Toyota Motor’s research arm said on Thursday it acquired U.S.-based Carmera, which is specialized at providing maps and data for driverless vehicles.
The purchase, through the newly created subsidiary Woven Planet, marks Toyota’s dedication towards its self-driving arsenal as traditional automakers rival the autonomous ambitions of tech giants including Apple and Amazon.
Buying Carmera will give the automaker access to real-time, high-definition maps and crowdsourced inputs that are essential for autonomous automobiles to locate and navigate themselves, the companies said.
The two companies have worked since 2018 on projects including technology that updates repainted lane markings on high-definition maps.
Woven Planet was founded in January for investing in and develop mobility with artificial intelligence.
