The company is currently working closely with Honda to integrate Helm.ai Vision into the upcoming Honda Zero series of electric vehicles. These vehicles will feature hands-free, eyes-off-the-road capabilities—positioning Honda to compete in the increasingly active driver-assistance and autonomous mobility space.
“We’re definitely in talks with many OEMs and we’re on track for deploying our technology in production,” said Helm.ai CEO and founder Vladislav Voroninski in an interview with Reuters.
“Our business model is essentially licensing this kind of software—and also foundation model software—to the automakers.”
A Vision-First Approach to Autonomy
Helm.ai’s technology diverges from many traditional autonomous vehicle systems that use a mix of lidar, radar, and cameras. Instead, the startup focuses primarily on camera-only systems, a strategy that echoes Tesla’s "vision-only" philosophy and seeks to lower hardware costs without sacrificing performance.
While Voroninski acknowledged that Helm.ai’s foundation models are sensor-agnostic and can work with other types of inputs, the core offering remains vision-centric.
Industry analysts remain divided on the camera-only approach. While it offers cost benefits and easier integration, critics argue that cameras alone can struggle in poor weather or low-light conditions, where radar and lidar provide essential redundancy. Companies such as Waymo and May Mobility continue to rely on multi-sensor fusion—combining radar, lidar, and camera feeds—for safer, more reliable autonomous navigation.
Built for Integration and Scale
According to Helm.ai, the new system leverages multiple cameras to generate a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings, enhancing the vehicle’s ability to plan and execute real-time driving decisions. The company says Helm.ai Vision is designed to work across several hardware platforms, including those from Nvidia and Qualcomm—two of the leading suppliers of automotive-grade computing solutions.
This flexibility allows automakers to adopt Helm.ai’s software without major overhauls to their existing systems, potentially accelerating deployment in commercial electric and autonomous vehicles.
Backed by Strategic Investors
To date, Helm.ai has raised $102 million in funding, with support from investors such as Goodyear Ventures, Korean auto parts manufacturer Sungwoo HiTech, and venture firm Amplo. The startup’s capital base and industry partnerships suggest growing interest in scalable, software-driven solutions for autonomy—particularly among automakers looking to avoid the cost burdens of high-end sensors.
As Helm.ai continues talks with other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the company is positioning itself as a software licensing partner rather than a full-stack autonomous vehicle provider. This leaner approach could make it a more attractive option for automakers aiming to add advanced driver-assistance features to their upcoming EV platforms.
With the upcoming launch of the Honda Zero series as a proving ground, Helm.ai’s progress may signal the start of a new phase in camera-first autonomous driving—one that prioritizes software agility, cost efficiency, and system integration over complex hardware.