SMARTER CITIES – POWERED BY AUTOTECH'S PORTFOLIO 

When it comes to urban transportation, ease of access, improved safety, more efficient public services, lowered carbon footprints, and saved time can all be enhanced with smart city technologies that can improve our daily commutes and quality of life.

A smart city uses information and communications technology that collects data to improve operational efficiency, share information with the public, and provide better government services while enabling citizen welfare. Let’s look at how several of our portfolio companies are helping improve mobility in cities worldwide, including New York, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Sao Paulo, and Barcelona.

Hayden AI, a pioneer in smart traffic enforcement that uses a mobile platform to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of municipal fleet vehicles, has been awarded a contract with New York’s Metro Transportation Authority (MTA). This will allow the company to conduct real-time monitoring and analysis of city bus lanes to ensure they are free of vehicles that often stop and treat the space as a delivery zone. This technology will be deployed on 300 MTA buses to enable them to move through traffic faster and more efficiently.

Hayden AI is also partnering with Conduent Transportation to improve child safety with autonomous school bus safety technology. Employing artificial intelligence and computer vision, the system will use mobile cameras mounted on bus exteriors that activate when bus lights flash and the “stop arm” (which tells vehicles not to pass) extends. If a driver violates the required stop, the camera will capture the violation.

Speaking of buses, as more employees return to the workplace, they’re facing commuting challenges, including rising fuel costs and lost time. BusUp, which offers shuttle services for companies throughout the world (including Siemens and Louis Vuitton), believes paid transportation is a critical perk that improves both efficiency and retention. Using proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms and route-optimization technology, BusUp enables employers to offer the most efficient commuting, last-mile, and intercampus routes. This smart technology reduces transportation costs for employers and helps companies meet their corporate sustainability goals while also embracing the latest trend of hybrid remote and in-office employment.

When it comes to last-mile deliveries and short commutes, many cities are turning to shared-use micromobility programs. Veo, the first profitable micromobility company in the U.S., is quickly expanding throughout the U.S. with its mixed fleet of micromobility vehicles, entering nearly 30 new markets by the end of 2022. Just last week, Veo revealed the shared micromobility industry's first dual-passenger vehicle, the Apollo Class II e-bike, that can safely accommodate two riders or additional cargo storage. As cities evolve, they want transportation options that are convenient, quick, clean, accessible, and inclusive. Veo meets those needs with e-bicycles as well as seated and standup e-scooters.

Outside of the U.S., Marti, the # 1 mobility app in Turkey and one of the top five largest micromobility fleets in the world, is changing transportation models in Istanbul and throughout the country.

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SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR – PORTFOLIO NEWS

• BusUp's optimization of shuttle routes for corporate commuters can lead to cost savings of more than 60%.
• Laka has been hailed for offering top-notch service at a fair price and just announced its expansion into Germany.
• TechCrunch highlights Veo’s growth: In June 2021 the company was in 22 markets; a year later, it added another 27 and remained profitable.
• Work Truck Solutions recently announced a partnership with FordDirect to assist dealers in capitalizing on the value and profits associated with the growing B2B business opportunity.

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