Investors go back to basics with simpler self-driving vehicles

An autonomous ‘Auto-Pod’ vehicle is seen inside the Aurrigo factory in Coventry, Britain, January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble

COVENTRY, England (Reuters) - Developing fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) that can go everywhere has proven harder and more expensive than expected, but investors are continuing to fund startups that target simpler self-driving vehicle solutions far removed from pedestrians and other vehicles operated by unpredictable humans.

British AV software company Oxbotica, Sweden's Einride, America's Outrider and British supplier Aurrigo International Plc are among a number of companies drawing investor interest with more focused approaches, aimed at smaller, simpler customer segments - from mining vehicles to tractors or forklifts.