BMW i Ventures has launched its third $300 million fund with a focus on agentic and physical AI, aiming to reshape the automotive industry through cutting-edge technologies.

Managing Partner Marcus Behrendt insists on investment in startups that offer real future potential rather than fleeting trends. Past funds have focused on autonomous vehicles, sustainability, and advanced materials, now expanding into industrial software and manufacturing tech.

The firm highlights Synera, a German company using AI to streamline design processes, cutting down human interaction time significantly. Behrendt believes this fund’s focus on AI will complement, rather than replace, previous investment categories like circular supply chains.

While the new fund hasn’t made any investments yet, it has backed several AI-focused startups through its second fund. This expansion is seen not just as a trend but as a foundational shift that could redefine how cars are built and used in the future.