FYI: Mobileye has discontinued its lidar system development, aligning with Elon Musk’s long-standing prediction.
### Mobileye Abandons Lidar Development, Validating Musk’s Prediction
Mobileye announced today the cessation of its internal lidar system development, aligning with predictions made by Elon Musk years ago. Specifically, the company will discontinue its development of “next-generation frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidars for autonomous and highly automated driving systems.”
### Elon Musk and His Stance on Lidar
Elon Musk, a prominent critic of lidar technology, has consistently dismissed it as “a fool’s errand” and “a crutch,” arguing that it is unnecessary for the evolution of self-driving cars. Tesla, under Musk’s direction, has embraced a camera-based system called Tesla Vision, eschewing lidar sensors entirely. Musk has persistently vocalized his belief that cameras and radar, combined with artificial intelligence, provide a more sustainable path toward full autonomy.
Beyond just rhetoric, Tesla has taken practical steps in line with this belief by excluding lidar sensors from its vehicles. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Tesla has occasionally used lidar for data validation purposes. Recently, a Model X was spotted utilizing Luminar’s Hydra units to gather ground truth data.
### Impact of Mobileye’s Decision
Mobileye’s decision will lead to the dissolution of its lidar research and development unit by year-end, affecting approximately 100 employees. This move is expected to save the company around $60 million this year, as it will eliminate future lidar development expenses.
Despite halting lidar development, Mobileye will continue its work on developing in-house imaging radar technology, slated for production next year.
### Conclusion
Mobileye’s recent decision underscores the growing divergence in the self-driving car industry, with companies choosing different technological paths. While Tesla and Elon Musk have long stood by the belief that lidar is unnecessary, Mobileye’s shift away from lidar reinforces that notion. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see which technologies ultimately prove most effective in achieving safe and reliable autonomous driving.
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— William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
