DJI Automotive (大疆车载), the autonomous driving unit of world drone leader DJI (大疆科技), is rumored to be seeking an undisclosed amount of investment from outside of the company.
If successful, this will be the first time this new subsidiary secures an equity financing round.
Following the proposed fundraiser, DJI Automotive expects its post-money valuation to reach US$1.5 billion, making it a unicorn, AI-Drive, an auto-focused online media outlet, quoted an anonymous investor, as saying today.
DJI Automotive was up and running on April 12, marking DJI’s effort to break into the already cutthroat autonomous driving domain.
Back then, this affiliate claimed its mission is to “provide everyone with a safe and relaxing mobility experience.”
Image credit: Unsplash
Early this year, online rumors alleged that DJI Aumotive had been spun off to operate as an independent unit.
In response, DJI said the unit was functioning as usual, a statement that was widely interpreted as lending further credence to the rumors.
According to DJI Automotive’s website, it specializes in the development, manufacturing and sale of smart self-driving auto systems and core components.
Its business lines consist of hardware and software solutions enabling L2+ to L4 autonomous driving, lidar, visual perception sensor, domain controller, high-precision map, navigation and positioning, collision avoidance system and automatic valet parking.
The first car to adopt DJI Automotive’s mass-produced autonomous driving solutions is the 2023 edition of KiWi, an EV model from domestic automaker Baojun that carries a sticker price of 102,800 yuan (US$14,104).
Baojun will also install the DJI technology on another budget EV priced at 95,800 and more.
