Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has bought Third Dimension, a U.K. AI startup founded in 2024 by Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski, according to TechCrunch. The deal for the 15-person team aims to speed up the development of advanced driver-assistance features and future robotaxis.
Key takeaways
- Rivian purchased U.K. startup Third Dimension to boost its self-driving ambitions.
- The 15-person team will join Rivian's autonomy and AI group led by James Philbin.
- Third Dimension software turns real images and videos into lifelike 3D worlds.
- Terms of the financial agreement were not disclosed by either party.
How will the Rivian acquisition change driver assistance?
Rivian plans to use the acquired technology to turn real-world data into 3D environments. James Philbin noted that this lets engineers take real scenarios and make them simulatable. Instead of relying purely on video game engines or synthetic data, the company can adjust lighting, weather, and camera angles to test software safely.
The company currently offers Universal Hands-Free driving on highways. By the end of the year, it plans to release an update handling full drives through surface streets and highways. The ultimate goal includes full autonomy for robotaxi versions of its R2 SUV slated for the Uber app in 2028.
Expanding development in London
The transaction allows Rivian to grow its AI hub in London as the newly absorbed staff integrates into the existing autonomy division. Third Dimension previously raised $7 million in seed funding from investors like Abstract Ventures, MVP, Soma Capital, and Solari Capital before joining the automaker.
What it means for future vehicle safety
Automated driving systems require massive amounts of data, and Rivian collects more than 400,000 sequences daily from customer fleets across R1T pickup trucks, R1S SUVs, delivery vans, and R2 models. By combining this data with Third Dimension tools, engineers can simulate complex road conditions without waiting for rare edge cases to happen on physical streets, helping validate safety before shipping software updates to drivers.
Frequently asked questions
Rivian acquired Third Dimension, a U.K.-based startup that uses artificial intelligence to turn real-world images and videos into lifelike 3D environments.
Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski founded Third Dimension in 2024 before the company raised $7 million in seed funding.
Rivian plans to use the technology to turn real-world data into 3D worlds to accelerate the development of driver-assistance features and robotaxis.
The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed by either company.
The 15-person team from Third Dimension, mostly based in the U.K., will join Rivian's autonomy and AI team led by James Philbin.
Based on reporting by TechCrunch. Read the original article
