These obscure automotive technology companies are hanging on the road to financing

For automotive technology startups, 2015 is a remarkable year. In this year, automotive technology startups have mushroomed to form a good car ecosystem. In 2016, more investors poured their olive branches to these start-up companies. For example, in March, GM acquired Cruise Technologies, a technology company that it acquired in December. Verizon acquired the connected car company Telogis in June.

CB Insights counts the 2016 automotive startup investment. It defines automotive technology companies as those companies that use software to improve vehicle safety, convenience, and efficiency, especially companies that are committed to the following technological developments:

Assisted driving/autopilot software

Driving safety tools

Connect vehicle/driving data

Fleet Vehicle Communication Computer System

Workshop Communication

Automotive Network Security

Compared to 2015, the automotive technology startup market in 2016 is even hotter. Up to now, a total of 36 private automotive technology start-up companies have invested and the total investment has reached 450 million U.S. dollars, which is a record high for the same period and is close to the investment amount for the entire year of 2015: 478 million U.S. dollars. If this investment model still maintains its momentum, then it will surpass the most glorious 2013 in the financing of automotive technology companies.

As more and more investors start to favor autonomous driving companies, we are not surprised that the largest investment in 2016 went to Zoox. At the end of June, this small autonomous vehicle company attracted Draper Fisher Jurvetson. And 200 million U.S. dollars for investment companies such as Lux Capital.

As of today, there are six autopilot start-ups that have received financing. they are, respectively:

nuTonomy, Nauto, Drive.ai, comma.ai, AdasWorks, and FiveAI.

The following is the financing situation of these six companies:

In addition, investors are also interested in car companies focusing on other areas. Nexar and Pearl Automation achieved financing in June. Both companies are committed to providing assistive tools using smart phones to improve driving safety. Nexar is building an AI application, and Pearl Automation is building an attachable support camera while also creating more derivative products.

Veniam, a provider of workshop communications and human-car connectivity, also completed a round of $22 million in Series B financing in February this year.

The following line chart shows the financing of the global automotive technology industry from 2011 to 2016:

Looking ahead to 2016, the world economy is still complex and volatile, recovery is difficult, oil prices will continue to maintain a low level, consumer demand in China and the United States will rebound, global auto production and sales will continue the "micro-growth" trend, the new energy vehicle market will achieve Rapid growth. Driven by a new generation of information technology and the third industrial revolution, driverless cars and in-vehicle system technologies will be widely watched. In order to meet the needs of automotive technology development and the improvement of automotive intelligence, intelligent transportation system technology will also be improved synchronously, its application will become more and more extensive, and more harmonious and close relationships will be established among people, vehicles, and roads. Therefore, more and more investors are beginning to pay attention to the development of cutting-edge automotive technology companies.

Up to now, in 2016, the automotive technology companies have opened up the hanging mode on the road to financing. All in all, with the rapid development of autonomous driving, the prospects of these unknown small companies are bright. How will the future develop, we will wait and see.

Via:CB Insights