TuSimple launches $1B IPO on ramp for driverless trucks

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Self-driving consumer vehicles are still in the works, but autonomous trucks are more likely to be on the roads, with the scale of fleets and more constrained routes making for a somewhat easier use case. San Diego, Calif.-based TuSimple Holdings Inc. announced its intention to raise $1.1 billion in an IPO. Clearly, developing this technology to be safe and reliable is not cheap.

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1. Gaussian Robotics raises $100M for service robots

The top service robotics deal of April 2021 was the $100 million Series B funding for Gaussian Robotics. The Shanghai-based company makes cleaning robots that use simultaneous localization and mapping, or SLAM,…

2. SoftBank invests in EDDA Technology for robot-aided surgery

SoftBank Vision Fund 2 was among the participants in EDDA Healthcare and Technology Holding Ltd.‘s $150 million fundraising. The company, which has units in China and the U.S., has been…

3. Vicarious Surgical to merge with SPAC

Speaking of robot-assisted surgery, Vicarious Surgical Inc. last month said it has agreed to merge with SPAC D8 Holdings Corp. for $115 million, bringing cash on hand to $425 million and its…

4. Exoskeleton maker Sarcos Robotics agrees to SPAC deal

Not only must industrial exoskeletons be able to augment human strength and endurance, but they must also be safe, comfortable, and easy to use. Salt Lake City-based Sarcos Corp. agreed…

5. Toyota unit acquires Lyft self-driving division

Toyota Motor Corp.‘s Woven Planet Holdings Inc. subsidiary announced that it will acquire Level 5, the self-driving division of Lyft Inc., for $550 million. Toyota has already been working on autonomous…

6. Walmart joins investment in Cruise for autonomous deliveries

General Motors unit Cruise LLC has been developing self-driving cars and shuttle buses, and its latest deal indicates that it is also looking at autonomous deliveries. Walmart Inc. joined other…

7. TuSimple launches $1B IPO on ramp for driverless trucks

Self-driving consumer vehicles are still in the works, but autonomous trucks are more likely to be on the roads, with the scale of fleets and more constrained routes making for…

8. SoftBank acquires $2.8B stake in AutoStore

In the second big robotics deal for SoftBank in April 2021, the Tokyo-based conglomerate said it will spend $2.8 billion to acquire 40% of AutoStore. Nedre Vats, Norway-based AutoStore is a leader in…

9. Meituan raises $10B for autonomous vehicles

Meituan Inc., a Beijing-based food delivery company, last month raised $10 billion that it said it will use to continue development of delivery robots. Meituan has been testing autonomous delivery vehicles…

10. Microsoft acquires Nuance Communications for $19.7B

The biggest deal around automation in April 2021 was Microsoft Corp.‘s $19.7 billion acquisition of Nuance Communications, which is developing “conversational” AI. Burlington, Mass.-based Nuance already built its voice interfaces…