Ashurst advises Robert Bosch GmbH on its acquisition of the autonomous driving start-up Five AI

For Bosch, automated driving is a strategic business field, with the company an innovation leader in this area. With its driver assistance systems and the requisite sensor technology, it laid the foundation for all automation levels at an early stage.

The two companies share a common vision of automated driving and of safe automated driving systems, and the strategically important acquisition will facilitate the combination of FIVE's AI platform and impressive management team with Bosch's market leading autonomous driving division.

The Ashurst team was led by corporate partner James Fletcher, with support from senior associate Jack Mendelssohn and associate Elnaz Amiri. Senior associates Rebecca Servian and Shayaan Zaraq Bari advised on incentivisation and tax aspects respectively. Employment partner Ruth Buchanan and senior associate Hannah Martin also advised, together with senior consultant Ross Denton. Competition advice was provided by partner Steven Vaz and associate Olivia Spong.