Company:Oxa

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Oxa
FormerlyOxbotica
TypeScale-up
IndustryAutonomous vehicles
Founded2014
Founder
  • Paul Newman
  • Ingmar Posner
Headquarters
Oxford
,
England
Area served
UK, Europe, US, Asia
Key people
Gavin Jackson, CEO[1]
ProductsSaaS
Number of employees
400[1] (2025)
Websiteoxa.tech

Oxa (formerly Oxbotica) is an autonomous vehicle software company, headquartered in Oxfordshire, England, and founded by Paul Newman and Ingmar Posner.[2]

History

In 2013, Newman and Posner led the RobotCar UK project as part of Oxford University's Department of Engineering Science Mobile Robotics Group.[3] RobotCar became the first autonomous vehicle on UK roads.[4]

In 2014, the pair used the newly developed technology to found Oxbotica.[5]

Oxbotica has raised over $18 million to date and is backed by the IP Group, Parkwalk Advisors and AXA XL.[6] In 2018, Uber's former EMEA business head, Fraser Robinson, was appointed to the board of directors.[7]

In May 2019, Ozgur Tohumcu replaced Dr Graeme Smith as Oxbotica's CEO.[8] Also in 2019, the company opened an office in Toronto, Canada.[9]

In January 2021, Oxbotica announced it had raised $47 million in a Series B round.[10]

In August 2021, the company achieved a safety landmark as the first company to have its autonomy safety case assessed by BSI (British Standards Institution) against the requirements of the UK Code of Practice 2019, PAS 1881:2020 and PAS 1883:2020, certifying the safety conformity of its autonomous vehicle trials and testing.[11] The assessment was completed as part of Project Endeavour, the UK's first multi-city demonstration of autonomous vehicle services and capability.[12]

In December 2021, Gavin Jackson was named CEO.[13]

In January 2023, the company raised $140 million in a Series C round.[14]

In May 2023, the company changed its name to Oxa.[15]

Oxa raised $103 million (£77 million) in March 2026, including $50 million from the UK National Wealth Fund.[16] Nvidia's venture capital division, NVentures, also invested in the Series D funding round,[17] along with existing Oxa shareholders IP Group, Australian pension fund Hostplus, and BP Ventures, a division of the UK oil company.[16]

Technology

Oxa designs software and hardware for the conversion of industrial vehicles into autonomous ones.[16][17]

Its full stack, end-to-end Universal Autonomy software is both vehicle and platform-agnostic, with no dependence on external infrastructure such as GPS.[18] It can be deployed in any environment and on any terrain.[19] In addition to underground uses, the technology is also useful in natural canyons and forests, where GPS signals are weak or non-existent, but also in "urban canyons" — cities with tall buildings that obstruct GPS signals for proper navigation.[20]

Public deployments

The LUTZ Pathfinder pod had its first public demonstration in February 2015 in Milton Keynes.[21] The Government-funded project was designed to ensure that autonomous vehicles would comply with the Highway Code.[22] The pod featured autonomous control software from Oxbotica, including 19 sensors, cameras, radar and Lidar.[23]

As part of the GATEway Project in 2017, Oxbotica trialled seven autonomous shuttle buses in Greenwich, navigating a two-mile riverside path near London's O2 Arena on a route that is also used by pedestrians and cyclists.[24] Oxbotica ran the UK's first trial of autonomous grocery deliveries that year, with British online supermarket Ocado in London, as the next step in the GATEway Project.[25]

In 2018, Oxbotica deployed its autonomous vehicle software at London's Gatwick Airport, which subsequently became the first airport in the world to trial an autonomous shuttle service.[26] The electric-powered vehicles transported staff via airside roads between the airport's North and South terminals.[27] An airside trial of Oxbotica's autonomous driving technology was then successfully completed at Heathrow Airport in partnership with IAG Cargo, the first airside trial of an autonomous vehicle at a UK airport.[28] The Oxbotica-designed CargoPod ran autonomously along a cargo route around the airside perimeter for three weeks.[29]

As part of the UK Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles-funded DRIVEN project, Oxbotica is developing and deploying a fleet of Ford Fusion autonomous vehicles running in both London and Oxford on public roads, and in conjunction with its consortium partners, running real-time insurance.[30] AXA XL is partnering with Oxbotica on the development of smart insurance products using Oxbotica's autonomy technology to improve road safety.[31]

In 2018, Oxbotica announced a partnership with London private taxi firm Addison Lee to develop and deploy autonomous taxis in the city of London by 2021.[32] A 3D street mapping exercise was conducted in London's Canary Wharf.[33]

In 2019, Oxbotica deployed a fleet of their autonomous technology within Ford Mondeo cars on public roads in Stratford, London to test their use in city environments.[34] The £13.2 million project is in collaboration with The DRIVEN Project to develop self-driving cars.[35]

Awards

Oxbotica won the Financial Times Boldness in Business Award in 2017.

2019

  • Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal - Paul Newman[36]

2017

2016

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Google-backed UK startup Oxa says US operations "shock absorbed" from Trump tariffs". Webrazzi. 2025-04-18. https://tech.eu/2025/04/18/google-backed-uk-startup-oxa-says-us-operations-shock-absorbed-from-trump-tariffs/. 
  2. ↑ Newman, Paul. "Paul Newman" (in en-GB). https://ori.ox.ac.uk/ori-people/paul-newman/. 
  3. ↑ "Professor Paul Newman | University of Oxford". http://www.ox.ac.uk/research/research-in-conversation/making-sense-numbers/paul-newman. 
  4. ↑ "RobotCar". https://ori.ox.ac.uk/application/robotcar/. 
  5. ↑ "About Us". https://www.oxbotica.com/about-us/. 
  6. ↑ "Oxbotica raises £14m to accelerate deployment of self-driving vehicles - Oxa" (Press release). Oxa. 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  7. ↑ "Former Uber Exec Joins Board of Self-Driving Startup". Bloomberg.com. 2018-10-09. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-09/former-uber-executive-joins-board-of-oxford-self-driving-startup. 
  8. ↑ Smith, Adrian (2019-05-20). "UK Autonomous Driving Group Oxbotica Announces New CEO". https://www.autofutures.tv/2019/05/20/oxbotica-announces-new-ceo/. 
  9. ↑ Ingram, Katie (15 February 2023). "Oxbotica expanding Toronto team to tackle North America's autonomous vehicle software market". https://electricautonomy.ca/2023/02/15/oxbotica-autonomous-software-toronto-operations/. 
  10. ↑ "Oxbotica raises $47M to deploy its autonomous vehicle software in industrial applications". 6 January 2021. https://ca.style.yahoo.com/oxbotica-raises-47m-deploy-autonomous-002240071.html. 
  11. ↑ O'Halloran, Joe. "Project Endeavour concludes with autonomous vehicle passenger rides in London". https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252505239/Project-Endeavour-concludes-with-autonomous-vehicle-passenger-rides-in-London. 
  12. ↑ "Driving standards for autonomous vehicles with Project Endeavour". https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/blog/automotive-blog/driving-standards-for-autonomous-vehicles-with-project-endeavour/. 
  13. ↑ Spencer, Ben. "Oxbotica names Gavin Jackson CEO". https://www.itsinternational.com/its4/news/oxbotica-names-gavin-jackson-ceo. 
  14. ↑ Carey, Nick (11 January 2023). "Oxbotica raises $140 mln to deploy self-driving commercial vehicles". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/oxbotica-raises-140-mln-deploy-self-driving-commercial-vehicles-2023-01-11/. 
  15. ↑ "Oxbotica Unveils New Brand, as Company Scales Globally". 30 May 2023. https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/oxbotica-unveils-brand-company-scales-070000615.html. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Kollewe, Julia (2026-03-04). "Nvidia and UK Wealth Fund invest in British autonomous driving startup Oxa" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/04/nvidia-uk-wealth-fund-invest-british-autonomous-driving-startup-oxa. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Carey, Nick (2026-03-03). "UK self-driving startup Oxa raises $103mln to scale up at ports, airports". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-self-driving-startup-oxa-raises-103mln-scale-up-ports-airports-2026-03-04/. 
  18. ↑ "Innovate UK: Oxbotica develops AI-based brain for self driving cars" (in en). https://sciencebusiness.net/network-news/innovate-uk-oxbotica-develops-ai-based-brain-self-driving-cars. 
  19. ↑ "Oxbotica appoints new CEO; marks next stage of international growth" (in en). 24 May 2019. https://www.globalminingreview.com/finance-business/24052019/oxbotica-appoints-new-ceo-marks-next-stage-of-international-growth/. 
  20. ↑ Shah, Sooraj (2020-07-14). "How Autonomous Cars Are Overcoming GPS Signal Loss With Radar" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/soorajshah/2020/07/14/how-autonomous-cars-are-overcoming-gps-signal-loss-with-radar/. 
  21. ↑ rosemary. "LUTZ Pathfinder" (in en-GB). https://ori.ox.ac.uk/projects/lutz-self-driving-pods/. 
  22. ↑ Davies, Rob (2016-10-11). "Self-driving car tested for first time in UK in Milton Keynes" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/11/self-driving-car-first-uk-test-milton-keynes-driverless-lutz-pathfinder. 
  23. ↑ "Driverless pods". https://ts.catapult.org.uk/innovation-centre/cav/cav-projects-at-the-tsc/self-driving-pods/. 
  24. ↑ Balch, Oliver (2017-04-13). "Driverless cars will make our roads safer, says Oxbotica co-founder" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/apr/13/driverless-cars-will-make-our-roads-safer-says-oxbotica-co-founder. 
  25. ↑ "Ocado's driverless delivery van is a glimpse of the future" (in en). 29 June 2017. https://www.engadget.com/2017/06/29/cargopod-ocado-oxbotica-driverless-delivery-van/. 
  26. ↑ Schofield, Jack. "Gatwick Airport to trial British self-driving car system from Oxbotica" (in en). https://www.zdnet.com/article/gatwick-airport-to-trial-british-self-driving-car-system-from-oxbotica/. 
  27. ↑ "Gatwick to be first airport in the world to trial autonomous vehicles to shuttle staff across the airfield" (in en). http://www.mediacentre.gatwickairport.com/press-releases/2018/18_03_16_autonomous_vehicles.aspx. 
  28. ↑ "Heathrow Airport Conducts First Trail of Newest Autonomous Airside Vehicles" (in en-US). 2018-03-29. https://interestingengineering.com/heathrow-airport-conducts-first-trail-of-newest-autonomous-airside-vehicles. 
  29. ↑ "IAG Cargo trials UK's first autonomous airport vehicle - Lloyd's Loading List". https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/adviceandinsight/IAG-Cargo-trials-UK%E2%80%99s-first-autonomous-airport-vehicle/71653.htm#.XUMELpNKiYU. 
  30. ↑ "Oxbotica: AI firm develops 'brain' for autonomous vehicles" (in en). https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/oxbotica-ai-firm-develops-brain-for-autonomous-vehicles. 
  31. ↑ "XL Catlin Signs Landmark Agreement With Oxbotica". https://axaxl.com/media/xl-catlin-signs-landmark-agreement-with-oxbotica. 
  32. ↑ Topham, Gwyn (2018-10-22). "Addison Lee aims to deploy self-driving cars in London by 2021" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/22/self-driving-cars-london-addison-lee-oxbotica-huge-leap. 
  33. ↑ "Addison Lee Group and Oxbotica begin mapping Canary Wharf for autonomous vehicle services" (in en-GB). https://www.addisonlee.com/addlib/addison-lee-group-oxbotica-begin-mapping-canary-wharf-autonomous-vehicle-services/. 
  34. ↑ Topham, Gwyn (2019-10-03). "'It's going to be a revolution': driverless cars in new London trial" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/oct/03/driverless-cars-in-new-london-trial-in-complex-urban-environment. 
  35. ↑ "DRIVEN project demonstrates how driverless cars can operate safely in London" (in en). 2019-09-30. https://trl.co.uk/news/news/driven-project-demonstrates-how-driverless-cars-can-operate-safely-london. 
  36. ↑ "Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal for 'pioneering engineer' Professor Paul Newman — Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division". https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/news/royal-academy-of-engineering-silver-medal-for-pioneering-engineer-professor-paul-newman. 
  37. ↑ "Boldness in Business awards 2017: FT editor Lionel Barber's view". Financial Times. 24 April 2017. https://www.ft.com/content/c5c9922a-ed24-11e6-ba01-119a44939bb6. Retrieved 16 January 2017. 
  38. ↑ "DRIVERLESS VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY WINS THIS YEAR'S AWARD FOR INNOVATION". The Oxford Trust. 3 July 2017. http://theoxfordtrust.co.uk/2017/07/03/driverless-vehicle-technology-wins-years-award-innovation/. Retrieved 16 January 2017. 
  39. ↑ "Oxbotica scoops robotics award". Insurance Business Mag. 30 June 2016. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/technology/oxbotica-scoops-robotics-award-34141.aspx. Retrieved 16 January 2017. 

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