Rivian considering making own LiDAR sensors

[NY_Rob]

... After RJ’s comments about how many manufacturers across three tiers of supply chains (it was more than 50!) just to make the headlight… I can understand why they’d have motivation to own more, more directly.

Here's a crazy idea... make the headlight less complicated. It costs less to manufacturer, fewer manufacturers to deal with, fewer component parts required and cheaper for the consumer to replace out of warranty. Everyone is always quick to accuse BMW of over-engineering their vehicles, Rivian is somewhat guilty of the same thing it seems.

Sponsored

 

[captainjp]

Mercedes also recently announced it's dropping LiDAR and going to vision only.

Mercedes also pushed L3 Autonomy to 2035…

 

[savethemanual]

Here's a crazy idea... make the headlight less complicated. It costs less to manufacturer, fewer manufacturers to deal with, fewer component parts required and cheaper for the consumer to replace out of warranty. Everyone is always quick to accuse BMW of over-engineering their vehicles, Rivian is somewhat guilty of the same thing it seems.

This problem is systemic amongst all automotive brands and a major contributor as to why the average new car price keeps creeping higher and higher.

 

[ElGuano]

If Rivian is still trying to figure this out, it doesn’t speak well to when we’ll actually see lidar in R2

Their roadmaps and timelines stretch out for years and years. I'm sure R2's gen2 lidar specs have been baked in for nearly a year by now, including vendor selection. This is probably for gen3.5/gen4.

 

[iag87]

If Rivian is still trying to figure this out, it doesn’t speak well to when we’ll actually see lidar in R2

Exactly!

 

[DuoRivians]

Their roadmaps and timelines stretch out for years and years. I'm sure R2's gen2 lidar specs have been baked in for nearly a year by now, including vendor selection. This is probably for gen3.5/gen4.

Yeah, but Rivian said lidar will be available in early 2027. I don’t think that’s happening if they’re still trying to decide on suppliers/manufacturing. It makes no sense to me, they’d switch supply processes just as soon as lidar is going out

 

[Mos Eisley]

https://riviantrackr.com/news/why-rivians-rap1-chip-is-its-apple-silicon-moment/

 

[savethemanual]

Yeah, but Rivian said lidar will be available in early 2027. I don’t think that’s happening if they’re still trying to decide on suppliers/manufacturing. It makes no sense to me, they’d switch supply processes just as soon as lidar is going out

Rivian said later this year for LiDAR on R2, so they have a supplier already. Them potentially making their own is for long term plans, if they even do it.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I really hope that they don't do this. Including a Chinese made LiDAR sensor would effectively make every Rivian an espionage platform for the CCP, and it would likely mean that any future Rivian vehicles would be out of consideration for me.

 

[Hillbilly]

You have to. Can't become dependent on a single manufacturer that can hold your company hostage

 

[mkg3]

Don't forget that Uber has invested in Rivian as a part of the robotaxi agreement (another dilution of $RIVN) for up to $1.25B. $300M this year in exchange for equity.

I believe Rivian is thinking that their own LiDAR chip will ensure the availability for up to 50,000 vehicles per the agreement. There are non-Chinese LiDAR companies (e.g., Aeva) but the chips are made by either Taiwan Semi, LG or Samsung, like all chip fab these days.

Still, I standby my original comment that Rivian doing LiDAR does not make sense. If Rivian wants to spin off a chip design and fabrication unit as a stand alone, that might make more sense given we have fab limitations in this country.

 

[skyguyscott]

I would add that I don’t believe Rivian sees itself as a “car” company, but a technology company that happens to produce a mobile computer. Apple, for instance, used to be known as “Apple Computer, Inc.“ and today, of course computers, in the more common sense, make up a smaller fraction of its business. The business world is rife with examples of companies that started off in a business segment completely different than the ones they eventually grew into and made their names in.

 

[mkg3]

I would add that I don’t believe Rivian sees itself as a “car” company, but a technology company that happens to produce a mobile computer. Apple, for instance, used to be known as “Apple Computer, Inc.“ and today, of course computers, in the more common sense, make up a smaller fraction of its business. The business world is rife with examples of companies that started off in a business segment completely different than the ones they eventually grew into and made their names in.

At the moment, there is nothing Rivian is doing to reclassify as a Tech company. It has spun off both micro mobility and robotic divisions and are not part of Rivian.

As a shareholder, I would love to see Rivian valued as a tech company multiple rather than auto. Unfortunately, it is not...at least not day.

 

[NY_Rob]

Mercedes also pushed L3 Autonomy to 2035…

Which means they really have no clue regarding the time frame so they just push it wayyyyy out there... like cold fusion, perpetually 10 yrs away.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Also, here's a photo from his recent interview with Reuters....now we know the true inspiration for Borealis

More like the other way around. That’s a new Shepard shirt from the Gear Shop based on the vehicle color. First time I’m seeing RJ wearing merch. I approve.

Sponsored