Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
General Motors on Thursday announced that SoftBank Vision Fund will invest $2.25 billion into its self-driving program, with plans to commercialize such vehicles next year.
Bigger picture: This is a super-charging of Cruise, a self-driving startup that GM bought for nearly $1 billion in 2016. It's also further complicates the self-driving and ride-share web, as GM is a major investor in Lyft while SoftBank is a major investor in Uber.
- GM will also invest an additional $1.1 billion into the Cruise program.
- SoftBank's investment is split into two parts: $900 million upfront, and the other $1.35 billion after commercialization. Once complete, SoftBank would hold a 19.6% stake in GM Cruise.
- SoftBank did explore investing in other auto OEMs during its due diligence process, but believed GM offered superior scale and speed to market.
- The deal does not have exclusivity for either side, but both have agreed to a 7-year hold period before seeking liquidity.
- GM declined to give a specific time in 2019 for commercialization, nor specific markets.
- When asked about ride-hail networks, GM exec Dan Ammann said that SoftBank's various relationships give the automaker "enhanced flexibility." That might send a chill through Lyft.