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automotive AI

Stellantis expands Qualcomm partnership for AI-powered vehicle platforms

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Stellantis and Qualcomm Technologies have announced an expansion of their multi-year technology collaboration to power next-generation Stellantis vehicles with Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Digital Chassis system-on-chips (SoCs).

The expanded collaboration integrates Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions with STLA Brain, Stellantis’ electronic and software platform, enhancing cockpit, connectivity and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) performance.

The scalable technology foundation aims to accelerate time to market, enable continuous feature upgrades and enhance the driving experience. Built to scale across brands and segments, Snapdragon Digital Chassis SoCs support Stellantis’ broader strategy to improve cost efficiency through platform standardization. [Read more…] about Stellantis expands Qualcomm partnership for AI-powered vehicle platforms

Why Modern Vehicles Depend on ECUs

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Today’s vehicles are no longer defined solely by their mechanical parts. Behind every smooth gear shift, every stable braking response, and every millisecond of engine timing sits an electronic control unit – commonly known as an ECU.

These small embedded computers have become the backbone of vehicle operation, managing everything from fuel delivery to collision prevention.

A single modern car can contain anywhere from 80 to over 100 ECUs, each assigned to a specific system. Understanding why vehicles depend so heavily on these units helps explain how cars, trucks, and electric vehicles function at the level drivers now expect. [Read more…] about Why Modern Vehicles Depend on ECUs

Automated Tire emerges from stealth with robotic SmartBay tire service system

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Automated Tire, Inc. (ATI), a physical AI and robotics company modernizing the traditional automotive service bay, has announced its emergence from stealth and unveiled SmartBay, its industry-first, AI-powered robotic platform designed to execute automotive services, starting with tire changes, wheel balancing, and vehicle inspections.

With the SmartBay platform, automotive dealerships and tire and service centers can shift from inconsistent technician-driven processes to a technology-first system that understands, adapts and executes complex physical tasks in real time.

SmartBay uses advanced robotics, computer vision, and machine learning to generate the proper execution for each vehicle with precision, rather than relying on pre-programmed routines, which require manual intervention for outliers and real-world variables. [Read more…] about Automated Tire emerges from stealth with robotic SmartBay tire service system

QCraft Expands its Autonomous Driving Stack into the Physical AI Frontier

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The autonomous driving company is moving beyond self-driving cars and into the broader world of Physical AI

QCraft, one of the major providers of autonomous driving technology to OEMs, used this year’s Beijing Auto Show to unveil what it calls the QCraft Physical AI Model. This was a signal that the company sees its future not just in autonomous vehicles, but in a wider category of AI systems that interact with the physical world.

CEO Dr. James Yu framed the pivot in sweeping terms, arguing that the industry is entering a new phase. Where the last decade focused on teaching AI to drive, the next will be defined by Physical AI: systems that can perceive, reason about, and act in real-world environments.

It’s a thesis shared by a growing number of companies in robotics and autonomy, but QCraft is betting that its technical foundation gives it a head start. [Read more…] about QCraft Expands its Autonomous Driving Stack into the Physical AI Frontier

QCraft raises $100 million to push toward Level 4 autonomy and physical AI at scale

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QCraft, a developer of autonomous driving AI, has announced the completion of a $100 million new Series D funding round.

The round was completed by a consortium of investors including Ningbo Ninghai Xingtaihe Fund, Wonderland Capital, Liangxi Science and Innovation Industry Investment Fund Partnership (managed by Broad Vision Funds), as well as strategic investors from a leading OEM and automotive electronics components supplier. [Read more…] about QCraft raises $100 million to push toward Level 4 autonomy and physical AI at scale

QCraft unveils 500+ TOPS autonomous driving platform and expands its autopilot system beyond one million vehicles

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Autonomous driving company QCraft has launched a next-generation intelligent driving platform delivering more than 500 tera operations per second (TOPS) and announced that its Urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) system has now been deployed in more than one million vehicles.

The announcements were made at QCraft Day 2026, held in Beijing on January 23, where the company presented updates on its technology roadmap, mass production progress and global expansion strategy to more than 200 industry guests.

In a keynote address titled “Bringing Autonomous Driving into Real Life”, QCraft co-founder, chairman and CEO Dr James Yu said 2026 would mark the beginning of what he described as a “Golden Decade” for autonomous driving, alongside the arrival of “Superhuman Intelligence”. [Read more…] about QCraft unveils 500+ TOPS autonomous driving platform and expands its autopilot system beyond one million vehicles

Sonatus launches AI Director to accelerate in-vehicle edge AI

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Sunnyvale-based vehicle software company Sonatus has unveiled a new platform designed to help automakers deploy artificial intelligence directly inside vehicles.

The system, called Sonatus AI Director, is billed as a comprehensive toolchain for model training, validation, optimization, and deployment.

Rather than relying solely on cloud-based models, the platform allows carmakers to run AI on existing electronic control units, providing faster response times and lower costs. [Read more…] about Sonatus launches AI Director to accelerate in-vehicle edge AI

Horizon Robotics raises more than $800 million and opens office in Europe

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Horizon Robotics, a provider of technology for autonomous vehicles, has raised approximately $800 million by issuing new shares – or what’s called a “top-up placement” in investment jargon – on the Hong Kong stock exchange, according to Reuters.

The company also announced the official establishment of its European headquarters – in Munich, Germany – describing it as a “strategic milestone” that strengthens its global expansion and localized operations, enabling Horizon Robotics to deliver safer, more comfortable, and more convenient mobility experiences for drivers and passengers worldwide.

Building on its collaborations with global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, Horizon Robotics showcased its flagship full-scenario urban-NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) solution, HSD (Horizon SuperDrive), at the event. [Read more…] about Horizon Robotics raises more than $800 million and opens office in Europe

Embedl raises €5.5 million to develop AI in embedded systems

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Swedish deeptech company Embedl has raised €5.5 million in a pre-series A funding round from Chalmers Ventures, Fairpoint Capital, SEB Greentech, Spintop Ventures, and STOAF.

After spinning out from Chalmers University of Technology, and kicking off commercial operations in 2022, Embedl has helped innovative startups and some of the world’s largest corporates, such as Kodiak Robotics and Bosch to optimize their products’ AI inference efficiency.

With the new funding, Embedl will accelerate the commercialisation and launch of its SaaS platform, the Embedl Hub. [Read more…] about Embedl raises €5.5 million to develop AI in embedded systems

Visteon and Qualcomm partner to develop AI-based intelligent cockpits for cars

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Visteon, an automotive technology company specializing in vehicle dashboards, and chipmaker Qualcomm have agreed a technology collaboration to bring “groundbreaking capabilities to the automotive industry” with Visteon’s new high-performance cockpit system, powered by Visteon’s automotive AI framework, cognitoAI, and Qualcomm Technologies Snapdragon Cockpit Elite Platform.

Sachin Lawande, president and CEO of Visteon, says: “This technology collaboration marks a pivotal moment in automotive technology, where AI-driven insights will transform the way drivers and passengers interact with their vehicles.

“We are excited to work with Qualcomm Technologies and lead the charge towards creating a truly intelligent cockpit experience.” [Read more…] about Visteon and Qualcomm partner to develop AI-based intelligent cockpits for cars