Japan Auto Wins
Seeing Machines Secures $11M in Japanese Automotive Contracts for Driver Monitoring Systems, Bolstering Global Pipeline
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Key Points
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Seeing Machines’ DMS/OMS technology uses artificial intelligence to detect driver drowsiness, distraction and other unsafe behaviours in real time.
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Euro NCAP is described as the independent body that awards star safety ratings to new vehicles, and it has increasingly “mandated driver monitoring systems as a prerequisite for top scores.”
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CEO Paul McGlone said the awards reflect OEMs recognising in-cabin sensing’s value “in enhancing safety, meeting regulatory requirements and improving the driving experience.”
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Beyond automotive, Seeing Machines notes its driver and occupant monitoring tech is already deployed across aviation, mining and rail sectors.
Seeing Machines has won two new automotive contracts with separate Japanese car manufacturers, the Australian-listed company confirmed on June 15, 2026. The deals, secured through existing European and Japanese Tier 1 supplier partners, carry an estimated initial lifetime value of $11 million and cover production starting in 2028, according to London Stock Exchange.
The news sent Seeing Machines' shares up 6% to 4.40 pence in London trading, per Alliance News. The wins add to a growing pipeline that now totals over $400 million in cumulative lifetime value across all automotive programs won to date.
What Seeing Machines Will Actually Build for Japan
The two contracts cover driver and occupant monitoring system (DMS/OMS) software across multiple vehicle platforms. DMS uses artificial intelligence to detect drowsiness, distraction and other unsafe behaviour in real time. The new Japanese programs include both single- and dual-camera setups, London Stock Exchange reported. Cameras will be placed on the steering column and in overhead console positions.
The dual-camera overhead setup is a step beyond basic driver-eye tracking. It lets the AI monitor passengers too — checking seatbelt use, detecting children left behind, and confirming the driver can safely take back control during semi-automated driving. CEO Paul McGlone said the awards show OEMs see real value in in-cabin sensing "in enhancing safety, meeting regulatory requirements and improving the driving experience."
Euro NCAP Safety Rules Are Driving Japanese Demand
Japanese carmakers export heavily to Europe. To keep selling there, they must meet strict safety standards set by Euro NCAP — the independent body that awards star ratings to new vehicles. Euro NCAP has made driver monitoring a requirement for top scores. Its 2026 protocols go further than ever, requiring systems to detect not just distracted eyes but signs of impairment like unresponsiveness, according to MarketScreener.
This regulatory pressure means Japanese OEMs cannot treat monitoring cameras as optional extras on their global platforms. Seeing Machines says demand is being pulled by manufacturers' push to enable Level 2+ semi-automated driving — features that let drivers take their hands off the wheel — while keeping a human-verified safety backup in place.
Japan Strategy Built Over Four Years of Groundwork
This week's wins are not Seeing Machines' first in Japan. The company secured its first Japanese OEM award back in May 2022. In December 2024, Mitsubishi Electric Mobility Corporation invested £26.2 million in the company to co-develop AI monitoring systems. That deal was a key signal of Japan market integration. A November 2025 award of $1.6 million through Mitsubishi Electric followed, alongside a $10 million expansion with a European Tier 1, per Kalkine Media.
McGlone said the latest wins "validate the company's long-term investment in Japan," where manufacturers are "broadening their sourcing strategies for in-cabin monitoring." Japan's automotive sector is known for high entry barriers and preference for long-term supplier relationships, making these back-to-back wins significant proof of commercial traction.
Fleet of Monitored Cars Grows 67% to 4.8 Million
Seeing Machines reported in February 2026 that its technology is now active in 4,818,731 vehicles on the road — a 67% rise year-on-year, according to London South East. That scale matters commercially. It gives the company a proven track record it can show to cautious Japanese OEMs who demand real-world validation before awarding production contracts.
Beyond cars, the company's monitoring technology is already deployed in aviation, mining and rail. Analysts at Stifel and Canaccord Genuity maintain buy ratings on the stock. Some retail investors caution that $11 million spread over several years is modest, and the bigger payoff depends on high vehicle sales volumes when production begins in 2028, per MarketScreener.
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