Fluid. That is one way to describe autonomous driving in 2024, a year punctuated by steps forward and back. Progress included Chinese self-driving company WeRide’s launch of Singapore’s first fully autonomous passenger bus service, and expanded domains for some autonomous taxis. On the other hand, while consumers are warming to the concept of self-driving technology, some remain skeptical about autonomous vehicle (AV) safety. From any perspective, 2024 was not a dull year for autonomy.
Against this backdrop, in 2024, Applied Intuition launched new products, expanded partnerships, attracted more of the world’s top technical talent, and extended the impact of AI on autonomy.
Product Launches
This year, Applied Intuition continued to broaden its suite of automotive software solutions with key product developments.
- Automated parking development solution: In March, we launched our automated parking development solution, designed to enable engineering teams to develop, test, and deploy automated parking systems more efficiently. This tool addresses the diverse operational design domains and dynamic scenarios of automated parking, significantly streamlining the development process.
- Off-road autonomy stack: In June, we introduced the off-road autonomy stack, a solution designed to facilitate safe and efficient navigation across complex, unstructured terrains. This product is especially useful for industries operating beyond traditional roadways, such as agriculture, mining, and defense.
- AI expansion with Applied Intuition Copilot: June also saw the rollout of Applied Intuition Copilot, which harnesses generative AI to create and manage simulation scenarios rapidly, increasing productivity and reducing the time required for complex development. The goal is to simplify the development, testing, and validation of vehicle software.
Partnerships and Collaborations
We also forged significant partnerships that strengthened our technological capabilities and broadened our impact across the automotive industry.
- Porsche: In March, we announced a strategic partnership with Porsche to jointly develop automotive software, enhancing Porsche's capabilities in deploying and updating vehicle software to deliver unique consumer experiences.
- Unified solutions with Audi: April marked the beginning of our collaboration with Audi to develop a unified solution for the lifecycle management of automated driving (AD) systems aimed at accelerating development, validation, and deployment processes. This collaboration combines Applied Intuition’s simulation and data management expertise with Audi’s engineering experience to deliver a cost-efficient and regulatory-compliant framework for AD systems.
- Strategic alliance with Isuzu: In August, we announced our partnership with Isuzu, which will enable Isuzu’s integration of advanced autonomous driving technology into commercial trucking, increasing operational efficiencies and addressing Japan’s critical driver shortages.
Financial Growth, Investments, and People
Beyond product launches and partnerships, Applied Intuition achieved significant milestones in financial growth and strategic expansion.
- Series E funding: In March, Applied Intuition successfully secured $250 million in Series E funding, elevating our valuation to $6 billion. This round was led by notable investors such as Lux Capital, Elad Gil, and Porsche Investments Management S.A.
- Secondary financing round: We completed an oversubscribed secondary financing round in July, raising over $300 million. This round welcomed Fidelity Management & Research as a new investor, alongside continued support from existing partners such as General Catalyst, BOND, and Lux Capital.
- Acquisition of Ghost Autonomy patent portfolio: In a strategic move to expand our intellectual property and technological edge, Applied Intuition acquired the patent portfolio of Ghost Autonomy in October. This acquisition not only strengthened our competitive position in the market but also broadened our capabilities in autonomous driving technologies. It represented a commitment to innovation and leadership in developing next-generation vehicle technologies.
- People: We seek to offer an environment where top technical talent can work together to solve interesting technical problems and create great products. As a testament to this, we doubled our team this year. To stay close to our customers, we expanded our global reach with a new office in Stuttgart, Germany.
Signature Events
Applied Intuition events have become recognized for bringing together experts and thought leaders in autonomy, software, and AI. That continued this year, with top-flight speakers at our events and record attendance at our annual Intersect conference.
- Intersect: In September, we hosted our flagship Intersect conference, a cornerstone event for discussing the transformative role of software in the automotive industry. This year’s event featured prominent speakers such as Sam Altman of OpenAI and executives from Porsche and Ford, who spoke on current trends and future directions in technology.
- Nexus: Our defense symposium once again brought together experts in national security and autonomy in Washington, D.C.
- Distinguished speakers: Throughout the year, we had the privilege of hosting prominent industry leaders who shared their experiences with our teams. These events, featuring thought leaders like Rania Succar of Intuit Mailchimp and Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz, foster a deeper understanding of industry trends and are great learning experiences for our employees.
Accolades for Founders, Work Environment, and Innovation
Applied Intuition also received notable award recognition this year, confirming the great work of our team.
- Automotive News All-Star award: Our Co-Founder and CEO Qasar Younis received the Automotive News All-Star award in Software Innovation for his leadership and innovative impact.
- Forbes Technology Council: Co-Founder and CTO Peter Ludwig’s inclusion in the Forbes Technology Council provided him with a prestigious platform to share perspectives on topics such as AI-powered transportation solutions.
- Award-winning work culture: Applied Intuition was recognized multiple times in 2024 for its work environment. We were proud to be certified by the Great Place to Work Institute for our culture, our values, and opportunities for growth and impact. We also were recognized on the Top Workplaces list for innovation leadership, and purpose and values. Fast Company named Applied Intuition among the Best Workplaces for Innovators and Innovation Team of the Year.
Commitment to Community and Education
We continued our initiatives to support community engagement and education this year.
- Educational outreach and partnerships: Students from Harvard Business School visited Applied Intuition, which allowed them to gain insights into the startup ecosystem and high-tech operations of Silicon Valley.
- Industry and community panels: Our leaders actively participated in discussions that bridge the gap between industry and academia. Co-founder and CEO Qasar Younis spoke at Stanford University, engaging with students and professionals on the future of automotive technologies. Co-founder and CTO Peter Ludwig visited Stanford for a fireside chat with a16z’s Matt Bornstein to discuss early career development, navigating what it’s like to build a company, and the impact of AI on the autonomous industry.
Our mission remains to accelerate the world’s adoption of safe and intelligent machines. In 2024, we made significant strides on that front. If this interests you and you want to join the Applied Intuition team, take a look at our open roles!
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