According to Reuters, Tesla accounts for 10 percent of the turnover of Luminar, which sold $21 million worth of stuff in the past year. None of the Tesla models we know of today use Lidars. Instead, Tesla relies almost entirely on cameras for its self-driving car techniques. Elon Musk previously called Lidars in passenger cars pointless, because it would be unnecessarily expensive and complex technology.
He certainly has a point with that expensive and complex thing, because a Lidar shoots laser signals through the air at lightning speed with a rotating mirror and thus ‘draws’ a 3D image of what is in front of the car. The advantage is therefore clear: Lidars measure distances, and therefore also ‘see’ things looming if, for example, there is strong backlight. The Chinese Nio is a strong supporter of the technology, and provides every model with a striking Lidar spot on the roof. The (still) upcoming Volvo EX90 also has it, just like the existing Lotus Eletre.
A Lidar on the roof of a Nio.
The most obvious application for Lidars at Tesla is the announced Robotaxi. It will arrive in August and should be able to drive completely itself, although Lidar may still be necessary.
