Mercedes-Benz teams up with Luminar on self-driving tech

The Mercedes-Benz emblem is pictured at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Clearly show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany, September 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Picture

San Francisco, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz will lover with self-driving sensor maker Luminar Technologies Inc (LAZR.O) to enable thoroughly automatic driving on highways for its upcoming-technology cars, Luminar’s founder claimed.

Automakers from Tesla to GM and Volvo have established their eyes on introducing autonomous vehicles, whilst regulatory and technological troubles stay. go through extra

Tech firms such as Alphabet’s Waymo and Cruise also are establishing self-driving taxis or trucks for business use such as ride-hailing and shipping and delivery expert services.

Vehicle autonomy “is truly heading mainstream with Mercedes,” Luminar CEO Austin Russell told Reuters, devoid of disclosing a timeframe for putting the technological know-how in Mercedes’ motor vehicles.

He claimed the two would establish “real” autonomy capabilities, together with improved protection capabilities these kinds of as automated braking.

General Motors Co (GM.N) is functioning with its the greater part-owned Cruise self-driving unit to introduce a private autonomous car or truck by as early as mid-decade, Chief Executive Mary Barra claimed this thirty day period.

“If you want to be in a position to get to really autonomous abilities in a customer vehicle, and you have to industrialize components, software, all of these units that arrive into play. That by the way, is wholly distinct than the operate that the robo-taxi firms have been doing work on,” Russell stated.

He reported it is a challenge to mass develop lidars and make confident they are strong enough to satisfy stringent needs from automakers.

“It is a absolutely unique type of enterprise of going from a science and technological know-how company to automotive company.”

Lidars, which use laser gentle pulses to evaluate the distance between the sensor and the concentrate on object, are greatly observed as vital to achieving entire autonomous driving. But Tesla has shunned the sensor, indicating it is costly and needless.

Volvo Vehicles (VOLCARb.ST) and Luminar stated earlier this thirty day period that they will set a hands-absolutely free driving method in an upcoming electric sport utility auto.

Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin Modifying by Kim Coghill

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