Hyperdrive

Sam Altman, Suzuki Back Robocar Startup to Chase Growth in Asia

  • Glydways develops driverless cars and narrow roads for them
  • Startup bets on demand from Southeast Asia’s crowded cities
Glydcar autonomous vehicleSource: Glydways Inc.
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Robocar network startup Glydways Inc. won the backing of OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corp. to fuel a bid to expand in Southeast Asia.

The South San Francisco-based maker of autonomous vehicles and infrastructure raised a total $76 million from Altman’s Apollo Projects and a group of new investors that includes Suzuki, Mitsui Chemicals Inc. and oil refinery operator Eneos Holdings Inc. The sum includes a previously disclosed investment from Bill Gates’s venture fund and Khosla Ventures.