Volkswagen (VWAGY) is looking to expand its foray into the electric vehicle market with a $2.4 billion investment, the German carmaker said Thursday. The company is also pursuing a joint venture with Chinese firm Horizon Robotics, a major chipmaker in the world's largest economy. However, the deal is pending regulatory approval. Following the deal's completion, software firm CARIAD, a subsidy of the carmaker, will hold a 60% majority stake in the joint venture. The partnership is an effort to "speed up customization of automated driving solutions for the Chinese market," the company said in a statement.

Square Off charmed us at CES 2019, when the startup showed off its robotic chess board at our Hardware Battlefield event. Watching the pieces move on their own, courtesy of underlying AI, grabbed the attention of a jaded crowd of showgoers. This morning, it takes the next step in the startup lifecycle, as Bay Area-based kids robotics firm Miko announces that it has acquired a majority stake of 70% of the firm. "We're thrilled to join forces with Miko on this journey to revolutionize edutainment for kids," Square Off's co-founder and CEO, Bhavya Gohil, says in a short press release tied to the news. Miko, meanwhile, is a Disney Accelerator grad best known for its eponymous toy robot.