Deep-tech start-up Minus Zero rolls out AI autopilot that dodges cattle, carts on Indian roads

Deep-tech mobility start-up Minus Zero has developed and unveiled an end-to-end autopilot system—technology the company claims to have pioneered and customised specifically for Indian roads. The start-up has tested its autopilot system in Bengaluru, reporting successful trials using foundational AI models to navigate roads and bypass common obstacles such as cattle, pushcarts and smaller two-wheelers.

Minus Zero’s approach involves training foundational models to learn navigation directly from large, unstructured datasets. This development comes at a time when India’s automobile sector is gradually embracing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies. Technologically, the new system features minimal hardware, map-less autonomy, and a comprehensive full-stack AI platform.

The company says it has strong reason to believe Indian automobile users are ready to transition to more sophisticated ADAS systems equipped with richer technological features. CEO Gagandeep Reehal has clarified, however, that despite the use of foundational AI, the system is not fully driverless.
“Autopilot falls under the ADAS category and is not completely driverless—many automotive OEMs have already implemented basic ADAS features such as lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control,” he said. “There are currently no regulations for driverless vehicles in India, and the market isn’t mature enough yet—we’re not focusing on full driverless technology at this time.”

Minus Zero was founded in Bengaluru in 2020 by Reehal and Gursimran Kalra, initially as a full-stack AI platform for autonomous driving. The company has secured \$1.8 million in funding from IIT Mandi and Chiratae Ventures. In 2023, the start-up unveiled zPod, which it described as India’s first fully autonomous vehicle concept. [Know more]

What sets Minus Zero’s latest autopilot system apart is its reliance on cameras—rather than high-definition maps—to operate effectively. The launch also marks the first time an end-to-end AI model has been tested on Indian roads. “Through the foundational model, we are able to replicate how a human brain would respond to real-world driving conditions,” Reehal added.

Reehal stated that multiple versions of the autopilot technology would be released in phases. A further distinguishing feature of Minus Zero’s system is its ability to function on narrower roads, with or without lane markings—something current ADAS technologies typically struggle with due to their dependency on clearly marked lanes.

“We are already working with a couple of major OEMs as they move towards these solutions, and we are in discussions with several others,” Reehal said. “While we are still in the process of developing and validating the system, we aim to be production-ready within the next two years, in partnership with our OEM collaborators.”