In India’s chaotic traffic, where cows, auto-rickshaws, and jaywalkers share the road without apology, building a self-driving car isn’t just hard, it’s a challenge. But Gagandeep Reehal is doing it anyway.
As co-founder and CEO of Bengaluru-based startup Minus Zero, Reehal is betting on a bold vision: that foundational AI models, the same kind of deep neural networks powering ChatGPT, can navigate India’s streets using nothing but cameras and raw data. No LiDAR. No HD maps. No hand-crafted rules.
Earlier this month, the Bengaluru-based autonomous mobility startup unveiled the country’s first end-to-end AI-powered autopilot system.
With the AI autopilot system unveiled and partnerships with top OEMs underway, Reehal believes the future of autonomous driving won’t be built in Silicon Valley, it’ll be built for places like Bengaluru.
When asked about the inspiration behind Minus Zero, Reehal explained, “India is one of the largest auto markets in the world, but it’s also one of the most accident-prone. A large portion of road accidents happen in emerging markets, not in developed countries like the US or Europe. That’s where we saw an opportunity to create something unique.”
The problem with existing autonomous driving systems, according to Reehal, is that most solutions are designed for Western roads, which are more structured and predictable. "In India, there are no lane markings, unpredictable traffic behaviour, and a massive variety of obstacles, not just cars, but two-wheelers, carts, and even cows. The existing systems were never designed to handle these challenges," Reehal told Moneycontrol in an interview.
This gap in the market led Reehal to create Minus Zero’s AI-driven co-pilot system, a first in India. His ambition was clear: build a system that could handle India’s chaotic traffic conditions while reducing road accidents.
Unlike the rule-based systems currently dominating the industry, Minus Zero’s approach focuses on a foundational AI model that learns and adapts, much like a human driver. "Every corner in India, every curve on the highway, is different," he pointed out. "In developed markets, rule-based systems might work fine because roads are predictable. But India is a different beast."
As Reehal shares, “The challenge isn’t just about identifying a car or a pedestrian. It’s about handling those edge cases, like identifying a film star poster on an auto-rickshaw and recognising it’s not a person. Or navigating when an auto-rickshaw drives on the wrong side of the road at full speed.”
India, he believes, is the perfect testing ground for autonomous driving technology. “If you can build it for India, you can build it for the world,” Reehal said. Minus Zero claims its system doesn’t just aim for basic functionality; it’s designed to handle extreme edge cases, like cows on highways or unmarked speed bumps.
For Reehal, the motivation is not only technological but also social. "I’m a passionate driver, and I know how many lives could be saved by systems like these. Even saving one life through our system is a win," he says.
Despite working in a highly competitive field with companies like Tesla and Waymo, Reehal is clear about Minus Zero’s distinct edge. “If Tesla is like iOS, we want to be the Android. Our system is built specifically for emerging markets, like India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, where infrastructure is less predictable and drivers need more assistance.”
Reehal’s vision for Minus Zero isn’t limited to India. With the company already working with OEMs and pilots underway with Ashok Leyland for commercial vehicles, he sees a bright future for the company in South Asia and the Middle East. “We’re looking at countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Dubai as natural extensions of our technology,” he said.
The company is also working with a European OEM on passenger vehicles.
Minus Zero’s business model mirrors that of a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier like Bosch or Continental, providing either software or a bundled hardware-software solution, depending on the OEM’s requirements.
Minus Zero’s AI co-pilot system is not open-source; it’s a proprietary solution. But the company is keen to contribute to the open-source community once the system matures. “For now, it’s all proprietary because safety and engineering are at the core of what we do,” Reehal explains.
The road to widespread adoption won’t be easy. Autonomous driving remains a complex, highly regulated space, and in India, the Motor Vehicle Act doesn’t yet provide provisions for fully autonomous vehicles.
"It’s a gradual process," he said. "When ABS was first introduced, people questioned it. Now, no one wants a car without it. Similarly, features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are becoming common. We need to introduce AI-driven features incrementally, proving their value over time."
However, Reehal sees a future where regulations evolve to support autonomous technologies. “The government is already making progress on ADAS regulations, and we’re actively working with regulatory bodies like ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) to help shape the future of autonomous driving in India,” he said.
While the company is entirely based in Bengaluru, it has attracted a small team of about 30 engineers, many of whom are returnees from global institutions like Carnegie Mellon and University of California. "We’ve seen a reverse brain drain," Reehal said. "The goal is to build deep tech in India for the world."
The name Minus Zero, he explained, represents the spirit of defying convention. “Minus zero doesn’t exist, but what if it did?” he said. “Disruption begins when you challenge what’s considered impossible.”
The Bengaluru-based startup, founded by Reehal and Gursimran Kalra in 2021, raised a seed round of $1.7 million in 2022 and secured additional bridge financing since then. The company plans to raise a Series A round soon.
Looking ahead, Reehal hopes to see Minus Zero systems in a million vehicles by 2030. More than that, he hopes the company leaves behind a deeper legacy. "Some of the best AI minds in the world are Indian. Our question was always: why not India? Why not build from here, for the world?"
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