Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services offering consumer electronics and more. Its family of brands and partnerships includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and Cowboom. The company is comprised of over 155,000 employees, and they apply their talents to bring the benefits of its brands to the lives of its customers through retail locations, multiple call centers, and websites, in-home solutions, product delivery, and activities in its community.   Best Buy’s product portfolio includes consumer electronic video products such as televisions, digital cameras and accessories, digital camcorders, and DVD players; audio products comprising MP3 players, navigation products, home theater audio systems, and components; mobile electronics home office products comprising notebook and desktop computers, monitors, mobile phones and related subscription service commissions, hard drives, and networking equipment; entertainment software products such as video gaming hardware and software, DVDs, CDs, digital downloads, and computer software; and appliances, such as kitchen appliances, plumbing fixtures, snacks, and beverages.    Best Buy provides its users with service contracts; extended warranties; product repair; broadband voice, data, and information technology services; and delivers and installs home theater, mobile audio, and appliances. In addition, the company engages in online retailing through BestBuy.com, BestBuy.ca, BestBuy.com.cn, espanol.BestBuy.com, and BestBuyMobile.com; CarphoneWarehouse.com; Five-Star.cn; FutureShop.ca; GeekSquad.com and GeekSquad.ca; MagnoliaAV.com; Napster.com; PacificSales.com; PhoneHouse.com; and Speakeasy.net.   Best Buy was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Litchfield, M.N. with additional offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, and Europe.

Best Buy

Castrol innoVentures aims to invest in and create material and smart mobility businesses in the U.K.

Castrol innoVentures

OPENAIR Equity Partners is a venture capital firm focused on early stage investments in mobile/wireless and connected device startups.

OPENAIR Equity Partners

Comporium is a diversified communications company providing a Quintuple Play of five services -- voice, video, data, wireless and security -- at the retail level; as well as, providing security monitoring and directory publishing for its industry customers. Comporium, which is headquartered in Rock Hill, S.C., provides communications services in York and Lancaster Counties in the Upstate; as well as, in parts of six counties in the Midlands: Lexington, Saluda, Edgefield, Orangeburg, Calhoun and Aiken. Comporium also is the incumbent local telephone exchange company and cable TV operator in Transylvania County, N.C. In addition, Comporium has a Competitive Local Exchange Company (CLEC) in the Charlotte metropolitan area and offers a comprehensive suite of business communications equipment and service options. Comporium is a major investor in Home Telephone (one of the Spirit/PalmettoNet owner/partners). Home Telephone is based in Moncks Corner, S.C. Comporium is a major investor in Immedion, an enterprise-class, dedicated data center services provider. Immedion has data centers in Asheville, NC, Greenville, SC, Columbia, SC and Charleston, SC. Further, to complement its own retail and wholesale Security business, Comporium has invested in iControl, which provides a wireless Security, Monitoring and Automation (SMA) Platform that can combine an alarm system, communications gateway and home automation platform into one device. The SMA Platform enables broadband service providers to deliver the next generation of services for the “connected home.”

Comporium

NGP Capital is a global thesis-driven, early-stage VC with a vision to unleash the magic of technology.  With an AUM of 1.6B, NGP invests in B2B companies from Series A onwards in Europe and the US in enterprise software, industrial tech, cybersecurity, and infrastructure. For nearly two decades, NGP Capital has invested in more than 100 companies of which 18 are unicorns and 11 went on to IPO.

NGP Capital

Magna is a leading global automotive supplier with 317 manufacturing operations and 83 product development, engineering and sales centres in 29 countries. Magna has over 130,000 employees focused on delivering superior value to our customers through innovative products and processes, and World Class Manufacturing. Magna's product capabilities include producing body, chassis, interior, exterior, seating, powertrain, electronic, vision, closure and roof systems and modules, as well as complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing.

Magna International

Zubie

Zubie is a connected vehicle services company focused on providing consumers and businesses relevant vehicle health, location, and safety information. With a simple plug-in of the Zubie key, users can easily monitor their vehicle data through its Zubie mobile apps for both iOS and Android. Learn more about our low-cost fleet management solution for businesses at http://zubie.com/fleet or our consumer offering at http://zubie.com. A Zubie subscription includes the Zubie Key (OBDII device), iOS/Android apps, and online web portal.

<div>Zubie offers a connected car platform coupled with location tracking, driver scoring, alerts, and location sharing services, provided through its mobile applications available on both iOS and Android platforms. Its software solutions are &ldquo;Zubie Rental Connect,&rdquo; a platform for rental companies to manage inventory and cars on road using hardware and software telematics and GPS tracking and &ldquo;Zubie Fleet Connect,&rdquo; a vehicle fleet management solution with telematics and GPS tracking. Its hardware products include &ldquo;Asset Trak,&rdquo; rechargeable asset tracking equipment and &ldquo;Zubie Dashcam,&rdquo; an on-board diagnostics (OBD)-II telematics and HD camera system for company vehicles and rental cars. Zubie claims to be the the first fleet-management solution dedicated to serving the rental car industry.</div>

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

Zubie Saw Huge Growth in Rental Telematics in 2021

<div>
 
 Zubie offers a connected car platform coupled with location tracking, driver scoring, alerts, and location sharing services, provided through its mobile applications available on both iOS and Android platforms. Its software solutions are &ldquo;Zubie Rental Connect,&rdquo; a platform for rental companies to manage inventory and cars on road using hardware and software telematics and GPS tracking and &ldquo;Zubie Fleet Connect,&rdquo; a vehicle fleet management solution with telematics and GPS tracking. Its hardware products include &ldquo;Asset Trak,&rdquo; rechargeable asset tracking equipment and &ldquo;Zubie Dashcam,&rdquo; an on-board diagnostics (OBD)-II telematics and HD camera system for company vehicles and rental cars. Zubie claims to be the the first fleet-management solution dedicated to serving the rental car industry.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Zubie has customer partnerships with companies including Outdoorsy, TSD, Valsoft, and Nationwide.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and Financials
 
 
 In January 2022, Zubie received an undisclosed amount of capital from Decathlon Capital Partners to expand its platform and introduce new service capabilities.
 
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Aeva develops next-generation sensing and perception systems including 4D LiDAR-on-chip for autonomous vehicles and robotics. Its LiDAR sensors dubbed &ldquo;Aeries II&rdquo; are equipped with unique frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) 4D technology for high sensing capabilities and use a continuous laser. It can sense objects 500 meters away over a field of view (FoV) of 120 x 30 degrees. Aries II is powered by the company&rsquo;s proprietary 4D Perception software. Aeries II is reportedly the world&rsquo;s first LiDAR-on-chip silicon photonics design.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company launched Aeva Atlas, an automotive-grade 4D LiDAR sensor, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25293">
 in January 2024.
 </a>
 It can sense objects 500 meters away over a field of FoV of 120 x 30 degrees. The company claims that Atlas is the first automotive-grade 4D LiDAR sensor for mass production in automotive applications. Atlas is powered by Aeva&rsquo;s proprietary Digital Signal Processing Software. The company claims the unit is 70% smaller and 4x more energy-efficient than the company&rsquo;s previous lidar solutions.
 
 
 
 
 Aeva sources product components from third-party vendors and assembles the final product in its assembly facility in San Francisco, California. However, since September 2021, the company has gradually shifted to a manufacturing model that solely relies on local and foreign third-party suppliers for both manufacturing and assembly. The company began shipping its LiDAR systems to strategic customers in mid-2022 and reported shipping 40+ units to customers by 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17245">
 December 2022
 </a>
 .
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company has entered into product collaborations with partners including automotive component manufacturers ZF Group (September 2020), Denso (January 2021), and Fabrinet (November 2021) to develop LiDAR systems for vehicles and Nikon to develop sensors for robotic factory production lines (August 2021).&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Avea has high-volume production deals with autonomous shuttle services provider May Mobility 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23631">
 (November 2023)
 </a>
 and an unnamed global automotive OEM 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25168">
 (January 2024).
 </a>
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 Aeva generated revenue of USD 4.3 million and reported a non-GAAP operating loss of USD 124.1 million in the year ended December 2023. The company has been listed on NYSE since March 2021, via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which valued the combined entity at USD 2.1 billion (November 2020).
 
 
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23632">
 In November 2023,
 </a>
 the company raised USD 145 million via a combined private investment and preferred facility deal from existing long-term stockholders. The company intended to utilize the funds to enhance its standing with OEMs, and improve its ability to support various high-volume production programs, potentially increasing its prospects for securing additional contracts.
 
 
 
</div>

Aeva

<div>
 
 Israel-based Innoviz Technologies develops LiDAR sensors and perception software specifically catering to autonomous vehicles. Its LiDAR product portfolio includes 1) &ldquo;InnovizOne,&rdquo; a solid-state LiDAR sensor specifically designed for autonomous vehicles with a detection range of up to 250 m and field of view (FoV) of 115 x 25 degrees; 2) &ldquo;InnovizTwo,&rdquo; a next-gen automotive-grade LiDAR sensor with a detection range of up to 300 m and FoV of 120 x 40 degrees; and 3) &ldquo;Innoviz360,&rdquo; a 360-degree LiDAR sensor with a detection range up to 300 m and pitched toward automotive and non-automotive applications.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s target market spans across the US, Europe, and Asia, and it had an order book worth USD 6.9 billion 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14444">
 as of September 2022.
 </a>
 As of February 2024, Innoviz Technologies had 18 of Innoviz&rsquo;s products protected by US patents.&nbsp;
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/26155">
 In January 2024,
 </a>
 Innoviz released a strategic realignment plan for its operations from Q1 2024, which included a reduction of its workforce by ~13% (about 60 employees) to lower expenses and enhance its financial longevity. This was to mainly consolidate expenditures by transitioning the InnovizOne program to series production and focusing on the InnovizTwo sensor and software suite.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 Innoviz Technologies has entered product collaborations with partners including Curium, a developer of automated calibration services for autonomous systems (August 2021); Ansys, a provider of simulation software (January 2022); Visionary.ai, a developer of software-based image signal processor technology (June 2022); and Japan-based software company Kudan 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14117">
 (October 2022)
 </a>
 and Mobileye (as of February 2024) to obtain technology to be integrated with its LiDAR solutions.
 
 
 The company secured 15 pre-production orders and four series production customers as of September 2023. Its customers include Twinner, Whale Dynamics, Syracuse, BMW, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12378">
 Volkswagen,
 </a>
 and Delphi Automotive&mdash;of which BMW and Volkswagen were among the series production customers.&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 Innoviz Technologies generated revenue of USD 20.9 million and reported an operating loss of USD 132.6 million during the year ended December 2023. The company has been listed on the Nasdaq since April 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which valued the combined entity at USD 1.4 billion (December 2020).
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20883">
 In August 2023,
 </a>
 Innoviz Technologies announced plans for a public offering to issue USD 60 million of its ordinary shares to underwriters so they can purchase up to an additional USD 9 million of ordinary shares. The company planned to use the funds raised for general corporate purposes.
 
</div>

Innoviz Technologies

<div>
 
 AEye develops artificial intelligence (AI)-powered LiDAR for various applications, including vehicle autonomy, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and robotic vision. The company&rsquo;s products include &ldquo;4SIGHT,&rdquo; a software-defined, solid-state LiDAR sensor for automotive applications. The company claims that 4SIGHT offers the industry&rsquo;s longest detection range with the ability to identify small obstacles at over 300m and a 128 degree horizontal field of view (FoV). 4SIGHT uses adaptive LiDAR sensors as opposed to traditional sensors that passively collect data. AEye&rsquo;s next gen product 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24047">
 &ldquo;4IGHT Flex,&rdquo;
 </a>
 is an ultra-compact, high-performance LiDAR for in-cabin autonomy and safety features. It comes with a 120 x 30-degree FoV, high resolution, and a detection range of up to 275 meters. The company 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14502">
 launched a new 4Sight product line
 </a>
 in November 2022, which it claims was built on a high-performance adaptive LiDAR platform. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates?industryIds=70">
 March 2024
 </a>
 , AEye announced the launch of Apollo, the first product in the 4Sight Flex Lidar series. As of July 2023, AEye held 120 patents for its technology solutions.
 
 
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s business model also involves licensing software sensing platforms to automotive partners and outright sale of software-configured hardware products in partnership with system integrators in industrial markets.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company began has been producing and supplying its sensors since late 2021, in partnership with electronic solutions provider LITEON Technology Corporation 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29284">
 (May 2024),
 </a>
 electronics manufacturer Sanmina Corporation (July 2021), German automotive parts manufacturer Continental (October 2020), simulation software provider Ansys (January 2020), and other system integrators. Its customers include Nvidia (July 2020), Continental (August 2021), and autonomous trucking company TuSimple (July 2021).
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 AEye generated revenue of USD 1.5 million and reported an operating loss of USD 87.8 million during the year ended December 2023. The company has been listed on Nasdaq since August 2021, via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which valued the combined entity at USD 1.52 billion (May 2021).
 
 
 
</div>

AEye

<div>
 
 LeddarTech is a Canadian company offering environmental sensing and perception solutions for advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions. The company&rsquo;s main product offering &ldquo;LeddarVision,&rdquo; includes four scalable raw-data sensor fusion and perception platforms for Level 2/2+ ADAS applications (i.e., Level 2 refers to vehicles that can control both the speed and the steering, but the driver must maintain full vigilance). LeddarTech also offered LiDAR hardware components for LiDAR manufacturers, system integrators, and Tier 1&ndash;2 suppliers. However, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14304">
 in November 2022,
 </a>
 the company announced plans to move away from its LiDAR hardware component business and focus on software development going forward. As of February 2024, LedderTech had 150+ patents (granted or applied).&nbsp;
 
 
 LeddarTech acquired VayaVision (sensor fusion and perception software company) in July 2020 and Phantom Intelligence (signal processing and LiDAR technology company) in September 2020 to complement its operations.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The company has partnerships with technology companies such as 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27813">
 Renesas Electronics,
 </a>
 STMicroelectronics, Flex, dSPACE, Ningbo Sunny Optical, Black Sesame Technologies, 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27574">
 Arm Technologies,
 </a>
 and 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29173">
 Immervision
 </a>
 for the joint development and delivery of LiDAR solutions.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 The company generated revenue of USD 7.4 million and an operating loss of USD 52.5 million in 2023 (year ending December 2023).
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25036">
 December 2023
 </a>
 , LeddarTech became a publicly traded company via a merger with Prospector Capital Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at a pro-forma equity value of USD 348 million. The company secured a total of USD 58.6 million in gross proceeds including a USD 44 million convertible PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) and USD 14.6 million from the SPAC trust. The funds will be utilized to foster the adoption and expansion of LeddarTech's technology.
 
 
 
</div>

LeddarTech

<div>
 
 Seyond (formerly known as Innovusion) offers image-quality long-range LiDAR solutions for the automotive and other industries. Its product portfolio includes 1) &ldquo;Falcon,&rdquo; a LiDAR sensor specifically designed for the automotive industry, with a detection range of up to 500 meters and field of view (FoV) of 120 x 25 degrees; 2) &ldquo;OmniVidi,&rdquo; a perception service software platform, powered by a proprietary single-laser Forward SightNet and multi-laser fusion perception lightweight model; and 3) &ldquo;Robin,&rdquo; a short- to medium-range LiDAR sensor, with a detection range of up to 250 meters and FoV of 120 x 24 degrees.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company, headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, also has operations in China and Germany. As of November 2023, the company had an annual production capacity exceeding 300,000 units at its facility in China, and had plans to commence mass production by December 2023. In November 2023, the company reported delivering 200,000 automotive-grade LiDAR to customers.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 Seyond primarily targets China and has entered several partnerships in the region. This includes a strategic partnership with Chinese EV maker NIO to supply LiDAR sensors for NIO&rsquo;s vehicles and a partnership with Chinese self-driving tech startup Mogo Auto (January 2022) to promote the adoption and commercial use of LiDAR for autonomous vehicles. The company reportedly delivered 56,000 LiDAR sensors to NIO in 2022.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 Meanwhile, the company also has a partnership with Joynext, the smart vehicle arm of Chinese auto component manufacturer, Joyson Electronics, for mass production of LiDAR sensors. It also entered a product partnership with 3D spatial intelligence software solutions specialist Outsight 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24507">
 in November 2023
 </a>
 to combine Outsight's software technology with Seyond's products for enhanced 3D perception capabilities.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In January 2022, Seyond raised USD 118 million in a Series C funding round led by Hermitage Capital at a pre-money valuation of USD 1.1 billion. The company intended to use the funds to enhance production capabilities, expand global reach, increase headcount, and for further research and development (R&amp;D).
 
 
 
</div>

Seyond

Companies developing LiDAR and other sensors for autonomous passenger vehicles and to improve driver safety

Providers of software such as collision avoidance alerts, blind spot detection, automatic braking, and other advanced driver assistance systems

Companies developing self-driving technology for autonomous passenger vehicles including cars, buses, and shuttles

Companies providing software solutions for managing devices, and integrating external and internal systems for vehicles using internet connectivity

Companies offering vehicle data capturing, analyzing, tracking, and mapping solutions

Companies providing in-vehicle infotainment products such as audio equipment and other electronic systems

Companies providing cybersecurity solutions for IoT-enabled vehicle devices

Connected vehicles and related services like infotainment and cybersecurity use IoT applications

Some companies use AI/ML tech for autonomous navigation

Autonomous vehicles facilitate efficient and greener transportation, contributing to creating smart cities

Automotive companies utilize GenAI solutions to enhance in-vehicle user experiences—mainly conversational AI technologies

Autonomous cars promote sustainable operations

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