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Lidars are laser-based sensors that are a key component to many
autonomous vehicle technologies and help them perceive the
environment around the cars.
James Peng, Pony.ai CEO said the startup chose Luminar's Iris
lidar for its performance but also as it can be integrated into
the car better than traditional lidars.
"It's actually starting to blur the line between what you see as
a very well designed passenger vehicle and the monstrosities
that have been on top of some of the AV test vehicles," said
Austin Russell, founder and CEO of Luminar.
Luminar's Iris lidar is about 10 centimeters high and Peng said
four of them will be mounted on top of the car for 360 degree
views. He said Pony.ai is aiming for automotive-grade production
of autonomous fleets in 2023 globally.
Pony.ai has Robotaxi services in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing,
and Irvine and Fremont in California with a fleet of about 200
autonomous vehicles. Late last year, the startup raised $267
million at a valuation of $5.3 billion.
In addition to Pony.ai, Luminar earlier this year announced a
partnership with SAIC Motor Corp, China's largest automaker and
a deal with the self-driving software subsidiary of Volvo Cars,
owned by China's Geely Automobile Holdings.
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.
(Reporting By Jane Lanhee Lee; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
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