ClearMotion

ClearMotion develops proactive suspension and road-sensing hardware and software to mitigate vehicle motion across uneven terrain. Its patented flagship product, “ClearMotion1” (CM1), incorporates high-bandwidth, active suspension technology that can cancel unwanted motion in the car. It is pitched as an alternative chassis for vehicle manufacturers that could replace traditional physical shock absorbers with digital, software-driven adaptive actuators. It also offers “Roadmotion,” a software that analyzes road surfaces for better chassis control.

In September 2023, ClearMotion announced that its intellectual property portfolio had surpassed 500 patents and applications in the field.

The company has offices in Boston (US), Birmingham (UK), and Shanghai (China). It also started constructing its first production facility in Changshu, China in August 2023 (to be operational by Q1 2024).

Key customers and partnerships

ClearMotion has customers including Volkswagen-owned car brand Porsche (April 2024), EV maker NIO (for 3 million units; December 2023), and another undisclosed EV manufacturer company (to be rolled out in 2024; May 2023). The company also has partnerships with parties including Bridgestone to jointly develop new solutions for the automotive industry (2017), United States Seating Company (USSC) to license out ClearMotion’s system (2018), and with BWI Group to supply full-active suspension components and subsystems to an EV manufacturer (July 2023).

ClearMotion also acquired Bose Ride, Bose Corporation’s active motion control business, in 2017 to complement its product offering.

Funding and financials

In May 2023, ClearMotion raised USD 32 million in venture capital to commercialize its technology. Previously, the company raised USD 39 million led by NIO Capital—also to launch the product in 2024, with plans to expand globally.

Key competitors: None comparable (ClearMotion is the only startup covered in the Auto Tech hub that develops suspension technology.)