ClearMotion

ClearMotion is a technology company.

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Updated: Dec 10, 2025 ·

Recent News & Mentions

May 1, 2023FundingClearMotion - Venture Round Sep 1, 2022FundingClearMotion - Venture Round Jan 1, 2019FundingClearMotion - Series D Jan 1, 2017FundingClearMotion - Series C Nov 1, 2014FundingClearMotion - Series B

Financial History

ClearMotion has raised $346.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $32.0M Venture Round in May 2023.

Total Raised

$346.0M

Valuation

N/A

Funding Rounds Raised

Date	Round	Other Investors
May 1, 2023	$32.0M Venture Round	Franklin Templeton Investments, NewView Capital, Gen Isayama
Sep 1, 2022	$39.0M Venture Round	Accel, Arrive, Better Tomorrow Ventures, Bond, Emergence Capital, Franklin Templeton Investments, Locus Ventures, Lux Capital, One Planet Group, Sequoia Capital, UpHonest Capital, Y Combinator, Eddie Hartman
Jan 1, 2019	$120.0M Series D	Accel, Arrive, Better Tomorrow Ventures, Bolt, Bond, Emergence Capital, Franklin Templeton Investments, Locus Ventures, Lux Capital, One Planet Group, Sequoia Capital, UpHonest Capital, World Innovation Lab, Y Combinator, Eddie Hartman
Jan 1, 2017	$130.0M Series C	Bolt, World Innovation Lab
Nov 1, 2014	$25.0M Series B	Bolt, World Innovation Lab

Financial History

ClearMotion has raised $346.0M across 5 funding rounds.

Total Raised

$346.0M

Valuation

N/A

Deep Dive

High-Level Overview

ClearMotion is a technology company specializing in software-defined chassis systems for the automotive industry, developing advanced active suspension technology to enhance ride comfort, handling, performance, and safety.[1][2][3][4] Its flagship product, ClearMotion1 (CM1), features the ActiValve—a proactive hardware system with actuators, controllers, and software that senses road disturbances in nanoseconds and counteracts them in real-time, replacing traditional shock absorbers while integrating lightweight, cost-effective components.[2][3][4][5] The company serves OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, addressing the problem of unwanted vehicle motion on imperfect roads through on-car hardware and RoadMotion cloud software, which crowdsources high-definition road surface data for predictive adjustments.[1][2][4] With $351.33M raised, a recent $4M funding round, and a landmark production order from NIO in 2023, ClearMotion demonstrates strong growth momentum toward commercialization.[1][3]

Origin Story

ClearMotion was founded in 2009 by MIT graduates Shakeel Avadhany and Zack Anderson, initially as Levant Power, focusing on energy recovery in suspension systems.[1][5] The founders quickly pivoted after recognizing limitations in existing active suspension technologies—high costs, energy use, and bulky hydraulics—adapting their innovation into a fully active system with a compact form factor similar to standard shocks.[5] Renamed ClearMotion in January 2017, the company evolved from regenerative damping to proactive motion control, achieving early traction through simulations in Simulink and CarSim, real-time prototyping on Speedgoat hardware, and vehicle testing that adapts to driving behaviors and road conditions.[3][5] Pivotal moments include closing initial production contracts and securing the NIO order, marking entry into series development for OEM launches.[3][5]

Core Differentiators

Proactive Hardware (ActiValve and CM1): Ultra-low latency actuators detect and neutralize road disturbances in milliseconds, providing real-time control over each wheel for superior comfort, handling, and safety—outperforming passive or reactive systems.[2][4][5]
Cloud-Based Intelligence (RoadMotion): Crowdsources data from vehicle sensors via machine learning to create 20mm-accurate road maps, enabling predictive adjustments before hazards are encountered, with ongoing learning from fleet data.[2][4]
Efficiency and Integration: Lightweight, energy-efficient design reduces vehicle weight and costs while flexibly integrating into various models, using existing car sensors and CAN bus for minimal added complexity.[2][3][5]
Performance Versatility: Adapts to modes like "zen" for comfort, performance driving for precise handling, and hazard foresight, validated in harsh real-world conditions.[4][5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

ClearMotion rides the wave of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and electrification in automotive, where proactive chassis control aligns with demands for superior in-cabin experiences amid rising EV adoption and autonomous driving trends.[1][3][4] Timing is ideal as roads degrade globally while consumer expectations for comfort and safety surge—OEMs like NIO seek differentiators in competitive EV markets, amplified by ADAS integration and cloud connectivity.[2][3][4] Market forces favoring ClearMotion include regulatory pushes for efficiency (its lightweight design boosts range) and data-driven mobility, positioning it to influence ecosystem standards through crowdsourced road intelligence that benefits insurers, infrastructure planners, and fleets beyond OEMs.[2][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

ClearMotion is poised for scaled production with OEM launches imminent, leveraging NIO's order and $351M funding to expand RoadMotion's cloud API across global fleets.[1][3] Trends like AI-enhanced autonomy, sustainable mobility, and hyper-personalized rides will propel its growth, potentially evolving from suspension specialist to core SDV enabler with partnerships in battery-adjacent tech.[1][2][5] As adoption spreads, ClearMotion could redefine "quality time in cars," transforming reactive travel into proactive, flow-like journeys that set new benchmarks for automotive innovation.[4]

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding has ClearMotion raised?

ClearMotion has raised $346.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.

Who are ClearMotion's investors?

ClearMotion's investors include Franklin Templeton Investments, NewView Capital, Gen Isayama, Accel, Arrive, Better Tomorrow Ventures, Bond, Emergence Capital, Locus Ventures, Lux Capital, One Planet Group, Sequoia Capital.