Toyota AI launches $100m fund for mobility start-ups

Toyota AI Ventures has announced a $100 million fund dedicated to investing in early-stage start-ups developing autonomous mobility and robotics. The company says the fund brings its total assets under management to more than $200m to invest in and support promising projects around the world. Jim Adler, managing director of Toyota AI Ventures, says: “Investing in start-ups creates long-term relationships that help Toyota explore the latest innovations in mobility.” The company looks across a range of in
May 13, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
1686 Toyota AI Ventures has announced a $100 million fund dedicated to investing in early-stage start-ups developing autonomous mobility and robotics.


The company says the fund brings its total assets under management to more than $200m to invest in and support promising projects around the world.

Jim Adler, managing director of Toyota AI Ventures, says: “Investing in start-ups creates long-term relationships that help Toyota explore the latest innovations in mobility.”

The company looks across a range of industries that are applying artificial intelligence (AI), data, and cloud technologies. Existing investments includes the following companies:

  • Joby Aviation: Pioneering an electric vertical take-off and landing passenger aircraft service
  • May Mobility: A Level 4 self-driving shuttle service
  • Sea Machines: Building autonomous control and navigation systems for the maritime industry
  • Elementary Robotics: Developing robotics platforms to assist with automating everyday tasks
  • Intuition Robotics: Creating social companion technologies using cognitive AI


Edwin Olson, co-founder and CEO of May Mobility, says: “For us, Toyota AI Ventures isn’t just an important investor, they are a critical partner in helping us realise our long-term vision of making transportation safer and more personal.”

UTC

Related Content

  • November 23, 2017
    Autumn budget: EV charging infrastructure fund and higher tax rates for diesel vehicles
    Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has announced a £400m ($532m) charging infrastructure fund for electric vehicles (EVs), an extra £100m ($133m) investment in Plug-In-Car Grant, and a £40m ($53m) in charging R&D in the UK’s Autumn Budget 2017. He added that laws need to be clarified so that motorists who charge their EVs at work will not face a benefit-in-kind charge from next year.
    Read More
  • May 30, 2024
    KakaoMobility partners with Archer on eVTOL in South Korea
    Ride-hail specialist plans to offer electric air taxis to Seoul commuters as early as 2026
    Read More
  • January 31, 2019
    Thales and Centech launch programme to assist AI start-ups
    Thales has partnered with Centech, a Canadian start-up incubator, to help develop more than ten start-ups a year in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Through the partnership’s AI@Centech Programme, Thales will provide them with business advice and infrastructure services. Quebec-based Centech will lead a 12-week acceleration programme with case studies presented by entrepreneurs to help start-ups assess the market potential and viability of their projects. A select committee will add the most
    Read More
  • August 9, 2019
    Toyota invests $600m in China’s DiDi and sets up joint venture
    Toyota is to invest $600 million in Chinese ride-hailing company DiDi Chuxing and will form a joint venture to develop vehicle-related services for its drivers. The partners intend to expand the connected services of Toyota’s Mobility Services Platform to include vehicle management, maintenance and financing for customers and drivers. Toyota also plans to promote the widespread use of battery electric vehicles for future mobility services in China. The joint venture also includes Toyota’s partne
    Read More

Highlighted Content