Autoliv to invest $15m in digital ground transport VC fund

Autotech Ventures is a specialised digital ground transport venture capital fund, particularly focused on software and services. In addition to the potential financial returns it provides top-level corporate investors such as Autoliv with access to a broad deal flow, co-investment rights for the fund's startups and provides independent opinion on startups as well as a high decision making speed.

Autoliv's Electonics segment has grown rapidly representing more than 20 percent of the company's annual revenues. Fifteen years ago Autoliv made its first entry in the automotive electronics market. Since then it has commanded a lead in certain segments of the automotive electronics market, particularly with respect to active safety products and technologies for autonomous driving as well as passive safety electronics.

The company claims its success has been built through both organic growth and acquisitions, along with the pace of innovation this investment in a specialised fund will help it to stay at the forefront of emerging trends and opportunities for capitalising on external innovations.

"The automotive industry is in a period of unprecedented change. The combination of increased focus on autonomous driving, environmental concerns and shared mobility leads to new opportunities for industry leaders such as Autoliv. The Autotech Ventures fund gives us a way to review a high number of innovative startup companies, particularly in the areas of automation and autonomous driving which are core to our strategy", said Jan Carlson, chairman, president and CEO of Autoliv.