At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nvidia announced a partnership with Toyota to power the automaker’s next-generation autonomous vehicles. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, revealed that Toyota’s upcoming self-driving cars will use Nvidia’s Cosmos platform. This platform processes real-time data through advanced AI, enabling vehicles to make rapid predictions and navigate complex driving scenarios safely. Huang emphasized that the Cosmos platform is “the world’s first world foundation model,” which will revolutionize the way both autonomous vehicles and robots operate.
Nvidia’s New Driving OS: How It Works
The core of Nvidia’s autonomous driving system is its Drive AGX onboard computer, which is built around the Cosmos AI platform. The system operates in three key stages:
- Realistic Image Creation: It generates highly detailed images, both in video and still formats.
- Synthetic Data Creation: It simulates real-world data, helping autonomous systems understand complex environments and human behaviour more quickly.
- Simulation Testing: Using Nvidia Omniverse, the data from the autonomous vehicles is tested and refined in a virtual environment.
According to Huang, the potential of autonomous vehicle technology remains largely untapped, and he predicts it will become the “first trillion-dollar robotics market.” He also emphasized that Nvidia’s self-driving technology provides a cost-effective solution, setting a new standard for the industry.
Nvidia’s expanding partnership with automotive industry
Nvidia has deepened its ties with the automotive sector, with collaborations aimed at advancing autonomous vehicle technology. Since 2019, the Toyota Research Institute and Nvidia have been working together to develop, train, and validate autonomous systems using two cloud-based computing platforms. More recently, Aurora and Continental have joined forces with Nvidia to scale up driverless truck technology. As part of their strategic partnership, Nvidia’s DriveOS will be integrated into Aurora Driver, offering a Level 4 autonomous driving suite.
These autonomous trucks, set to roll off the production line by 2027, will be manufactured by Continental.In addition to these partnerships, Nvidia Drive AGX, known for its cutting-edge advanced driver assistance systems and road mapping, has formed alliances with several automakers. Companies like BYD, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, and Volvo Cars have incorporated Nvidia’s technology into their self-driving and electric vehicle platforms, further solidifying Nvidia’s role as a key player in the future of autonomous driving.
