US start-ups specialising in self-driving vehicle technology are looking further afield than Silicon Valley for investment. While the initial wave of self-driving vehicles is expected to begin commercial service in 2019-2020, experts expect the transition from human-driven to automated cars could take a decade or more to roll out. While large corporations are thought to have invested between $40bn and $50bn in the technology, funding of start-ups in the field has totalled only about $5bn, according to a Reuters analysis. Instead, some start-ups are seeking investment from overseas, particularly China. The Chinese government is investing heavily into autonomous car technology.
US start-ups specialising in self-driving vehicle technology are looking further afield than Silicon Valley for investment. While large corporations are thought to have invested between $40bn and $50bn in the technology, funding of start-ups in the field has totalled only about $5bn, according to a Reuters analysis. Instead, some start-ups are seeking investment from overseas, particularly China. The Chinese government is investing heavily into autonomous car technology.