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DeepRoute.ai, a Shenzhen-based self-driving technology startup, has raised $100 million from Great Wall Motor. The startup aims to introduce its automated driving systems into as many vehicles as possible in China before Tesla launches next year, according to a report. Reuters report.
DeepRoute has not publicly revealed the name of the company supporting the automaker, but reports in Chinese media, including… press releasepoint to Great Wall Motor. The automaker is one of the largest in China, with new car sales taking a hit 970,612 In the first ten months of this year. Great Wall Motors’ presence in Europe is also growing, where it is working with BMW to produce the next model Mini EV hatchback.
Alibaba-backed DeepRoute originally pursued Level 4 robotics R&D, but in 2022, the company shifted its strategy to focus on producing Level 2+ and Level 3 self-driving technology instead. (the Sai Level 4 systems are defined as those that can drive themselves under certain conditions without needing a human to take over. Level 2+ and Level 3 are driver assistance systems that require a human to remain attentive and take charge when the system requests it.)
A DeepRoute spokesperson told TechCrunch that the startup will use the funds to develop end-to-end visual linguistic business models, which can directly interpret visual and linguistic inputs to make driving decisions without requiring separate steps for perception, planning, and control. DeepRoute also plans to use the funds to explore future robotics business possibilities globally and collaborate with more automakers.
That last goal appears to be the startup’s top priority, especially as Tesla’s driver-assistance system, called Full Self-Driving (FSD), prepares to take off. Launching in China and Europe In the first quarter of 2025. China raised some confidence Restrictions on Tesla cars In April, the way was cleared for the automaker to roll out FSD, which isn’t actually fully self-driving but performs some automated driving tasks in cities and on highways.
DeepRoute CEO Maxwell Chu told Reuters that the company is now racing to get its advanced driver assistance systems into about 200,000 cars in China by the end of 2025. That’s a 10-fold increase from the 20,000 vehicles in which its technology is deployed today.
The first DeepRoute-equipped vehicle model, which has not yet been publicly revealed, was launched in August. The technology will come to two more models, including one, Zhou said Owned by Geely and Mercedes-Benzthis year.
DeepRoute charges automakers a technology licensing fee for each car and collects data that it uses to train its AI to handle more complex traffic situations.
This article was originally published on November 4 at 9:11 a.m. PT. It has been updated to include more information about the DeepRoute Supporter and its goals.
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