In a bold vision for the future of transportation, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang predicts a world where one billion robotic cars will roam the streets. This ambitious forecast, shared at the GPU Technology Conference, underscores NVIDIA’s commitment to revolutionizing the automotive industry through advanced artificial intelligence and computing technologies.
NVIDIA, traditionally known for its graphics processing units (GPUs), has pivoted to become a major player in the autonomous vehicle sector. The company’s DRIVE AGX platform has emerged as a cornerstone for carmakers aiming to achieve various levels of autonomy, from advanced driver assistance systems to fully driverless vehicles.
At CES 2025, Huang unveiled the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion AV platform, built on the new NVIDIA AGX Thor system-on-a-chip (SoC). This platform is designed to handle generative AI models and deliver advanced functional safety and autonomous driving capabilities.
“The autonomous vehicle revolution is here,” Huang declared. “Building autonomous vehicles, like all robots, requires three computers: NVIDIA DGX to train AI models, Omniverse to test drive and generate synthetic data, and DRIVE AGX, a supercomputer in the car.”
NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform is revolutionizing the development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) through its advanced simulation capabilities and synthetic data generation at scale. This powerful tool enables high-fidelity sensor simulations for cameras, radar, and lidar, allowing developers to test and validate AV perception systems in virtual environments before real-world deployment.
By leveraging Omniverse in conjunction with NVIDIA Cosmos, automakers can simulate billions of driving scenarios, including rare and hazardous edge cases, crucial for training robust AI models.
The platform’s digital twin technology creates virtual replicas of physical environments, vehicles, and systems, facilitating comprehensive testing of AV software in controlled, realistic settings.
Omniverse’s cloud-based architecture supports scalable simulations across multiple instances, significantly accelerating the development cycle. Its seamless integration with existing AV development workflows through APIs and SDKs enhances the realism and accuracy of testing processes.
Omniverse plays a critical role in ensuring AV safety and validation by simulating challenging real-world scenarios, such as adverse weather conditions or complex pedestrian interactions.
The platform’s collaborative virtual environment fosters innovation by enabling multidisciplinary teams to work together in real-time.
By reducing dependence on costly and time-consuming real-world data collection, Omniverse is accelerating the deployment of autonomous vehicles, with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang predicting rapid advancements in AV capabilities in the coming years.
NVIDIA’s strategy involves forging partnerships with major automotive manufacturers and technology companies. These collaborations are crucial for integrating NVIDIA’s technology into next-generation vehicles and accelerating the development of autonomous vehicles.
Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has committed to building its next-generation vehicles on NVIDIA’s DRIVE AGX Orin platform, running the safety-certified NVIDIA DriveOS operating system. This partnership marks a significant milestone in NVIDIA’s automotive ambitions.
Other notable collaborations include:
- Uber: Jointly developing AI-powered self-driving technology using NVIDIA’s Cosmos generative world foundation model.
- Aurora and Continental: Deploying driverless trucks at scale by 20276.
- Hyundai Motor Group: Partnering to drive AI innovation in manufacturing and mobility6.
A key component of NVIDIA’s autonomous vehicle strategy is the use of synthetic data generation. Huang emphasized the critical role of synthetic data in advancing autonomous vehicles, as real-world data is limited.
Using NVIDIA Omniverse and Cosmos, automakers can simulate billions of driving scenarios, providing the vast datasets required for safe and reliable self-driving systems. This approach significantly reduces dependence on real-world data collection and accelerates AV development.
NVIDIA forecasts a $5 billion run rate for its automotive business in fiscal year 2025, representing a fivefold increase from 2023. This projection reflects the company’s growing influence in the autonomous vehicle market.
As the industry evolves, NVIDIA continues to push the boundaries of autonomy with advancements in AI, sensor fusion, and connectivity. The company’s focus on safety, reliability, and cybersecurity aims to build public trust in autonomous vehicles and facilitate their widespread adoption.
Jensen Huang’s vision extends beyond NVIDIA’s success, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and collaborations to create a connected ecosystem that can truly revolutionize transportation.
“Just as computer graphics was revolutionized at such an incredible pace, you’re going to see the pace of AV development increasing tremendously over the next several years,” Huang predicted.
Article Last Updated: March 3, 2025.
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Michael Kahn is the publisher of The Weekly Driver, serving as writer, photographer, and content creator. With a keen eye for storytelling and a passion for adventure, he specializes in uncovering the stories and experiences of automobile enthusiasts. Michael’s work is inspired by his love for off-the-beaten-path road trips, global exploration, and the pursuit of exceptional culinary experiences, all captured through the lens of a world traveler and automotive enthusiast.