August 10, 2022

KDDI Corporation

KDDI invested in TURING Inc. (CEO: Issei Yamamoto; hereinafter "TURING"), a developer of Level 5 fully self-driving [1] electric vehicles, through KDDI Open Innovation Fund III (operated by Global Brain Corporation; hereinafter "KOIF III"), which aims to incubate new business co-creations with promising venture startups.

To solve social problems such as the lack of drivers due to the decreasing birthrate and aging population and the reduction in means of transportation for mobility-impaired persons, TURING aims to achieve Level 5 fully self-driving electric vehicles with no restricted areas by 2025. They have already successfully implemented self-driving using only a notebook PC and web cameras to achieve AI-native self-driving by using Deep Learning to study the information obtained from the web cameras and have the AI directly operate the steering wheel.

Through this investment, KDDI will promote the adoption of full self-driving by providing 5G and other KDDI assets to solve various traffic problems while also jointly creating a society in which anyone can freely move around with peace of mind.

As "the company that customers feel closest to," KDDI will continue to promote business co-creation through investment in promising startup companies, and create new business models together with customers and partners.

MUGENLABO Magazine
"https://mugenlabo-magazine.kddi.com/list/2022-turing/" (in Japanese only)

(Reference)

• ■Overview of TURING Inc.

  • (1)

    Company name: TURING Inc.

  • (2)

    Headquarters: 1 KOIL TERRACE, 226-44 Central 141st block, Wakashiba, Kashiwa, Chiba

  • (3)

    Founded: 2021

  • (4)

    Business activities: development of self-driving AI and the manufacture of fully self-driving electric vehicles

  • (5)

    Representative: Issei Yamamoto
    URL: https://www.turing-motors.com/ (in Japanese only)

• ■About KDDI Open Innovation Fund

  KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture fund that supports a broad range of venture companies. The currently active KDDI Open Innovation Fund III focuses on the areas of AI, IoT, data marketing, fintech, B2B SaaS, and entertainment with a total operating fund of 20 billion yen.

• [1]

  The system executes all dynamic driving tasks and responses in the event that it is difficult to continue operation without limitations (in other words, no restricted areas)
  "Outline of Institutional Improvements Pertaining to Self-Driving" from the Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society (444KB) (in Japanese only)