Suzuki has made a strategic investment in Australian technology company Applied EV to accelerate the software development for next generation mobility.
Applied EV has developed a vehicle control system based entirely on software known as the Digital Backbone, for use in EVs dedicated to autonomous driving applications.
The Digital Backbone enables vehicles of all shapes and sizes to run entirely on software, which simplifies vehicle architecture, removes hundreds of components, reduces production costs, increases efficiency, and makes the entire ecosystem more sustainable, says Applied EV.
It can improve Suzuki’s vehicle’s feature set and reduce hardware complexity, making their products cheaper to manufacture. The safety rated Digital Backbone will accelerate Suzuki’s transition to the production of EVs and autonomous transport, Applied EV adds.
Suzuki entered into an agreement with Applied EV in September 2021 and has since been evaluating the possibility of future collaboration.
The recent investment is another step to strengthen the relationship between the two companies and realise synergies like manufacturing and new business models.
Applied EV co-founder and chief executive Julian Broadbent says the alliance is mutually beneficial as it brings together Applied EV’s innovative technology with Suzuki’s experience in building high quality and efficient vehicles.
“Suzuki is a highly respected automotive company, delivering millions of vehicles to customers globally,” he explains.
Applied EV recently closed its first tranche of a two-part funding round, raising A$21 million at a valuation of A$170m. St Baker Energy and Innovation Fund is also a significant investor in this round.
The Blanc Robot – a cabinless, driverless vehicle, configurable for multiple autonomous commercial uses, including on-road and off-road applications aimed mainly at commercial and logistics customers – is offered by Applied EV too.
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