DeepRoute.ai, a Shenzhen-based autonomous driving startup, has secured $100 million in funding from Great Wall Motor. The company aims to deploy its driver assistance systems in more vehicles in China before Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) launches there in 2025.
Initially focused on Level 4 robotaxi tech, DeepRoute pivoted in 2022 to Level 2+ and Level 3 systems, which require driver oversight. CEO Maxwell Zhou revealed plans to expand its ADAS reach from 20,000 to 200,000 vehicles in China by 2025. The funds will also support the development of visual-language-action models and future global robotaxi ambitions.
DeepRoute charges automakers a per-car licensing fee and uses collected data to enhance its AI for complex traffic scenarios. The startup’s systems debuted in a model this August and will appear in two more vehicles, including one from Geely and Mercedes-Benz, this year.