Kopernikus Automotive Awarded a Volkswagen Test Facility and Raises €3 Million in Investment Capital

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German translation: "Selbstfahr-Startup Kopernikus Automotive gewinnt Auftrag für eine VW Test Facility and erhält ein €3 Mio. Investment von Continental und TGFS"

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Kopernikus Automotive GmbH, a Leipzig-based A.I. Startup specializing in Automated Valet Parking and Level 4 autonomous maneuveringised a € 3m follow-up investment from Continental and Saxony’s TGFS Technologiegruenderfonds Sachsen.

After being awarded to equip a brand new test facility for Automated Valet Parking Type 2 in Wolfsburg by Volkswagens’ CARIAD software group last year and being awarded for two pilot projects at two Ford Automotive factories, Kopernikus Automotive is shifting gears towards serial application with the added €3m capital: “This capital increase ensures that we can conclude our development and safety certification of one of the first truly driverless self-driving applications you will see”, says Kopernikus’ COO Tim von Toerne.

Kopernikus is focusing its A.I. development on autonomous parking and maneuvering based on the infrastructure: All vehicles are monitored and driven by cameras and computers in a facility (usually a parking or logistics facility, or an automotive factory). Kopernikus equips the facility with an Artificial Intelligence, enabling it to drive a car.

The test facility in Wolfsburg is operated by Volkswagens’ software group CARIAD and will provide a proving ground for the development of new cars with Automated Valet Parking functionality. “CARIAD will test Automated Valet Parking and will work on future use cases of automated driving here with Kopernikus”, says Rudolf Leinfelder from CARIAD.

“For a start-up it is not easy to enter the automotive industry with an A.I. based driving function. Therefore, we are very thankful to all the partners and automotive manufacturers, especially here in Germany, that have worked with us over the last years to pioneer, trial and test this new Automated Valet Parking technology in various working groups and constellations, and to specify and standardize this approach together which ultimately requires the car and the infrastructure to work together”, says Stefan Jenzowsky, CEO of Kopernikus Automotive.

Continental and TGFS were already invested in Kopernikus Automotive before, and Continental has now started to market a Kopernikus-based system worldwide, most notably with a live demo of the technology at the CES 2023 in Las Vegas in early January. “This innovative technology is exciting because it can be applied to any vehicle in serial production today. No additional sensors or computers are required. Customers can start saving cost today and bring driverless Automated Valet Parking to consumers tomorrow.”, says Laurent Fabre, head of Continental’s Passive Safety and Sensorics segment.

Soeren Schuster, Managing Director of TGFS adds: “Kopernikus Automotive has made an outstanding progress in the development of their system during the last two years, not only in the lab but already in a large number of field tests. We are proud and happy to support the further journey of Kopernikus‘ highly engaged team.“

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2021, Continental generated sales of €33.8 billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets. On October 8, 2021, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary.

TGFS Technologiegruenderfonds Sachsen provides technology-oriented founders with equity capital for the seed and start-up phase. The fund was first set up in 2008 by the Free State of Saxony (including ERDF funding) and Saxon financial institutions and has since supported more than 100 start-ups. Target companies of the TGFS are young, innovative, technology-oriented founders and companies that belong to the sectors ITC, semiconductor and microsystem technology, medical technology, life science, environmental and energy technology as well as new media and have their headquarters or place of business in Saxony.

Kopernikus is a Start-up company based in Leipzig, Saxony that develops Automated Valet Parking (AVP Type 2) and Infrastructure Orchestrated Maneuvering Technologies. It was founded by Stefan Jenzowsky and Tim von Toerne. Kopernikus employs 25 employees.