ClearMotion builds CM1, a patented high-bandwidth active suspension technology that cancels unwanted motion in the car and integrates with infotainment systems to deliver an immersive in-cabin experience. The company says CM1 improves ride comfort, productivity, and safety and is positioned for consumer deployment after a recent production order. ClearMotion received a $32M investment to advance commercialization and bring its technology to market. The production order from an EV automaker will facilitate the transition of CM1 units into the industrialization phase and make the system accessible to consumers next year. Led by CEO Christian Steinmann, the company was founded out of MIT and maintains locations in Boston, Birmingham (UK), and Shanghai. The new funding is intended to support product industrialization and market entry. ClearMotion develops software-controlled actuators and an electrohydraulic unit to replace traditional shock absorbers, using vehicle sensors and predictive software to counteract road disturbances. The company has spent over a decade on external motion cancellation and is now introducing coordinated in-car 4D motions that integrate with infotainment, movies, games, and the metaverse. ClearMotion positions this tech as a way to transform vehicles from transportation tools into mobile living spaces and to create new in-cabin entertainment experiences, such as synchronized 4D movies during charging. The company is pursuing a China expansion and is setting up a plant to assemble actuators around Shanghai, with a plan to begin mass production in China by the end of 2024. ClearMotion has started hiring in China for engineering, software development, hardware, and customer relationship roles to support industrialization. Its CEO, Christian Steinmann, says Nio Capital’s backing is critical to building a footprint in China. ClearMotion develops a proactive ride system that pairs road‑sensing technology with software and hardware to reduce vehicle movement across uneven road surfaces. The company has completed development programs on multiple car lines and has commissioned a pilot production facility for its first OEM launches. It was founded out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is based in Boston, MA, with an additional development center and proving grounds in Birmingham, UK. ClearMotion holds over 10,000 patent claims issued or pending worldwide. Led by founder and CEO Shakeel Avadhany, the company is positioning its technology for commercial OEM deployments. The recent financing will support its transition toward production and market rollout. ClearMotion designs and builds digital motion control systems that use road-sensing software and hardware to improve ride performance in cars. Its "proactive ride" technology leverages proprietary software algorithms to make traditional dampers intelligent and responsive, aiming to improve comfort, performance and safety. The company was founded out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by CEO Shakeel Avadhany and is based in the Boston area. ClearMotion received a strategic investment from Bridgestone Americas, though the amount was not disclosed. As part of the investment, Bridgestone will have opportunities to integrate and leverage ClearMotion’s technology to engineer new and innovative solutions for the automotive industry. The article did not disclose operating metrics, valuation, or funding totals. ClearMotion develops an alternative chassis that replaces physical shock absorbers with software-driven adaptive actuators. The company says it has created the "world's first digital chassis," using proprietary algorithms to monitor road conditions and adapt in real time for optimal comfort and performance. Its technology is distinct from autonomous driving and driver-assist systems, focusing instead on in-cabin ride quality. ClearMotion positions its platform as especially useful for improving the passenger experience in a self-driving future, where in-cabin stability and comfort matter more. The company acknowledges that physical suspension has advantages like fewer bugs but argues its digital approach better serves vehicles-as-living-spaces. ClearMotion has secured $100 million in a Series C to advance its product and commercial applications.

Total raised

$286M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

May 2023