aiMotive, a developer of advanced artificial intelligence and autonomous driving software, is to be acquired by Stellantis.
The acquisition is being made to strengthen Stellantis’s artificial intelligence and autonomous driving core technology, expand its international talent pool and accelerate the mid-term development of the company’s latest STLA AutoDrive platform.
aiMotive’s technology portfolio focuses on four areas within artificial intelligence and autonomous driving: aiDrive – embedded software stack for autonomous driving; aiData – artificial intelligence operations and data tooling; aiWare – expertise and intellectual property for silicon microchips; aiSim – software simulation for the development of autonomous driving.
The software teams at Stellantis have begun developing three all-new technology platforms – STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit and STLA AutoDrive – that will be deployed at scale across the four all-new STLA vehicle platforms – STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large and STLA Frame – beginning in 2024.
Based in Budapest, Hungary, aiMotive also has offices in Germany, the USA and Japan. Upon completion of the acquisition, aiMotive will operate as a subsidiary of Stellantis, maintaining its operational independence and startup culture. Founder László Kishonti will stay in his position as CEO and the company will continue selling its aiData, aiSim and aiWare technology portfolio to other partners.
Stellantis will establish a board of directors to oversee aiMotive while preserving its startup mindset of rapid innovation. The aiMotive team will be fully part of the Stellantis autonomous driving and artificial intelligence teams.
“Acquiring aiMotive’s world-class artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technology is an important contribution to becoming a sustainable mobility tech company,” said Yves Bonnefont, chief software officer at Stellantis. “aiMotive’s class-leading expertise and startup spirit will accelerate our journey to deliver our Dare Forward 2030 goals.”
Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the satisfaction of antitrust requirements.