Two former Northvolt executives, Peter Carlsson and Siddharth Khullar, have launched a new venture, Aris Machina, focusing on AI-driven manufacturing. They aim to revolutionise how industries optimise their processes, leveraging artificial intelligence to solve long-standing operational challenges. The Swedish-based startup, which received early-stage investment from firms like Earlybird, Village Global, AENU, and Planet A, intends to develop AI software that addresses the needs of various sectors, including batteries, semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, robotics, and defence, Tech in Asia reported on Thursday.
Carlsson and Khullar’s move into the AI space represents a significant shift from their experience at Northvolt, the electric vehicle battery manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy on March 12, 2025. Despite raising $15 billion and securing $50 billion in orders before filing for bankruptcy with $5.8 billion in debt, Northvolt was unable to meet its production targets, struggling with operational inefficiencies. The duo’s new venture, Aris Machina, is born out of the lessons they learned from Northvolt’s failure, where the complexity of physical production and the lack of efficient management led to massive financial losses.
By focusing on software rather than physical production, Aris Machina plans to avoid the massive capital expenditure that hampered Northvolt. This shift in strategy enables the company to operate with far lower costs, while still addressing critical problems that plagued their previous venture. Their AI tools aim to optimise manufacturing, making the process more efficient and scalable, ultimately improving productivity across industries.
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In many manufacturing sectors, including batteries, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, knowledge gaps and poor communication have often been barriers to success. Aris Machina seeks to address these challenges by developing AI systems that systematise tacit knowledge and improve operational excellence. These innovations promise to bridge the knowledge gaps that have hindered the efficiency of manufacturing environments, providing businesses with a much-needed solution to streamline processes.
The founders’ experience with Northvolt has given them a unique perspective on the challenges within manufacturing industries. Instead of focusing solely on batteries, Aris Machina’s diversified strategy targets multiple sectors, offering a broader range of solutions. This approach reflects their understanding of the industry’s pain points and positions Aris Machina as a key player in the rapidly growing AI-powered manufacturing space.
