SoftBank Invests $225M in Utah's ASI Autonomous Vehicles
SoftBank has invested $225 million in Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI), a Utah-based company specializing in software for self-driving work vehicles, forming a joint venture for civil construction. Separately, SoftBank has also established Roze AI, a robotics venture specifically focused on deploying autonomous robots for data center construction. This strategic move aims to address the persistent labor crunch in the construction industry.
SoftBank Group has announced a $225 million investment in Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI), a software company based in Mendon, Utah, known for its technology enabling work vehicles to drive autonomously. This investment includes the formation of a joint venture between SoftBank and ASI, which will concentrate on developing self-driving machines for large-scale civil construction projects, including roads, railways, airports, and waste sites.
ASI, founded in 2000 by engineers from Utah State University, offers its Mobius software platform, which can operate entire fleets of self-driving vehicles from various manufacturers. The company intends to leverage this new capital to expand the adoption of its platform within the construction sector. This strategic move follows SoftBank's previous $200 million investment in Gravis Robotics, another firm focused on integrating AI capabilities into heavy machinery.
Significantly, SoftBank has also established Roze AI, a dedicated robotics venture focused specifically on deploying autonomous robots for the construction of data centers, with reports suggesting a potential $100 billion public listing. These investments are set against a backdrop of severe labor shortages in the U.S. construction industry, with over 90% of contractors reporting difficulties in filling positions, making autonomous solutions increasingly attractive to investors and developers, including those in the data center sector.