Ford to invest $1B in AI startup
Ford plans to develop a software platform for autonomous cars along with the Pittsburgh, Michigan, based startup company. The platform is scheduled to be ready by 2021. In the collaboration, Ford hopes that the creativity of the startup and the experience of the tradition-steeped carmaker will generate valuable synergies. The software could be licensed to other market participants, Ford hinted in a press release.
“The coming decade will be defined by further automating the car and through autonomous vehicles,” commented Ford Motor Company President and CEO Mark Fields. “This development has an enormous impact in the society, much like the introduction of the assembly line by Henry Ford 100 years ago.
“Since Ford is a car manufacturer and at the same time a mobility enterprise, we believe that investing into Argo AI will create significant value – by strengthening our leading position when it comes to introducing self-driving vehicles to the market and by creating licensable technology.”
“We are at a turning point. AI Applications and the deployment of autonomous vehicles will improve mobility and transport industry at the same time,” added Argo AI CEO Bryan Salesky.
Ford will acquire the majority of Argo AI’s shares. Nevertheless, the company will continue to operate largely independently.
Related articles:
Ford in home stretch for automated driving
Ford demos automated driving at Mobile World Congress
Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Driving
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
