Toyota Seeks More Investment in Israeli Robotics and Vehicle Technologies
Toyota AI Ventures has made five investments and expects to invest in at least 20 companies worldwide.
Toyota Logo. (Photo: AFP Relaxnews)
Japan's Toyota Motor Corp is seeking more investments in Israeli robotics and vehicle technologies after its venture arm led a $14 million investment in Intuition Robotics in July.
The startup, which makes robots for the elderly, was the first Israeli investment for Toyota AI Ventures, a new $100 million fund investing in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous mobility and data and cloud computing.
"We will see more involvement of Toyota in the Israeli market in the future," said Jim Adler, managing director of California-based Toyota AI Ventures, which is part of the $1 billion Toyota Research Institute.
"There's more in the pipeline," he told Reuters during a visit to Israel, adding that technologies dealing with perception and prediction and planning were of particular interest to Toyota.
Perception technology enables a self-driving vehicle to understand the world around it while prediction and planning can help a car interpret situations such as whether a child at an intersection might try to cross at a red light.
"There's a tremendous amount of innovation happening in Israel as cars become more produced by data," said Adler, who is in the country meeting companies whose technologies interest Toyota.
Israel is a growing centre for automotive technology. Earlier this year Intel Corp bought autonomous vehicle firm Mobileye - one of Israel's biggest tech companies - for $15.3 billion.
On Friday Germany's Continental AG said it was buying Israel's Argus Cyber Security, whose technology guards connected cars against hacking.
Toyota AI Ventures has made five investments and expects to invest in at least 20 companies worldwide.
Regarding its investment in Intuition Robotics - which plans to begin trials of its robots with older adults in their homes early next year - Adler said there were many common features between robotics and autonomous vehicles, which he referred to as "big robots with wheels".
Japan's population is aging, with 40 percent expected to be over 65 in 20 years, he said, and there will be demand for technologies that help the elderly stay in their homes, rather than have to move to assisted-living facilities.
"We think Toyota will have a role there," he said.
Also Watch: Interview - Jatin Ahuja, Big Boy Toyz | Cars18
Also Watch
The startup, which makes robots for the elderly, was the first Israeli investment for Toyota AI Ventures, a new $100 million fund investing in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous mobility and data and cloud computing.
"We will see more involvement of Toyota in the Israeli market in the future," said Jim Adler, managing director of California-based Toyota AI Ventures, which is part of the $1 billion Toyota Research Institute.
"There's more in the pipeline," he told Reuters during a visit to Israel, adding that technologies dealing with perception and prediction and planning were of particular interest to Toyota.
Perception technology enables a self-driving vehicle to understand the world around it while prediction and planning can help a car interpret situations such as whether a child at an intersection might try to cross at a red light.
"There's a tremendous amount of innovation happening in Israel as cars become more produced by data," said Adler, who is in the country meeting companies whose technologies interest Toyota.
Israel is a growing centre for automotive technology. Earlier this year Intel Corp bought autonomous vehicle firm Mobileye - one of Israel's biggest tech companies - for $15.3 billion.
On Friday Germany's Continental AG said it was buying Israel's Argus Cyber Security, whose technology guards connected cars against hacking.
Toyota AI Ventures has made five investments and expects to invest in at least 20 companies worldwide.
Regarding its investment in Intuition Robotics - which plans to begin trials of its robots with older adults in their homes early next year - Adler said there were many common features between robotics and autonomous vehicles, which he referred to as "big robots with wheels".
Japan's population is aging, with 40 percent expected to be over 65 in 20 years, he said, and there will be demand for technologies that help the elderly stay in their homes, rather than have to move to assisted-living facilities.
"We think Toyota will have a role there," he said.
Also Watch: Interview - Jatin Ahuja, Big Boy Toyz | Cars18
Also Watch
Interview: Virat Kohli at the Launch of the Audi RS5
Wednesday 18 April , 2018
Karnataka Election 2018: The Good, The Bad and The Tainted Candidates
Wednesday 18 April , 2018
The Rape and Murder Of A Young Girl Has Shocked Pakistan
Tuesday 17 April , 2018
Mahesh Manjrekar Up & Close | Talks About Hosting Bigg Boss Marathi
Tuesday 17 April , 2018
Commonwealth 2018: A Look Back at India’s Journey in Gold Coast

Interview: Virat Kohli at the Launch of the Audi RS5

Wednesday 18 April , 2018
Karnataka Election 2018: The Good, The Bad and The Tainted Candidates

Wednesday 18 April , 2018
The Rape and Murder Of A Young Girl Has Shocked Pakistan

Tuesday 17 April , 2018
Mahesh Manjrekar Up & Close | Talks About Hosting Bigg Boss Marathi

Tuesday 17 April , 2018
Commonwealth 2018: A Look Back at India’s Journey in Gold Coast
Recommended For You
IPL 2018 Video Highlights: Rana's All-round Show Helps KKR Sit on Top
Throwback Thursday: When Sanjay Dutt Said He'd Marry Madhuri Dixit If Given an Option
Jacqueline Fernandez Thinks These Two Stars Are The Fittest Actors In Bollywood
India Loses USD 22 Billion a Year in Peak Traffic Hours in 4 Indian Cities: Uber
Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya Buys Audi A6 Luxury Sedan Worth Rs 65 Lakh