Luminar Links Up With Mercedes-Benz

<p>Palo Alto-based Luminar has announced a partnership with German automaker  Mercedes-Benz to accelerate the development of future highly automated driving technologies for Mercedes passenger cars&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&lbrack;<strong>Photo above<&sol;strong>&colon; <em>Austin Russell&comma; Luminar Founder and CEO with Markus Schäfer&comma; Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Procurement at Mercedes-Benz&&num;8217&semi; Sindelfingen&comma; Germany plant&period;<&sol;em> Source&colon; Business Wire&rsqb;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Luminar’s Iris lidar technology&comma; which is currently being prepared for series production&comma; is expected to improve vehicle safety and the technical capabilities of highly automated driving systems&period; The partnership represents a major commercial win for Luminar&comma; and the company is leveraging its foundational technology as it continues to execute towards series production&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;This partnership is a landmark moment in the industry&comma; demonstrating how substantially increased safety and autonomous driving functions on consumer vehicles are going from sci-fi to mainstream&comma;” said Austin Russell&comma; Founder and CEO&period; &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Mercedes-Benz has always been a technological leader and first mover for the industry&comma; with the brand synonymous with automotive innovation&comma; safety&comma; luxury&comma; and quality&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Luminar is the perfect addition to our existing roster of first-class cooperations with leading and cutting–edge tech companies&period; 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 the future&period; Cooperation is an essential part of Mercedes-Benz’s strategy&period; Therefore&comma; I am highly delighted to have Austin Russell and Luminar on board for our journey&comma;” says Markus Schäfer&comma; Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG&comma; Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Procurement&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;