by Michael Gauthier
- Dreame teased an apparent partnership with leading UC Berkeley researchers.
- A recent meeting centered on autonomous tech and core modern AI systems.
- The company may share further details at a public event later this month.
Dreame Nebula Next Auto is looking to make a splash in the United States and they’re hosting an event in San Francisco later this month. However, they’re not stopping there as the company has “deepened its engagement with leading academic institutions.”
The vacuum giant turned automaker pointed to a recent event at the University of California, Berkeley suggesting it could help accelerate the “development of AI-defined vehicles and next-generation autonomous systems.” As part of the “engagement,” engineers met with Berkeley researchers specializing in autonomous control systems, intelligent transportation, and artificial intelligence.
More: Chinese Vacuum Brand Drops A Taycan-Trampling Concept At CES
The group discussed “translating advanced research into real-world vehicle systems, with particular emphasis on safety, control and full-stack AI integration.” However, it remains unclear if this was a one-off event or part of a deeper collaboration.
The company implied it’s the latter as they said the “visit forms part of a broader strategy to anchor Nebula Next’s development in deep technical collaboration. By working closely with academic experts, the company is strengthening its approach to autonomous driving, vehicle intelligence and system-level engineering.”
Dreame is best-known for vacuums and pool cleaners, but the company showcased the Nebula Next 01 concept at CES. Billed as a “four-door electric hyper-sedan,” the firm claimed the model had over 1,973 hp (1,471 kW / 2,000 PS) and could accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 1.8 seconds.
While the Chinese company botched the introduction in January, it appears they brought the concept to the Berkley campus as a few pictures surfaced online. That detail suggests the event might have been more show than anything else.
