Tusimple, a Beijing-based start-up focused on developing autonomous trucks, has received funding from U.S. firm Nvidia, which will own 3% of Tusimple following its investment. Previously, Tusimple received CNY50 million in angel investment from Chinese telecom company Sina, and the start-up also said it had secured financing from various investors in its latest Series-B funding round. A total of USD929 million was invested in driverless technology in China – including self-driving vehicles – in this year’s first quarter, according to a report by research firm CB Insights, making it one of the most popular sectors for early-stage investment. Nvidia has already forged alliances with automakers Audi, Toyota and Volvo, and has a partnership with Baidu to bring artificial intelligence (AI) to cloud computing, self-driving vehicles and AI home assistants. Tusimple is now part of Nvidia’s AI program for start-ups, which aims to encourage collaboration and promote the U.S. chip designer’s technology, including the Drive PX 2 platform, an AI computing platform for self-driving cars. Tusimple has tested its autonomous trucks in Arizona, and in a port city in Hebei province. The company now plans to test self-driving trucks on a Chinese expressway next month, the South China Morning Post reports.