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Laser-based lidar sensors help detect objects ahead of and
around the vehicle, and are a key component of many self-driving
systems being developed by automakers and suppliers.
California-based Luminar in early March announced a deal with
the self-driving software subsidiary of Volvo Cars, owned by
China's Geely Automobile Holdings, to offer a combination
hardware-software system to other automakers.
Luminar, founded in 2012, is one of several U.S. lidar
manufacturers in the past year to go public via reverse mergers
with blank-check companies.
SAIC, which is partnered in China with General Motors Co (GM)
and Volkswagen AG (VW), plans to install Luminar's lidar sensors
and software next year on its new R brand vehicle line and said
it expects to standardize the equipment eventually across all
its vehicles in China.
GM and VW are developing self-driving technology separately from
SAIC - GM through its majority-owned Cruise subsidiary, VW in
part with minority-owned Argo AI.
SAIC is an investor in Chinese lidar startup RoboSense, as well
as other tech startups in the United States and China that are
working on various aspects of self-driving vehicles.
Initially, SAIC's R line vehicles will have self-driving
capability on highways, as well as advanced driver assistance
features, the company said. The vehicles also will have the
ability over time to upgrade their self-driving capability
through over-the-air software updates, the company said.
Luminar earlier inked lidar development deals with Daimler AG's
truck group and Intel Corp's Mobileye. Luminar is also slated to
supply lidar for Volvo's first self-driving cars in 2022.
(Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit. Editing by Mark Potter)
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