, Columnist
Thiel-Backed Autonomous Car Supplier Slashing Cost, Scaling Up
- Luminar buying chip designer, releasing new sensor platform
- Researcher sees costly lidar available for $250 next year
Photographer: Just_Super/iStockphoto via Getty Images
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Luminar Technologies Inc., the self-driving sensor startup backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, is rolling out a cheaper-to-make version of its laser technology and ramping up production to supply the key component for autonomous vehicles.
The startup released a new sensor platform Thursday that reduces the cost of its most expensive part from tens of thousands of dollars to $3. This will make Luminar’s light detection and ranging devices, or lidar, viable for vehicles sold to consumers, once produced in high volumes, according to Chief Executive Officer Austin Russell.