We’re excited to be kick starting a long-term business development programme in Japan for our new San Francisco-based client Roadio.
Roadio develops best-in-class, vision-based ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) for motorcycles, mopeds and e-bikes – covering blind spot detection, lane change assistance and collision warning. One of its unique features is cloud integration, ensuring it is easy to install and use.
Roadio’s founding team brings considerable acumen in vision system and AI algorithm development – sharpened through past work with the likes of GoPro – with a mission to prevent the hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries motorcyclists suffer each year.
Our objective is to build business relationships with Japan’s ‘big four’ motorcycle OEMs – Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki – and their supply chains. These four OEMs sold more than 25 million bikes globally in 2023!
Our Tokyo-based automotive & mobility specialist, and head of the Roadio business development team, Øyvind Lauritsen, said: “Japan has a long tradition in motorcycle tech development and the local OEMs are responsible for many of the innovative safety features on our roads worldwide. Their goals and development roadmaps align closely with Roadio’s, so it makes perfect sense to prioritise expansion into the Japanese market.
“Our plan is to engage the ADAS teams at the ‘big four’, identify near-term opportunities for trials and proofs of concept, and build up to long-term joint development and licensing deals.”
Roadio’s CEO, Jonathan Denby, said: “Approaching Japanese motorcycle OEMs is a no-brainer for us, but we knew the market was notoriously tricky and decisions are made in Japan, so we waited for the right time – and for the right partner to support us.
“We’re confident that, together with the Intralink Tokyo team, we’ll be able to break new commercial ground in Japan – and we look forward to going out there to meet the most promising prospects in the new year.”
We look forward to working with the Roadio team.
If you have any questions about Japan’s automotive & mobility market, get in touch with Tommy Shiekman at thomas.shiekman@intralinkgroup.com.