Honda Motor Co. has announced an additional Honda Helm.ai investment to strengthen development of next-generation autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems. The California-based AI startup is raising new funding to support growth in unsupervised learning and end-to-end AI technologies. The partnership aims to deliver production-ready autonomous driving solutions for Honda’s EV and HEV models launching around 2027 in North America and Japan.
Helm.ai is an AI software startup established in November 2016, specializing in autonomous driving powered by its proprietary Deep Teaching™ technology. Honda and Helm.ai have collaborated since 2019 through Honda Xcelerator, Honda’s global open innovation program. An initial investment in 2022 strengthened their partnership and accelerated research into unique AI-driven solutions.
In July 2025, the companies signed a multi-year joint development agreement focused on next-generation AD/ADAS using end-to-end AI architecture. This architecture controls environmental perception, decision-making, and vehicle actuation. The additional Honda Helm.ai investment announced in October 2025 solidifies this partnership and accelerates development timelines for mass-market deployment.
By leveraging Helm.ai’s Deep Teaching™ and generative AI capabilities, Honda aims to develop next-generation ADAS providing high-level driver assistance throughout entire routes. This includes acceleration and steering on expressways and surface roads. The system is designed as a semi-automated solution requiring continuous driver engagement while enhancing safety and convenience.
Honda’s Navigate on Autopilot system, built on the end-to-end AI framework, represents the automaker’s vision for scalable, accessible autonomous driving. The NOA platform assists drivers in complex urban and highway environments, managing tasks from perception to vehicle control. Honda plans to apply this technology across a broad range of vehicles, making advanced features available to mainstream consumers.
Mahito Shikama, Operating Executive of Honda Motor Co., emphasized that the Honda Helm.ai investment represents an important step toward offering safe, reliable, and affordable next-generation AD/ADAS. Collaboration with Helm.ai will accelerate AI technology development that enhances practicality. This supports Honda’s ambitious goal of achieving zero fatalities from traffic collisions involving Honda vehicles globally by 2050.
Vladislav Voroninski, CEO of Helm.ai, expressed enthusiasm about deepening collaboration with Honda through this additional investment. Combining Honda’s engineering expertise with Helm.ai’s end-to-end AI software and Deep Teaching™ technology will accelerate deployment worldwide. Helm.ai’s real-time AI software includes perception stacks, generative simulation models, and vision-based path prediction pre-trained on large-scale datasets.
The Honda Helm.ai investment strategy reflects a broader industry trend where automakers partner with specialized AI startups to accelerate development. Unlike approaches relying on LiDAR or massive real-world datasets, Helm.ai’s vision-first AI architecture offers cost advantages and faster training cycles. This makes it particularly suitable for mass-market vehicles where affordability and scalability are critical factors.
Looking ahead, Honda plans to deploy this next-generation ADAS technology across its EV and HEV lineup in North America and Japan starting around 2027. The technology will provide comprehensive driver assistance from origin to destination, significantly reducing driver workload while maintaining safety. This strategic Honda Helm.ai investment positions the automaker to compete effectively in the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle market.
For the latest developments in autonomous driving technology and AI innovations transforming the automotive industry, visit ainewstoday.org your premier source for cutting-edge AI news!