Argo AI
Autonomous driving software company jointly funded by Ford and Volkswagen. Shut down October 2022 when both backers redirected funds to driver-assistance.
RIP Argo AI
Shut down · October 2022
Argo AI was the autonomous driving software company that Ford and VW jointly invested ~$7B in across six years. Founded in 2016 by Bryan Salesky (ex-Google) and Peter Rander (ex-Uber ATG), Argo developed Level 4 tech and ran robotaxi pilots in Pittsburgh, Miami, and Austin. Ford and VW jointly pulled funding in October 2022, citing that the timeline to commercial Level 4 exceeded their planning windows. Ford spun up Latitude AI internally to absorb some Argo talent and refocus on Level 2/3 driver-assistance for production vehicles.
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Overview
Argo AI: Autonomous Driving Software (Deceased)
Argo AI was Autonomous driving software company founded 2016 by Bryan Salesky and Peter Rander. Argo AI shut down on October 26, 2022 when Ford and Volkswagen jointly announced they were pulling funding. Both companies cited the time horizon to profitable Level 4 deployment as longer than commercial constraints allowed. Approximately 2,000 Argo employees were affected; some moved to Ford for ADAS work, others to Latitude AI (the Ford-led successor).
Key Features
- Autonomous driving software company founded 2016 by Bryan Salesky and Peter Rander
- Backed jointly by Ford ($1B) and Volkswagen ($2.6B)
- Operated robotaxi pilots with Ford and VW vehicles in Pittsburgh, Miami, Austin
- Targeted Level 4 autonomy for ride-hail and delivery services
- Shut down October 2022 when Ford and VW pivoted to driver-assistance
- Approximately $7 billion total committed across investors over six years
- Pittsburgh-headquartered with engineering presence in Munich and Austin
Historical Use Case
Historical reference for the 2010s-early-2020s autonomous robotaxi era. Argo was among the credible Level 4 contenders before Ford and VW abandoned the program.
What Happened to Argo AI
Argo AI shut down on October 26, 2022 when Ford and Volkswagen jointly announced they were pulling funding. Both companies cited the time horizon to profitable Level 4 deployment as longer than commercial constraints allowed. Approximately 2,000 Argo employees were affected; some moved to Ford for ADAS work, others to Latitude AI (the Ford-led successor).
FAQ
Q: Why did Argo AI shut down? A: Ford and Volkswagen jointly pulled funding October 2022, citing the time horizon to commercial Level 4 autonomy was incompatible with their financial outlook.
Q: What replaced it? A: Ford launched Latitude AI internally to focus on Level 2/3 driver-assistance instead of Level 4 robotaxi.
Q: Total investment? A: Approximately $7 billion committed by Ford ($1B+) and Volkswagen ($2.6B) over the six-year lifecycle.
Q: Founders? A: Bryan Salesky (ex-Google self-driving) and Peter Rander (ex-Uber ATG).
tl;dr
Ford-VW autonomous joint venture. Shut down Oct 2022 after $7B committed. Replaced by Ford Latitude AI.
Related
Looking for more options? Browse the Automotive directory or read our best AI automotive tools listicle. Argo AI is also tracked on Crunchbase.