This Khosla-backed autonomous pod startup just raised $170M. Now, it’s aiming for more.

In Brief

Glydways, a San Francisco-based startup processing idiosyncratic autonomous pods designed to run connected dedicated two-meter wide lanes successful cities, has raised $170 million successful a Series C backing round.

The circular was co-led by Suzuki Motor Corporation, ACS Group, and Khosla Ventures. Existing investors Mitsui Chemicals and Gates Frontier, and caller capitalist Obayashi Corporation besides participated. 

Now, it seems the startup is already successful discussions to rise different $250 cardinal successful backing that would propulsion its valuation to much than $1 billion, Bloomberg reported.

Glydways has made advancement connected its concept, which it claims tin determination up to 10,000 radical per hour, per lane and trim infrastructure costs by up to 90% compared to rail. The startup, founded successful 2016, is launching 3 operational pilots this twelvemonth successful Atlanta, New York City, and the United Arab Emirates. The institution is aiming to motorboat large-scale operations successful 2027.

The caller thought has attracted influential backers, including OpenAI laminitis Sam Altman, who invested successful Glydways’ Series B. Investor Vinod Khosla, who sits connected the startup’s board, previously told TechCrunch that Glydways — and not robotaxis — was the amended solution for cities. Khosla noted the startup’s transport strategy could regenerate astir cars successful astir of our cities successful the adjacent 25 years.

“That sounds radical, but these entrepreneurs privation to marque that happen, and I’m beauteous definite it volition happen, and it’s not robotaxis; it’s not Waymo. It’s a overmuch amended solution.”

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