Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Rivian buys AI startup to build 3D worlds for self-driving tests
Rivian has acquired UK startup Third Dimension to support its self-driving work.
The startup’s AI turns images and videos into lifelike 3D environments, and its 15-person team will join Rivian’s autonomy and AI group.
Rivian collects footage from vehicles whose owners enable camera-data sharing, but rare events that challenge automated driving can be hard to capture.
The 3D scenes can recreate real driving situations and let developers change details such as lighting, weather, camera angles or the movements of other road users.
This gives Rivian more ways to train and test its driver-assistance software and future self-driving systems.
The deal supports Rivian’s planned Uber robotaxis, which are expected to use R2 SUVs on Uber’s network from 2028.
Rivian says a more capable hands-free feature is planned by the end of 2026, while a driver must still supervise it; its full-autonomy plans remain in development.
Rivian has acquired U.K. startup Third Dimension to turn real-world driving data into 3D environments for testing and developing self-driving technology.
The startup’s 15-person team will join Rivian’s autonomy and AI group, led by James Philbin.
Third Dimension uses AI to create lifelike 3D worlds from images and videos, allowing teams to alter factors such as camera angles, traffic participants, lighting and weather.
Rivian collects more than 400,000 driving sequences a day from vehicles whose owners enable camera-data sharing, Philbin told TechCrunch.
The companies did not disclose the deal’s terms.
- Who
- Rivian acquired Third Dimension, a U.K. startup founded by Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski.
- What
- Rivian plans to use the startup’s AI technology to turn real-world driving data into 3D simulations for developing and testing automated driving systems.
- When
- The acquisition was reported on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Third Dimension is based in the U.K.; most of its 15-person team is there. Rivian said the deal could expand its London AI hub.
- Why
- Rivian wants to use realistic, changeable simulations to develop and validate its driver-assistance and self-driving systems.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski founded Third Dimension.
Third Dimension raised a $7 million seed round.
TechCrunch reported that Rivian had acquired Third Dimension.
Rivian plans to release a driving feature for surface streets and highways that still requires drivers to supervise and be ready to take over.
- Acquired startup
- Third Dimension
- Team size
- 15 people
- Seed funding
- $7 million in October 2024
- Driving data
- More than 400,000 sequences a day, according to James Philbin
- Team destination
- Rivian’s autonomy and AI group, led by James Philbin
3 sources
What people are saying
For us, it’s about taking real scenarios, but making them simulatable
These are not synthetic kind of video game styles, they’re real things that happen in the world, but now we get that extra dial of being able to move the cameras around, shift other agents, have maybe different lighting or weather conditions. So it’s a really powerful tool for us.
Simulation is central to how we train and validate our autonomous driving systems
I think as a small company, having to serve many, many different masters is very hard, and so we’re very excited to come work on a problem that has such an amount of scale, where our technology makes a true difference.