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WeRide’s physical AI data subsidiary raises tens of millions of dollars
Robotics1 min read
WeRide, a self-driving car company, has a subsidiary called Jingshuo that raised tens of millions of dollars in early funding. Jingshuo builds data tools for physical AI, which is AI that works in the real world through machines like robots and cars.
What happened
Jingshuo, a subsidiary of WeRide, raised tens of millions of dollars in pre-Series A funding. This is an early round of money that comes before a company's first big investment round. Investors include Vision Knight Capital, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and Sirius Capital. WeRide still owns most of Jingshuo, so Jingshuo's money results still show up in WeRide's main financial records.
Key facts
- Amount raised: tens of millions of dollars (the exact figure was not given).
- Three investors: Vision Knight Capital, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and Sirius Capital.
- WeRide keeps a majority stake, so Jingshuo is still a majority-owned subsidiary.
- Jingshuo works in China, the US, and Singapore through its engineering teams.
Where Jingshuo came from
Jingshuo grew out of WeRide's physical AI research. Its CEO, Huo Da, was WeRide's first employee. He helped set up engineering teams in China, the US, and Singapore. Physical AI needs lots of good data, so teaching machines to act in the real world takes careful work.
Why it matters
The money will help Jingshuo grow its research team and build a data platform, world models (computer models that predict how the world changes), and tools to build robot skills that can be reused. It also plans to make more high-quality datasets for different tasks and places. Good data is a key part of building smart machines, so this funding shows that data is seen as valuable in the physical AI field.
What to watch
- How Jingshuo uses the new money to grow its research and development team.
- Whether the company releases its data platform and world models.
- New datasets covering different tasks and operating environments.
- Whether Jingshuo raises a larger Series A round later.
Glossary
- WeRide
- A company that makes self-driving technology for cars and other vehicles.
- Jingshuo
- A WeRide subsidiary that builds data tools and datasets for physical AI.
- physical AI
- AI that works in the real world, such as in robots and vehicles, not just on computers.
- pre-Series A funding
- An early round of investment that comes before a company's first major funding round.
- world models
- Computer models that learn how the world works so machines can predict what will happen next.
- subsidiary
- A company that is owned and controlled by a larger parent company.