Yunqi Capital-Backed Yitu Technology Closes Pre-B Round, AICAR Goes Live
Next Stop: From Cockpit to Full Vehicle
Getting large models into cars hinges on clearing one critical hurdle: meeting automotive-grade standards and securing mass deployment from OEMs. Cross that threshold, and the AI cockpit evolves from concept to product. Yitu Technology, a Yunqi Capital angel-round lead investment, recently closed a nearly RMB 100 million Pre-B round — its third financing in a single year. To date, the company has served over 70% of China's top domestic automakers and major joint-venture brands, with dozens of vehicle models in mass production and cumulative deliveries reaching the millions.
In this edition of "Yunqi Partners," we take a closer look at Yitu Technology's progress on AICAR.
The following is adapted from Yitu Technology
Yitu Technology (EXTURING) recently announced the completion of its Pre-B round, raising nearly RMB 100 million. The round was co-led by Shanghai Semiconductor Equipment & Materials Industry Investment Fund and Sands Talk Capital, with participation from Shenzhen Jiupai Capital Management and Jiangsu Jinqiao Private Equity Fund Management. Existing investor Hefei Baohe District Sci-Tech Innovation Fund continued to increase its stake.
The proceeds will accelerate the scaled rollout of AICAR, advance the next-generation AICAR deeply integrated with self-developed on-device models, simultaneously push forward a multi-terminal strategic layout and global market expansion, and strengthen multi-site R&D delivery capabilities and top-tier talent development.
Three Rounds in One Year, Five Strategic Pillars Filled
Founded in 2023, Yitu Technology focuses on empowering cockpit intelligence and automotive AI transformation through full-stack AI Native capabilities. Since early 2026, Yitu has completed three consecutive financing rounds: In January, the first close of its Series A was co-led by Volcano Engine and Ruicheng Fund, with Baohe Venture Capital joining and existing shareholders including Yunqi, Yijun, and Cornerstone increasing their stakes. In April, its Series A+ exceeded RMB 100 million, led by Yunqi Capital with strategic investment from SAIF Partners and follow-on from Yijun and Dening. In August, the Pre-B round closed, co-led by Shanghai Semiconductor and Sands Talk Capital, with diverse new investors coming aboard.
The three rounds' investors span internet giants, AI institutions, industrial capital, and strategic investors — covering national-level semiconductor industry funds, overseas industrial capital, market-driven funds, and local computing capital. From foundational model ecosystems to vehicle manufacturing chains, from semiconductors and compute to global markets, five critical strategic directions were filled within a single year.
From Mass Production to AICAR Launch
On the product front, Yitu has maintained a steady rhythm of iteration and delivery: In 2024, the industry's first in-vehicle AI agent platform reached mass production; in 2025, the core product "Mind AI Full-Stack System" debuted; at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, "Mind AI Full-Stack System 2.0" and a global cockpit solution were unveiled; and recently, AICAR officially launched. The company's self-developed on-device models and hardware-software integrated achievements are also set for release soon.
Commercially, the company has served over 70% of China's top domestic automakers and major joint-venture brands, with dozens of vehicle models in mass production and cumulative deliveries reaching the millions. Supporting this is a 300-plus-person AI-native team spanning algorithms, systems, interaction design, and engineering delivery.
Next Chapter: From Cockpit to Full Vehicle
Going forward, the Mind AI Full-Stack System will continue iterating, with simultaneous advances in model capabilities, interaction experience, and data engineering. Self-developed on-device models and hardware-software integration will be deepened, so that intelligence extends beyond conversation to genuine understanding of and response to the vehicle and the world around it.
The next-generation AICAR represents the critical next step on this path: deeply integrated with self-developed on-device models, extending AI-native capabilities from the cockpit to the full vehicle.
AI-native terminals are moving from technology validation toward scaled adoption. The automobile is the most constrained and thoroughly validated starting point on this path — from cockpit to full vehicle, from cars to more terminals, from China to the world.
