Italy's Pirelli buys 30% of Sweden's Univrses to boost AI tyre tech
Pirelli's Strategic Investment in Univrses and AI Tyre Technology
Partnership Overview
April 29 (Reuters) - Italian tyremaker Pirelli on Wednesday signed a partnership deal with Swedish company Univrses and acquired a 30% stake in the firm, with an option to reach a majority stake, to integrate AI-based computer vision technologies into its Cyber Tyre system, the companies said in a joint statement.
Technology Integration and Benefits
The agreement combines Univrses' 3DAI technologies with Pirelli's sensor-equipped tyre system to enhance vehicle safety and autonomous driving capabilities while providing real-time road infrastructure monitoring data to authorities.
Key Features of the Deal
• Deal integrates Univrses' computer vision AI into Pirelli's Cyber Tyre platform for enhanced road monitoring and autonomous driving applications
• Cyber Tyre system collects data from sensors inside tyres and communicates in real time with vehicle electronics and cloud systems
• Univrses' 3DAI Engine provides autonomous vehicles with 3D positioning, mapping, and spatial deep learning capabilities
• Technology aims to help road authorities make better resource deployment decisions and potentially reduce road accidents
Collaborative Projects and Future Plans
• Pirelli and Southern Italian Puglia Region launched road network monitoring project in 2025 using both companies technology
Financial and Governance Context
• The two companies did not disclose the financial details of the deal
• Pirelli has been embroiled in a governance spat between its Italian and Chinese shareholders, due to concerns that the company may fall victims to U.S. rules restricting the use of Chinese technologies in the automotive sector
• Italy imposed, earlier in April, curbs on China's Sinochem to avoid US restrictions on Pirelli
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Romolo Tosiani in Gdansk, Giulio Piovaccari in Milan; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
