DeepRoute.ai, a leading artificial intelligence company specializing in developing smart driving solutions, announced a strategic Series C1 funding round at $100 million from a Chinese automotive OEM. This funding will enhance research and development in frontier end-to-end model DeepRoute IO, help scale global automakers’ collaboration, explore future Robotaxi business, and support recruiting more AI-native talents.
Since August, about 20,000 vehicles integrated with DeepRoute IO have been delivered to customers. The company plans to release more than 10 additional series models in collaboration with selective OEM clients next year and develop the next generation DeepRoute IO, utilizing visual-language-action model, set to launch next year. And DeepRoute.ai’s extensive experience in mass-production within domestic market will enhance its collaboration with global automakers.
As human-supervised smart driving cars gather data, DeepRoute IO will continue to iterate towards achieving full autonomy capability without human oversight. And this will enable the company to explore unsupervised Robotaxis business in the future through partnerships with mobility platforms.
Unlike other robotaxi companies, which rely on pre-mapped data and are restricted to specific areas, DeepRoute.ai’s Robotaxi will be more scalable and cost-effective due to its end-to-end technology. This will enable people in various countries to enjoy the convenience of the latest smart driving technology.
Launched in 2019, DeepRoute.ai has made major progress with a clear technological vision and a proven record. The company initiated research and development of map-free technology in 2020, which debuted in 2023 as the first of its kind in China. This technology enables vehicles to navigate from address to address on urban and highway streets without high-definition maps.
DeepRoute.ai started road testing its end-to-end model last August and officially deployed it in mass-produced cars this year. With its deep technological insight, engineering expertise, and strong team cohesion, DeepRoute.ai is well-positioned to drive substantial advancements in the ongoing AI revolution.
KEY QUOTES:
“The strategic investment from the automaker is a significant recognition for our technology maturity and mass production capabilities. We are eager to leverage this momentum to expand our reach in global markets. I firmly believe autonomous driving is the most promising pathway to achieving physical AI and we will be a major player in the next AI era. We look forward to cooperating with more partners on this journey.”
- Maxwell Zhou, CEO at DeepRoute.ai
