BMW i Ventures has unveiled a $300 million fund targeting AI-driven startups that could reshape automotive manufacturing and robotics. The third fund from BMW's independent venture arm will back early-stage companies across North America and Europe working on agentic AI, autonomous vehicles, and industrial software.

Managing partners Marcus Behrendt and Kaspar Sage are steering the firm toward what they see as foundational technology rather than just another trend. Previous funds focused on autonomous vehicles in 2016 and sustainability in 2021, building to this AI-centric strategy. The fund expands the firm's toolkit for sustainability rather than replacing it.

A prime example is Synera, a German company using AI agents to slash engineering design processes from weeks to minutes. The platform already houses data on materials and engineering parameters, making it ripe for AI integration. Despite the fanfare, no investments have been made from this third fund yet.

The $1.1 billion under management across all funds positions BMW i Ventures to capture the next wave of automotive innovation, where AI becomes the backbone for robotics, software development, and car production.