Welcome To The Club: Apple In Talks With Potential Suppliers Of Sensors For Self-Driving Cars

[pinto + 293]

According to Reuters agency, Apple Inc has held talks with at least four companies as possible suppliers for next-generation lidar sensors in self-driving cars, evaluating the companies’ technology while also still working on its own lidar unit, three people familiar with the discussions said.The moves provide fresh evidence of Apple’s renewed ambitions to enter the autonomous vehicle derby, an effort it calls Project Titan. The talks are focused on next-generation lidar, a sensor that provides a three-dimensional look at the road. Apple is seeking lidar units that would be smaller, cheaper and more easily mass produced than current technology, the three people said. The iPhone maker is setting a high bar with demands for a “revolutionary design,” one of the people familiar with the talks said. The people declined to name the companies Apple has approached. The sensor effort means Apple wants to develop the entire chain of hardware to guide autonomous vehicles and has joined automakers and investors in the race to find winning technologies.

[francoba + 93]

Now the question is will Apple build its own cars or look to supply the hardware and software elements of self-driving cars?

[damirUSBiH + 327]

It's happening...

[50 shades of black + 254]

6 minutes ago, pinto said:

According to Reuters agency, Apple Inc has held talks with at least four companies as possible suppliers for next-generation lidar sensors in self-driving cars, evaluating the companies’ technology while also still working on its own lidar unit, three people familiar with the discussions said....

Maybe, Tesla? Tesla needs some options on their cars and a lower price on the Roadster. Tesla doesn’t have enough models and they need to partner with someone who is a great manufacturer. Apple designs the best phones, but they have people who are better at manufacturing build them.

[Pavel + 384]

Same company that can’t build a self charging mat...

[ThunderBlade + 231]

So this means $AAPL is buying $TSLA, right? 

[rainman + 263]

Buy $NIO with $APPL cash is easier way to utilize $....

[Jan van Eck + 7,558]

Autos will need that three-dimensional scan capability to put on the brakes when some pilot who is out of gas is scooting over your top attempting a dead-stick landing on the road in front of you.  Mr. Average Motorist already has that self-preservation instinct built in, no charge, but those AI machines - nah, need those extra sensors.  Who knows, maybe they will even work. What do we call that - faith?