Tesla hates this technology, so why is it buying so much of it?

Despite Elon Musk’s well-known criticism of Lidar, who himself describes this technology as a useless “crutch”, Tesla recently spent 2 million euros to acquire sensors of this type. This contradiction attracts curiosity regarding the true intentions of this electric car manufacturer.

THE Lidar is a system of laser detection which measures distance by illuminating a target with an invisible laser beam. It then analyzes the reflected light. This technology is used in many modern cars, especially those equipped with semi-autonomous driving or assistance functions. They are found, for example, in vehicles equipped with a adaptive cruise control or lane keeping assistance.

Historically, Elon Musk expressed very strong skepticism with regard to this technology, which he publicly denigrated. However, in the first quarter of this year, You’re here invested approximately 2 million euros in Lidar. The company thus became the largest customer of Luminar, the manufacturer of these sensors.

Tesla invested 2 million euros in Lidar

This spending by Tesla contrasts sharply with previous assertions by Musk, who advocated an approach of autonomous driving based only on cameras. Recent Lidar purchases, which represent approximately 10% of Luminar’s quarterly revenue, reveal a possible change of strategy or on specific needs not yet disclosed. This could explain the recent appearance of a Model X on our European roads which was mysteriously equipped with this technology.

even though details accurate remain strangers, theories abound regarding Tesla’s use of these Lidar sensors. Among the possibilities discussed are the development of the robotaxis fleet which is planned for an imminent launch. Others focus on improving the capabilities of its humanoid robot Optimus. Finally, some suggest that the company could use them for validation testing or quality improvements in its manufacturing processes.

Whatever the reason behind this considerable investment in a once despised technology, it appears that Tesla is reconsidering its approach to detection technologies and navigation. This could be particularly true in the area of ​​autonomous driving.