Autonomous Driving Platform Secures $20 Million in Funding from MOTOR Ai
In a significant stride for the autonomous driving industry, MOTOR Ai, a Berlin-based tech company, has secured a $20 million seed funding round led by Segenia Capital and eCAPITAL. This investment will enable MOTOR Ai to finalize certification for public road use and deploy its Level 4 autonomous vehicles on German streets by 2025.
Founded in 2017, MOTOR Ai has developed its entire autonomy stack in-house, with a focus on high performance, explainability, safety, and legal compliance. The company's technology is rooted in cognitive neuroscience, using sensor fusion from various sources like LiDAR, radar, cameras, microphones, GPS, and ultrasound. This approach allows vehicles to make structured and transparent decisions, setting MOTOR Ai apart from U.S. providers.
MOTOR Ai's system is designed to meet stringent European safety and legal requirements, including UNECE approval standards, ISO 26262 (ASIL-D), and the EU AI Act. The cognitive architecture is based on active inference, a model from neuroscience that enables vehicles to make decisions in a structured and transparent manner. This approach emphasizes explainability and compliance with European regulatory frameworks, further distinguishing MOTOR Ai from other providers.
The company's CEO and Co-Founder, Roy Uhlmann, underscores the importance of transparency and public trust in the future of autonomy in Europe. Lucas Merle, Principal at eCAPITAL, highlights that MOTOR Ai's 'Made in Germany' in-house development reduces inter-dependencies and strengthens Europe's ability to operate in critical innovative technology.
Michael Janßen, General Partner at Segenia Capital, believes MOTOR Ai's solution is not only technologically differentiated but also fundamentally aligned with European infrastructure and public safety standards. The company's solution is designed to be inspectable and measurable, aligning with European regulations and safety standards.
MOTOR Ai plans to integrate its autonomous vehicles into public transport networks, connecting urban and remote areas efficiently and safely. The initial deployment of vehicles will be supervised by safety drivers, who are expected to be phased out by 2026 as the technology becomes fully certified. The company aims to establish the first certified autonomous vehicle fleet for Europe, focusing on reliability, transparency, and full legal compliance. By meeting these rigorous standards, MOTOR Ai aims to set a benchmark for autonomous driving technology globally.
Vehicles equipped with MOTOR Ai's system will begin operations in several German districts this year, initially under supervision of an onboard safety driver. As the technology matures and regulatory approvals are secured, MOTOR Ai is poised to revolutionize the autonomous driving landscape in Europe and beyond.
With the $20 million venture-capital funding led by Segenia Capital and eCAPITAL, MOTOR Ai, a Berlin-based tech company, plans to leverage this investment for venture-capital financing, focusing on enhancing their autonomous driving technology and finalizing certification for public road use. The company's technology, rooted in cognitive neuroscience, sets it apart from U.S. providers by emphasizing high performance, explainability, safety, and legal compliance – offering a technologically differentiated solution that aligns with European infrastructure and public safety standards.
