Waabi, the self-driving AI startup founded by Uber ATG Ramos’s former chief scientist, just raised over $200 million from Uber and others

Self-driving AI startup Waabi secures over $200 million from Uber, NVIDIA, and others to accelerate autonomous trucking and robotaxi development.

Waabi, an autonomous vehicle technology company led by Raquel Urtasun, former chief scientist of Uber ATG, has successfully completed a Series B funding round, securing more than $200 million. This significant investment round saw participation from major players including Uber, Khosla Ventures, NVIDIA, Volvo Group Venture Capital, and Porsche Automobil Holding SE. The funding is earmarked to accelerate the development and deployment of Waabi's AI-powered autonomous driving technology. Waabi's approach stands out with its heavy reliance on "Waabi World," a sophisticated simulation platform. This platform allows the company to train, test, and validate its self-driving AI system entirely in a virtual environment, drastically reducing the need for extensive real-world driving and testing which is both time-consuming and costly. The company's primary focus is on bringing its "driverless AI" to market for long-haul trucking, a sector seen as an early adopter for autonomous technology due to its predictable routes and potential for efficiency gains. However, Waabi also has aspirations for robotaxis, indicating a broader vision for urban autonomous mobility. Raquel Urtasun emphasizes that their simulation-first approach enables them to build a highly robust and safe system capable of handling complex and rare driving scenarios before deploying on public roads. Uber's continued investment in Waabi, following the sale of its ATG division to Aurora, underscores the ride-sharing giant's enduring interest in and commitment to the future of autonomous vehicles, even if through partnerships rather than direct internal development. This funding round is a major step for Waabi in its mission to commercialize its advanced self-driving technology and revolutionize transportation.