Mercedes to incorporate laser sensors in its next masterpiece

European manufacturers have always been ahead in the technology game as Mercedes-Benz is planning to incorporate laser sensors in its next generation car platform.

FREMONT, CA: Luminar Technologies Inc.'s laser sensors will be used in the next-generation car platform by Mercedes-Benz to enable semi-autonomous driving features on highways, sending the lidar maker's stock skyrocketing. Mercedes-Benz and supplier Luminar, which went public in 2020 after a 3.4 billion dollars reverse merger, declined to say which models will feature laser-based technology, how many vehicles will be produced, or when the cars will be released. Mercedes is also acquiring an undisclosed minority share in the Orlando, Florida-based company, according to Luminar.

Luminar's stock soared as much as 25 percent in New York, the greatest intraday rise in almost two months. Through the close on 19 January, the stock had lost 20 percent of its value this year. Lidar, which bounces lasers off objects to enable a vehicle to see its surroundings, is a vital safety layer that enables cars to pilot themselves on highways, freeing up drivers to check email or watch a movie, according to most self-driving software developers. According to Luminar, laser sensors can also increase the performance of existing safety measures such as autonomous emergency braking.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Luminar Chief Executive Officer Austin Russell noted that European manufacturers have been in the forefront of incorporating lidar into their vehicles to enable automated driving features. He stated that there is no doubt that the Europeans have been ahead of the game and they got in early and made a lot of good technological bets. Luminar also has a manufacturing agreement with Volvo Car AB, which wants to include a lidar-based safety system in its next electrified XC90 SUV.