UK autonomous vehicles startup Oxa will begin using Nvidia’s AI models to train its software, as it speeds up commercial deployment in the face of rising business pressures across the sector.
Nvidia’s Cosmos platform — which uses generative foundation models to create high-quality synthetic data, specifically for autonomous systems — will be deployed by Oxa as it bids to roll out its self-driving tech for use cases like passenger shuttles and transport in industrial yards.
The deal marks the latest European AV startup tie up for the US tech giant, following its participation in UK rival Wayve’s $1bn Series C last year. Nvidia has also previously supplied Oxa with hardware for its self-driving vehicle tech.
“By collaborating with Nvidia we are accelerating our ability to deliver safe, reliable and efficient autonomous solutions to customers today, addressing critical challenges such as driver shortages and productivity gaps,” said Oxa CEO Gavin Jackson.
“The use of Cosmos for synthetic data generation combined with our own technologies will be instrumental in achieving our goals.”
Industrial autonomy
Founded in 2014 as a spinout from the University of Oxford, Oxa has raised $231m from investors, according to Dealroom, with backers including Tencent, Parkwalk Advisors and the venture arm of oil giant BP.
While some of the best-funded US AV companies, like Waymo and Tesla, have focused efforts on developing self-driving tech for use on public roads, Oxa has instead looked to roll out its tech on private land, where there are fewer regulatory barriers.
In 2024, Oxa announced it had secured its third commercial deployment, as it rolled out its software to power autonomous shuttles in a gated community in the US. The company also supplied its tech to an autonomous baggage transfer pilot at Heathrow airport last year.
Oxa made just £800k in revenue in 2023, its most recently reported accounting period. Losses for that financial year hit £45m.
The startup says that the partnership with Nvidia will speed up the training of its software, alongside accelerating deployment of self-driving tech.
There have been mixed signals emerging from the AV industry in recent months.
Wayve announced plans for a new testing and development hub in Germany earlier this month, as it looks to secure its first commercial deals.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Tesla has said that it hopes to begin building self-driving taxis next year, while Waymo raised a $5.6bn round in October. But in December, General Motors shut down its Cruise robotaxi — after pumping more than $10bn into it since 2016.
In Europe, startups are now looking to ramp up commercialisation as they look to justify big VCs cheques.
“For every AV company in Europe (and the world), there is a big sense of urgency to start generating revenues,” Hendrik Kramer, founder and CEO of Fernride, which is developing AVs for industrial uses, told Sifted in 2024. “In the next couple of years, we will see that there will be winners and losers in the industry.”
Read the orginal article: https://sifted.eu/articles/oxa-nvidia-ai-models-news/
