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

  • June 27, 2018
    An innovation lab – not a burden
    Travellers want to be able to book multimodal journeys easily – and to be informed of problems and alternatives as they go. Adam Roark might just be able to help, finds Ben Spencer. The global shift in transportation towards members of the public wanting access to multimodal journeys is rapidly changing how people pay and plan ahead. Buying tickets from a machine and dealing with the frustration of discovering your train is cancelled is a scenario commuters want to avoid through technology’s ability to
    Read More
  • January 25, 2021
    Tactile Mobility's virtual virtuous circle
    Virtual sensors will allow a safer driving experience and reduce road maintenance costs. Tactile Mobility’s Eitan Grosbard talks to David Arminas about what once seemed 'pure sci-fi'...
    Read More
  • May 8, 2019
    Telensa and Samsung SDS partner on smart city infrastructure
    Telensa has joined forces with Samsung SDS to work on smart city projects in Asia Pacific and the US. Starting with Korea, the partners will collaborate on smart streetlighting, combining Telensa’s Planet Streetlight control application with Samsung’s Brightics Internet of Things (IoT) platform to help cities save energy and access a range of sensor applications. Telensa will utilise Samsung’s resources in areas such as 5G and blockchain, which require streetlight access for widescale deployment.
    Read More
  • August 15, 2019
    IBTTA: tolling embraces future of mobility
    The future of mobility is a complex and changing topic. The IBTTA’s Bill Cramer finds the tolling industry is asking new questions – and finding some surprising new answers
    Read More

Highlighted Content