PerceptIn, a visual intelligence technology company specializing in autonomous driving solutions, announced plans to relocate its global headquarters from California to Indiana and create up to 160 new, high-wage jobs by the end of 2022.
"As a state, we're laser focused on creating an ecosystem that encourages innovation across the board, allowing companies like PerceptIn to develop products geared for the future," Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. "PerceptIn’s decision to move its global headquarters to central Indiana is a testament to our state’s pro-growth business climate and commitment to innovation, and we're so grateful they chose the Hoosier state to call home."
The Santa Clara, California-based company will invest more than $6 million to establish its global headquarters at the Indiana IoT Lab – Fishers and scale its operations in the coming years. The company will initially lease and equip 450 square feet of office space and utilize the Indiana IoT Lab’s 25,000-square-foot laboratory to support its ramp up in central Indiana, with plans to significantly expand its footprint over the next few years. The new space, which PerceptIn plans to be fully moved into by early 2020, will allow the company to begin data collection and testing for its autonomous low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs) and increase its client base in North America.
“We're extremely excited to relocate our headquarters to Indiana," said Shaoshan Liu, chief executive officer of PerceptIn. "Indiana’s commitment to growing and enhancing its technology sector, along with its business-friendly environment and collaborative industry partnerships, is why we chose to locate here. Additionally, we look forward to deploying our autonomous microtransit services in Fishers and increasing our presence throughout the state, setting an example for the rest of the nation on utilizing advanced technologies to improve public transportation systems.”
As part of the expansion, the company will work with the city of Fishers and Energy Systems Network (ESN), an energy and transportation technology initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, as well as local stakeholders to develop and deploy a pilot program designed to identify solutions for the city's short-distance transportation needs. Under the program, passengers will be transported daily from the Indiana IoT Lab to downtown Fishers.
”When we launched the Indiana IoT Lab in 2017, a company like PerceptIn is exactly who we had in mind to propel our city even further as a leading city for tech,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “Fishers is a city made for entrepreneurs, and today we are happy to support the future of transportation technology through this pilot program and in support of our newest Fishers company, PerceptIn.”
PerceptIn, which will maintain its Santa Clara office, also has locations in Japan and China, employing more than 40 associates globally. To support the company's growth, PerceptIn will begin hiring for engineers, analysts and technicians. Interested applicants may apply online.
Founded in 2016 by Liu, who has more than 150 U.S. and international patents on robotics and autonomous driving, PerceptIn combines patented vision-based sensor fusion with a modular computing system to produce safe, reliable and affordable LSEVs. By deploying autonomous LSEVs as a microtransit service, PerceptIn aims to reduce transportation budgets for local governments across the U.S. while also improving user experiences.
Today’s announcement follows a recent report by ESN highlighting the rapidly-evolving advanced mobility sector and its impact on different modes of transportation like transit buses. Autonomous driving solutions like PerceptIn's can contribute to a growing “Mobility-as-a-System” approach that integrates different modes, providers and usage models in order to improve travel.
“PerceptIn’s autonomous transit service has the potential to enhance transportation today while furthering a Mobility-as-a-System future,” said Paul Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of ESN. “ESN is honored to have helped facilitate PerceptIn’s move to Fishers. We look forward to working with both parties to demonstrate and advance this innovative solution while growing the company and sector in the state.”
Based on the company’s plans to move its headquarters to Indiana, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered PerceptIn up to $46,500 in Headquarters Relocation tax credits. The IEDC also offered up to $3,553,500 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. The Fishers Redevelopment Commission will consider approval of an agreement between the Indiana IoT Lab and PerceptIn on Nov. 25.