Automated driving systems for the future: Mercedes-Benz and Luminar Technologies, Inc., a prominent global automotive technology innovator, have announced a collaboration to speed up the development of future autonomous driving technologies for passenger vehicles.
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A partnership that brings the future closer
One of the most important aspects of the partnership is having the best possible access to new technology and global capabilities.
Mercedes-Benz‘s strategy of continually growing its network of top-tier tech partners and suppliers for passenger vehicles is shown by the new cooperation with Luminar. The goal of this collaboration is to take Luminar’s core lidar technology and industrialize and incorporate it into Mercedes-Benz series production cars.
Mercedes-Benz strives to guarantee that its cars have the most up-to-date technologies by reducing development cycles and enhancing technological alliances.
“Luminar is the perfect addition to our existing roster of first-class cooperations with leading and cutting–edge tech companies. Mercedes-Benz’s achievement of SAE Level 3 already marked a huge milestone for automated driving and I am absolutely convinced that partnerships will increase our level of ambition for what is possible in future. Cooperation is an essential part of Mercedes-Benz’s strategy. Therefore, I am highly delighted to have Austin Russell and Luminar on board for our journey,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Procurement.
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“This partnership is a landmark moment in the industry, demonstrating how substantially increased safety and autonomous driving functions on consumer vehicles are going from sci-fi to mainstream,” said Austin Russell, Founder and CEO of Luminar. “Mercedes-Benz has always been a technological leader and first mover for the industry, with the brand synonymous with automotive innovation, safety, luxury, and quality.”
Mercedes-Benz will provide Luminar with a data-driven development methodology for continual product enhancement and upgrades as part of the relationship.
Automated driving systems are the latest addition to Mercedes’ tradition in innovation
For over 70 years, Mercedes-Benz has been leading the pace in the development of active and passive vehicle safety features, not just for the benefit of Mercedes drivers, but also for the benefit of all road users. In a variety of scenarios, advanced driving assistance systems may make life considerably simpler.
Cruise control, distance control, steering, and lane change are all assisted by sophisticated technology. Mercedes-Benz will deliver conditionally autonomous driving (SAE Level 3: level 3 autonomous cars) to consumers with DRIVE PILOT, bringing a new level of luxury to the market.
Mercedes-Benz became the first vehicle manufacturer in the world to get globally recognized system clearance for conditionally autonomous driving (SAE Level 3) in December 2021, marking a watershed moment in the industry. This year, the company’s DRIVE PILOT autonomous driving system will be available in the S-Class and EQS.
Mercedes’ autonomous driving initiative makes the three-pointed star the world’s first automaker to meet the UN’s R157 legislation criteria for a Level 3 system.
The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has granted system clearance for this based on the technical approval regulation UN-R157, opening the way for selling such a system overseas, given that national legislation enables it. Germany has taken the lead in this field with the introduction of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) for Level 3 systems in 2017.
About Luminar
Luminar is a worldwide automotive technology business that is ushering in a new age of car autonomy and safety. Luminar has spent the last decade developing a superior hardware and software platform to support its more than 50 industry partners, which include the majority of the world’s automobile OEMs.
Luminar is the first automotive technology startup to provide next-generation safety and autonomous capabilities for production cars, thanks to partnerships with Volvo Cars for consumer vehicles and Daimler Truck AG for commercial trucks, as well as tech partners NVIDIA and Intel’s Mobileye.
