GM focuses on LIDAR development
General Motors (GM) is set to acquire LIDAR technology company Strobe Inc to speed up development of autonomous vehicles and reduce sensor costs.
Kyle Vogt, CEO of GM’s Cruise Automation unit said, ‘This acquisition is a game changer for GM and Cruise. We’ve made this acquisition because we aim to speed our path to market.’
The CEO claimed that Strobe’s new microchip LIDAR system would significantly enhance the capabilities of the self-driving cars GM was developing and that Strobe’s system should reduce the cost of each LIDAR on its self-driving cars by 99%. Eleven full-time Strobe employees will join Cruise as part of the deal.
GM has publicly stated that it aims to have fully self-driving cars on sale by 2021.
