Optimus Ride launches (another) autonomous development

The autonomous mobility segment is competitive… with deep pockets. Most of the well-known names like Waymo and Uber ATG are focused on complete, Level 5 (drive anywhere) autonomy. After reviewing the market, Energize made an investment into Optimus Ride in Q2 2019. Over the past 18 months I have had the pleasure of sitting on the Optimus Ride board of directors, and serving as Chairman of the company.

We made the investment because we felt the team and the technology had a secret: serving the “geofenced” L4 market to better define and limit the compute required in operating environment. The hypce cycle has peaked for Level 5 mass-autonomy. And now most of the players are looking to gain real customers and real revenue.

With that background I am excited to announce that Optimus signed up yet another site for their autonomous platform, with a repeat customer! The customer is Brookfield Properties, the fully-integrated global real estate business with over $450 billion in assets under management.

Here are some quotes:

“Optimus Ride has concentrated on delivering a turnkey autonomous, electric mobility service that provides safe and convenient mobility to campuses, corporations, and other mixed-use developments like Brookfield’s The Yards. With five successful deployments underway, we’ve broadened our focus to enhance the passenger experience and include new benefits for both our customers and their communities with the Opti Ride app,”

Optimus Ride CEO, Sean Harrington

“Brookfield Properties has experienced the value of the Optimus Ride autonomous, electric mobility service already at the Halley Rise development in Reston, VA. We’re excited to offer this service to our residents and tenants, and we jumped at the opportunity to add the Opti Ride app experience. Adding ride scheduling and reservation enhances the convenience with on-demand service to safely navigate the array of shopping and dining experiences and connect The Yards to neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and Barracks Row.”

Toby Millman, Senior Vice President, Development at Brookfield Properties

The article on the announcement can be found below.