Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been known for his strong stance against the use of laser lidar sensors in self-driving vehicles, comparing them to useless organs like the human appendix. However, despite his remarks, Tesla has been purchasing a significant number of lidar devices from Luminar, a company that specializes in 3D imaging technology. Luminar recently revealed that Tesla’s purchases of lidar devices have been a key driver of revenue, with the electric carmaker being the company’s largest lidar customer in the first quarter of this year.
The Orlando-based company reported a 45% increase in revenue from a year ago, reaching $21 million in the first quarter. While lidar sales to nonautomotive customers declined during this period, sales to Tesla offset the decrease, making up more than 10% of Luminar’s revenue in the quarter. This suggests that Tesla has bought hundreds, if not more than a thousand, lidar units so far this year, despite Musk’s public stance against the technology.
This development marks the first official confirmation that Tesla engineers are utilizing lidar as part of their efforts to develop truly autonomous vehicles. Musk has previously emphasized the use of cameras and digital neural networks as the solution for autonomous driving, stating that the current road network is designed for biological neural networks and eyes, making cameras the most viable option. However, companies like Alphabet’s Waymo, General Motors-backed Cruise, and Amazon’s Zoox use a combination of cameras, radar, and lidar sensors to ensure safe operation in various environments and conditions.
Experts have warned against relying solely on computer vision for autonomous driving, pointing out that it may not have the ability to accurately sense the world and could lead to fatal accidents. Missy Cummings, a professor at George Mason University and former advisor to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, stated that using only computer vision for driving tasks is impossible and poses serious risks to public safety. While Tesla’s approach may be unique in the industry, other companies are opting for a more comprehensive sensor suite to ensure the safety and reliability of their autonomous vehicles.
In addition to Tesla, Luminar supplies its lidar sensors to automakers such as Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, indicating the broadening adoption of this technology in the automotive industry. Despite the controversy surrounding the use of lidar in self-driving vehicles, Luminar’s earnings report showed a positive response from investors, with its shares rising 3% in after-hours trading following the release of the financial results. The growing demand for lidar sensors from companies like Tesla highlights the continued evolution and diversification of technologies in the development of autonomous vehicles.
