Software design now for driverless startup

Minus Zero has launched a tool to help carmakers develop safety systems

- Ayaan Kartik & Shouvik Das

Five years ago, a Bengaluru-based startup was founded with the ambition to make the country's first driverless car. However, the company is now changing tack to become a software designer.

Minus Zero, which raised $1.7 million seed funding from a group of investors led by Chiratae Ventures in March 2022, has launched a software designed to help India's automakers develop advanced driverless assistance (ADAS) capabilities.

ADAS was introduced to help increase car safety and security on roads, helping drivers in parking, lane detection and braking, among other things. The startup is already offering the autopilot system to automakers like Ashok Leyland Ltd and Tata Motors Ltd, a company official said.

Minus Zero's pivot comes after the government announced that India will not move towards driverless cars, which meant a lack of market for a completely driverless car in the country.