Tensor and Arm Partner on ‘Robocar’ Project
The Robocar will feature Level 4 autonomous capabilities. Photo courtesy Tensor Inc.
SAN JOSE, CA—Tensor Inc., a start-up autonomous vehicle manufacturer, has formed a multiyear strategic partnership with Arm Holdings plc, a semiconductor and software design company that designs processor technology. As Tensor scales its personal Robocar fleet for global commercialization later this year, the companies will work together to enable Level 4 autonomous capabilities.
Through the initiative, Tensor will leverage Arm’s compute platform, which unifies hardware, software and ecosystem enablement, to power physical AI workloads spanning the entire vehicle. Each Robocar will feature more than 400 Arm-based cores in each vehicle.
“Delivering personal autonomous vehicles at scale requires more than breakthrough AI and autonomy, it demands advanced engineering for safety, redundancy, reliability, and power efficiency,” says Jewel Li, PH.D., chief operating office at Tensor. “Our collaboration with Arm leverages their deep, decades-long expertise and leadership in AI-capable compute, which alongside our broader ecosystem of strategic partners ensures that the Robocar moves seamlessly from advanced technology to real-world roads, safely and reliably.”
According to Li, the Robocar will be powered by “the world’s most vertically integrated Level 4 autonomy stack, and a comprehensive sensor suite of 37 cameras, five lidars, 11 radars, 22 microphones, 10 ultrasonic sensors, 16 collision detectors…and triple-channel 5G connectivity. This unique depth of hardware and software integration represents a meaningful advancement in automotive sensing, enabling continuous perception, environmental awareness and resilient system performance across diverse operating conditions.”
“Autonomous vehicles are a leading example of how AI is shifting to the physical world, requiring world-class, high-performance, safe and power-efficient compute foundations to transform the future of mobility in meaningful and tangible ways,” explains Drew Henry, executive vice president of the physical AI business unit at Arm. “Combined with a deeply established software ecosystem that delivers critical tool chains, safety certification and industry standards, Arm provides the foundation for pioneering physical AI innovation.
“Tensor’s Robocar is a standout example of that innovation in action, pairing a clear vision with the engineering rigor needed to bring autonomy to market at scale,” claims Henry.
In addition to Arm, Tensor engineers are working with a variety of automotive suppliers and semiconductor companies, such as AMD, Autoliv, Continental, Nvidia, Oracle, Qualcomm, Samsung and ZF. The Robocar is being assembled by VinFast at its factory in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
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