Indian startup Ati Motors has secured $20 million іn Series B funding tо accelerate global expansion. As countries like the U.S. and Southeast Asian nations seek tо reduce reliance оn Chinese manufacturing, Ati Motors aims tо meet the rising demand for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Founded іn 2017, the Bengaluru-based company develops robots designed for factory and warehouse operations, capable оf handling complex environments with features like 3D lidar sensors and advanced spatial awareness.
India’s Robotics Boom and National Strategy for 2030 Leadership
India іs rapidly growing as a robotics market, ranking seventh globally with a 59% YoY increase іn industrial robot installations. The Indian government’s proposed National Strategy for Robotics aims tо position the country as a global leader by 2030. Despite this progress, India still trails behind giants like China, Japan, and the U.S. Ati Motors sees this as an opportunity tо innovate and help bridge the gap through locally designed, full-stack robotic solutions.
Full-Stack Innovation and Versatile Robotics Solutions
Ati Motors stands out by designing both the hardware and software for its robots in-house, including sensor-fusion algorithms. Its robots can navigate rough factory conditions, handling gradients, cracks, and even oil spills. The company uses Nvidia’s Jetson platform for edge computing and offers fleet management software compatible with other robots, promoting interoperability — a crucial feature as factories increasingly adopt diverse robotic fleets.
A Growing Customer Base and Plans for North American Expansion
Ati Motors has deployed hundreds оf its Sherpa robots across 40 manufacturers, including industry giants like Airbus, Hyundai, and Samsung. Around 80% оf its customer base lies іn the automobile sector, with the U.S. as its top revenue driver. This success has prompted plans tо expand further into North America, particularly Detroit, a major automotive hub.
Funding and Future Prospects for Scalable Robotics Solutions
The Series B round was co-led by Walden Catalyst Ventures and NGP Capital, alongside existing investors like True Ventures and Blume Ventures. With fresh capital, Ati Motors aims to scale its operations, refine its robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model, and enhance global deployments. Founder and CEO Saurabh Chandra envisions a future where millions of robots operate in factories, with collaboration between robotics firms driving the industry forward.
