The collaboration will offer Advanced Driver and Occupant Monitoring Solutions

Valeo, a global leader in the automotive industry, and Seeing Machines, an advanced computer vision technology company which designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems to improve transport safety, recently announced a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening their position in the driver and occupant monitoring systems (OMS) market.
As part of this agreement, Valeo is transferring its driver monitoring perception software activity to Seeing Machines.
This activity, stemming from the associated acquisition of Valeo-owned, German start-up Asaphus, will now be managed by Seeing Machines. This move will support a world leading position in perception software for interior monitoring.
This collaboration also enables Valeo to leverage Seeing Machines’ expertise in interior monitoring perception software, integrating it into the hardware and software architecture of its driver and occupant monitoring systems.
This will reportedly give Valeo the ability to offer a “best-in-class” full-system for interior sensing, which is currently experiencing significant momentum, with upcoming regulations making this equipment mandatory.
It says this strategic collaboration positions Valeo and Seeing Machines to effectively meet this growing and regulatory-driven demand.
For Seeing Machines, this agreement represents an opportunity to strengthen its presence in Europe by leveraging Valeo’s existing infrastructure.
Having a Berlin based team will allow Seeing Machines to better address the European market with cutting-edge monitoring solutions, and more easily meet the needs of an expanded customer base in the region.
Further, Asaphus’ capability will enhance the Seeing Machines team with unique IP and data and a small, highly specialised development group who have leading Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence capability for driving and sensing features.
Seeing Machines says it will leverage these complementary skills to accelerate their feature roadmap and maintain their leadership position in driver and occupant monitoring system technology.
Together, Valeo and Seeing Machines state they are committed to offering the market innovative and integrated interior sensing solutions to the automotive industry that will enhance vehicle safety and occupant comfort.
“We are delighted with this collaboration with Seeing Machines. It is another demonstration of Valeo’s ability to build the ground for successful cooperation with core technology companies,” Valeo Brain Division Chief Executive Officer, Marc Vrecko, said.
“These last five years, with Asaphus, we have been able to grow the company, develop their AI perception technologies and build a solid position in interior monitoring systems.
“Combining our teams with Seeing Machines, we will benefit from the best in class perception software to integrate into our hardware and software architecture for driver and occupant monitoring systems.
“Together, we will be able to provide more competitive solutions and strengthen our market position.”
Seeing Machines Chief Executive Officer, Paul McGlone, said the shared culture of innovation will see this collaboration enable its team “to continue to lead the interior sensing market as we complement our highly specialised skills and work with Valeo, a world leading automotive technology company, to deliver driver and occupant monitoring solutions to more automotive customers, globally.”
“As regulations making driver monitoring systems mandatory across the EU come into effect this month, the market for enhanced safety and convenience solutions is expanding daily,” Paul said.
“Thanks to our proven, class-leading technology, we are very well placed to solidify our industry leadership position, supporting our customers in getting their programs successfully to production.”

For more information, visit www.valeo.com