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BMW, Toyota Invest in Autonomous-Shuttle Startup
May Mobility Inc., an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based startup that’s developing a self-driving-shuttle service, says it has raised nearly $12 million in seed funding led by the venture capital units of BMW and Toyota.
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May Mobility Inc., an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based startup that’s developing a self-driving-shuttle service, says it has raised nearly $12 million in seed funding led by the venture capital units of BMW and Toyota.
The one-year-old company, which conducted a pilot test last autumn in Detroit, aims to launch a commercial ride-sharing service later this year. Target markets are college campuses, downtown business hubs and other tightly geo-fenced areas with limited traffic.
The micro-transit buses can carry about 10 people and have a top speed of 25 mph. Initial applications will have an on-board driver to take control of the vehicle as necessary. Riders book a seat via a smartphone app.
May Mobility was co-founded by CEO Edwin Olson and Chief Operating Officer Alisyn Malek. Their team includes engineers and researchers with experience at Ford, General Motors, Toyota, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Michigan. Some members also have participated in the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Urban Challenge for autonomous vehicles.
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