valued the company at $45 billion. This funding round included major inve...

Aurora Innovation, a company specializing in autonomous driving technology, has inaugurated a new 78,000 square-foot office and testing facility in Bozeman, Montana, US. This new facility, situated on Montana State University's Innovation Campus, aims to bolster the development and testing of Aurora's FirstLight Lidar technology. This strategic investment follows Aurora's 2019 acquisition of Blackmore, a Bozeman-based lidar company, which bolstered its expertise in lidar technology essential ...

Uber Technologies is considering an investment exceeding $10 million in Pony AI Inc.'s upcoming IPO in the US, according to a report published by The Economic Times on Nov. 21. The autonomous driving firm, Pony AI, plans to price its IPO next week, which has seen an increase in size due to heightened interest. Although the final investment amount by Uber is yet to be determined and discussions are still ongoing, Uber is exploring the possibility of utilizing Pony AI's technology in a par...

DeepRoute.ai has announced a successful Series C1 funding round, raising $100 million from a prestigious Chinese automotive original equipment manufacturer, as reported in a press release on Nov. 4. The strategic investment aims to boost research and development of the company's end-to-end model, DeepRoute IO; facilitate collaboration with global automakers; explore potential robo-taxi businesses; and attract more AI-native talent. DeepRoute.ai plans to release over 10 additional series mod...

Alphabet's self-driving unit, Waymo, announced the closure of a $5.6 billion funding round with Alphabet leading the investment effort to bolster its autonomous ride-hailing service's expansion, according to a report published by Reuters on Oct. 25. The funding round attracted participation from a range of existing investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, Perry Creek, Silver Lake, Tiger Global and T. Rowe Price.  "With this latest investment, we will continue to welc...

Wayve, a company specializing in embedded AI for the automotive industry, has opened a new office in Sunnyvale, Calif., to support its expansion and AI development in the US. The UK-based company has also started a driver assistance testing program in San Francisco and the Bay Area. This development marks Wayve's first on-road trials outside the UK, representing a significant step toward creating AI software aimed at enhancing driving assistance and automation features globally. The US t...

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has launched its latest Open Innovation Hub in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, marking a significant expansion of its global innovation network. The India Hub will collaborate closely with startups to develop the next generation of products and services that will help automakers define future client experiences. This endeavor builds on the successes of JLR's existing innovation hubs situated in the UK, US, Israel and Brazil, extending its focus on advanced technologies su...

GAC Group is considering investing $25 million in China-based autonomous driving startup Pony.ai, according to a report by Yicai Global on Oct. 11. This investment, approved by GAC's board of directors, will be made through its subsidiary, GAC Capital. The initiative is part of the Chinese automaker's strategy to accelerate the development of its autonomous driving business. In August 2023, GAC signed a three-party joint venture agreement with Toyota Motor (China) Investment and GAC Toyota Mo...

Engineering service provider Segula Technologies has inaugurated its new US headquarters in Troy, near Detroit in Michigan, US, highlighting its expansion efforts in North America. The 7,000-square-feet office, located on the 12th floor of a modern building, provides a spacious and contemporary space for its operations. Troy's strategic role in engineering and technology, coupled with its proximity to leading technology companies including automakers such as General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, ...

The White House has selected Monroe Capital to launch a dedicated fund to help automotive suppliers in the US. The Drive Forward Fund will aim to raise up to $1 billion to invest in small and medium-sized companies that play a pivotal role in fueling growth and innovation in the US automotive industry. The Drive Forward Fund will target suppliers and manufacturers including those offering software as a service (SaaS) and other technological solutions catered to the automotive sector. Beyond i...

In a press release on Sept. 10, SiLC Technologies recently announced that it has recevied an investment from Honda for the development of advanced frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) Lidar technologies aimed at enhancing mobility across various applications. This investment forms part of Honda's global initiative, Honda Xcelerator Ventures, which focuses on fostering innovation through collaboration with high-potential startups. Led by Honda Innovations, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Lt...

Denso announced on Sept. 9 its plan to construct a new plant at the site of the existing Zenmyo Plant in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. With construction kicking off in the first half of fiscal year 2025 and completion expected by January 2027, the company aims to start production in the first half of fiscal year 2028. The projected investment for this expansion is approximately ¥69 billion (about $0.48 billion).  The company is focusing on three main challenges to...

Ecar Technology, a mainland China-based startup specializing in low-speed self-driving vehicles, has raised 200 million yuan (about $28.1 million) in funding from strategic investors, Yicai Global reported Sept. 4. The investment round was participated by Guohe Capital, state-owned financial service provider China Capital Management and a venture capital firm backed by the Huishan district in Wuxi, located in China's eastern Jiangsu province. Ecar will use the proceeds of the latest funding r...

Holon, a subsidiary of the global automotive supplier Benteler Group, has announced its plans to establish the first production plant for industrialized autonomous, electric shuttles in the United States, located in Jacksonville, Fla., as reported in a press release Sep. 4. This facility marks Holon as the first automotive original equipment manufacturer to manufacture in Florida, with production set to commence in 2026. The venture is expected to create 150 initial jobs, with the potential f...

Didi Global has announced a significant investment in NavInfo's intelligent driving unit, AutoAI, amounting to 670 million yuan (about $94 million), Yicai Global reported Aug. 28. The deal makes the mainland China-based ride-hailing service provider the second-largest shareholder in AutoAI and marks a shift in its strategic focus away from car manufacturing toward smart driving technologies. Didi's investment comprises 220 million yuan in cash and the transfer of its Ruilian Xingchen Beijing ...

In a press release on Aug. 19, LeddarTech announced a financing deal comprising bridge loans totaling up to $9.0 million, alongside conversions of convertible notes amounting to $1.5 million at a conversion price above market value at $2.00 per share. The company specializes in AI-based sensor fusion and perception software technology named LeddarVision, designed for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving (AD) and parking applications. The financing agreement in...

Alphabet, the parent company of Waymo, has announced an investment of $5 billion into its self-driving car unit, aimed at advancing Waymo's position as a leader in autonomous driving technology, according to a report published by CNBC on July 23. The investment, revealed by Alphabet's outgoing Finance Chief Ruth Porat during the company's second-quarter earnings call, is part of Alphabet's "Other Bets" segment. This segment, which includes Waymo, reported a quarterly revenue of $365 million, ...

According to a press release on July 11, Tata Elxsi, a global design and technology services company, and Emerson, a key player in global automation, have inaugurated the Tata Elxsi + NI Mobility Innovation Centre (TENMIC) in Bengaluru. This advanced center is established with the vision to expedite automotive innovation through state-of-the-art systems, software solutions and extensive global automotive expertise. The automotive sector is witnessing a rapid transformation with the emergence ...

Automotive engineering service provider EDAG has inaugurated its Zero Prototype Lab in Wolfsburg, Germany, marking a major advancement in vehicle development and testing, the company said in a press release June 27. This advanced vehicle dynamics simulation center, distinguished as unique within Europe, provides national and international clients the capability to conduct virtual tests on vehicles and their critical functionalities without the necessity for physical prototypes.  It incorpor...

Chairman Wang Chuanfu announced that BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, intends to allocate an investment of ¥100 billion ($13.8 billion) toward developments in autonomous driving technology, as reported by Nikkei Asia on June 12. This strategic move underscores the growing importance and integration of autonomous driving features in vehicles within China. Although a specific timeline for this investment plan was not disclosed, it is evident that BYD is significantly ramping up it...

According to a report published by Nikkei Asia on June 12, Xiaomi is intensifying its competition in China's electric vehicle market by planning to expand its team of driver assistance technology developers to 2,000 by 2025, starting with an increase to 1,500 by the end of this year. This move is part of its broader investment strategy in which Xiaomi will allocate ¥4.7 billion ($648 million), with ¥1.5 billion disbursed this year, toward advancing its driver assistance technology.  Th...

As reported in a press release June 18, Waabi announced a $200 million Series B funding round led by Uber and Khosla Ventures, with participation from notable investors such as NVIDIA, Volvo Group Venture Capital, Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Scania Invest, Ingka Investments, HarbourVest Partners, G2 Venture Partners, BDC Capital's Thrive Venture Fund, Export Development Canada, Radical Ventures, Incharge Capital and more. This funding, elevating Waabi's total investment to over $280 million...

A South Korea-based startup founded in 2018 by CEO Jae-Eun Lee recently closed a $25 million Series-B funding round to advance its high-resolution radar technology, which it aims to apply not only in autonomous driving but also to enhance smart cities and digital healthcare, as reported in a press release on June 18. "We truly believe in the transformative role our cutting-edge radar solutions will have across a host of industries and want to make ‘radar everywhere’ a reality,” said&nbs...